I am so new to this. I have had this coin laying in a box for about 43 years. I seen it the other day and took it out to look at it. I have had two collectors tell me it is the 3 1/2 leg buffalo nickel. It is in much better condition than in this picture. In the right front leg the hoof does not touch the leg at all and all the dark around the leg is where it is missing. It also still has a nice luster to it. However the date has an error. The 19 is together in the date. Any thoughts as to if I should send it out for grading ??? Or if it is the 3 1/2 leg ??? Thanks everyone. psilvergirl
When you blow up the reverse, you can see the hoof is attached, but since it is hairy, the darkening of the background in that area makes it appear to be separated, but it is not the one. With a coin that is worn so much, the date tends to enlarge in outline as it wears because the the numbers and letters look like this from the side so the _____ _ ____/ \______ die can release from the coin and pull up without damaging the sides. When new , we see the thinner top and when it wears close to the bottom, we see the wider bottom. Jim
Plus isn't it the 37 d that is the 3 legged variety? Oh I see the 3 1/2 legged ...my bad. Still see 4 legs though.
Yeah, sometimes it's confusing between the 2 years. 1937 D is known for the 3 legged, but 1936 D is known for the 3 1/2 legged. The above pic is the 1936 D 3 1/2 legged. Unfortunately, the OP's coin is not this.
There is a 1936 3 1/2 leg buffalo, but the missing area is in the center of the leg at the right front leg at the knee joint area and this one has an OK knee, but the question was on the area right above the hoof and is a normal buffalo.
When I clicked on your photo an image of a 1937 D 3 legged Buffalo came up. It's from Goldberg Coins. I don't know if it's the same.
Thank you so much for you help. As I said I am very new to this. I can use all the input I can get. Guess I will have to keep looking for a good find.
This pic looks like the 1937 D 3 legged. If you look behind the front legs it appears to have a shadow of a leg. That was the first thing I noticed about all the pictures of the 1937's.