1937 Three Legged Buffalo?

Hey guys,
What do you guys think about this coin. I am looking at buying this coin from a guy I know and I wanted to get your opinions on if you think it is real and if so, what grade do you guys think it is. Thanks, I really appreciate the input.

 

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My initial impression is that the coin isn't genuine. It doesn't seem to have the major diagnostics on the reverse. The back right leg should look kind of pitted. The leg on this coin looks complete. There should be a dotted line extending from the belly to the ground. (Many refer to this as the buffalo urinating.) This is also absent on this coin. Finally, the In E Pluribus Unum on genuine coins is typically not as sharp as this coin. The 3-leg was made from worn dies, so The details of the motto are typically kind of pushed toward the word America.

This coin appears to have none of the key diagnostics. I would take a pass.

 

Is the guy "you know" the same guy we all know? (no longer allowed here?)

 

lol yes why would you bring him up...cause of the 3 legger?

 

I agree the coin doesn't look genuine.

 

Mostly because I started reading/posting here about the same time he joined and was just waiting for the trainwreck. It's just so hard to look away. Yes, I am just that weak...

 

Mike has covered the reverse, but also the obverse is unique too. Here is the obverse of a PCGS 3-L, and I added arrows to point out some identifying features.



Notice on the left that the closest feather is separated from its shaft,
and the rear of the neck is rough.

On the top, the brow has what appears almost like a surgical scar in the front hairline, roughness ( wart like) on the neck in front of the braid, and a crack along the front the braid on the bottom.

I also do not believe it is genuine based on what I can see in the photos.

Jim

 

lol @ PeacePeople Your name say's it all!!


As for the nickel, it doenst really look off to me but there isn't the pitting on the hind like there is usually so it might jsut be altered...IDK but I do know that high cost coins I get graded before I buy them usually.
So just beware.

 

Thanks for the responses guys. I appreciate all the advise.
Btw, no I am not looking at it from the guy that cant be named. LOL

 

Yeah, I think that's a fake, as others have stated.

 

can you disclose a price range? is it too high or too low for the grade,that may be another indication of a bad coin

 

I see nothing that indicates that the coin is a fake. Looks like a real buffalo nickel to me. It might not be the nickel that was struck from the altered die, but its real. The nickel itself may have been altered a little to resemble the 3- legger, but a fake its not...

 

No, the coin doesn't look real, that back leg is way too strong among other things missing.

 

...in my opinion the coin is a fraud. doesn't have the 'granular' look that is

common with the 3-legger. :whistle:

 

I agree with others.

I am 100% positive that this is not a genuine 3 legger. This is a regular 37 D that was altered. None of the die markers are present.

 

Fake!!!!!! One main diagnostic is the E PLURBIS UNUM is too close to back of BUFFALO. On real 3 leggers it ismuch farther away.

 

are you being serious??? The coin is a real buffalo nickel that has been altered to resemble the error variety. That makes it a fake 3-legger! The OP asked if it was a genuine 3-legged buffalo. It is not, it is a fake 3-leg.

 

Thanks everyone for the input. I figured that the deal was to good to be true. He told me I could buy it for $200. I am not real good at looking at buffalos so I appreciate everyones advise.

 

A good rule to remember is that if you do not know how to authenticate coins that you might want to stick to pieces certified by reputable companies as authentic.

 

Was referring to the nickel itself. Its a genuine buffalo nickel. It really doesn't matter to me anyhow. The 3-leggers were struck from intentionally altered dies which render them valueless...