Lot 064Coin values
1937-D (3-Legged) Buffalo Nickel
DENVER (D) · 75% COPPER, 25% NICKEL · VARIETY
Worth about $520–$1,650 circulated and $9,000–$13,000 in MS-65.
The 1937-D (3-Legged) Buffalo Nickel is one of the major rarities of the series from the Denver Mint, with a mintage that is included in a larger issue. In circulated grades (G-4 to EF-40) our estimate is $520–$1,650, and a well-preserved MS-65 example is estimated at $9,000–$13,000. Because this is a key date, condition and authenticity matter far more than metal content: have any high-value coin graded by a recognised service.
A famous error: a die polished too deeply removed the buffalo's front right leg.
Included in the 1937-D mintage of 17,826,000.
Type coin shown: 1935 Buffalo nickel. We do not yet hold a licensed photograph of the 1937-D (3-Legged) Buffalo Nickel itself, so this is the nearest dated coin of the same design. The design is the same; the date, mint mark and condition of your coin will differ. Photograph: 1935 Buffalo nickel (photograph by Bobby131313). Public domain, credit Bobby131313, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Mint
- Denver (D)
- Composition
- 75% copper, 25% nickel
- Mintage
- In larger issue
- Weight and size
- 5 g · 21.2 mm
- Designer
- James Earle Fraser
No separate mintage is recorded for this date, so its place on the scale follows its editorial rarity tier.
Missing leg
The bison has only three legs because the front right leg was polished away from the die.
Date and mint mark
The date sits on a raised area and wears away first. Dateless coins sell for a few dollars, and the mint mark is on the reverse below FIVE CENTS.
Type 1 and Type 2
In 1913 the reverse changed from a raised mound (Type 1) to a flat line (Type 2). 1913-S Type 2 is a key date.
About the 1937-D (3-Legged) Buffalo
How much is a 1937-D (3-Legged) Buffalo Nickel worth?
Lustre's editorial estimate (Oct 2026) is $520–$1,650 for circulated examples (G-4 to EF-40) and $9,000–$13,000 in MS-65. These are estimates, not an appraisal or market data. A coin in the grade you hold may sell for less at a dealer, who needs a margin.
What is a 1937-D (3-Legged) Buffalo Nickel made of?
It is 75% copper, 25% nickel and weighs 5 g. At today's metal prices the metal is worth a few cents, so any value comes from collector demand.
How many 1937-D (3-Legged) Buffalo Nickels were minted?
Included in the 1937-D mintage of 17,826,000.
Where is the mint mark on a Buffalo Nickel?
On the reverse, below the words FIVE CENTS. Philadelphia coins have no mint mark.
Is my 1937-D (3-Legged) Buffalo Nickel rare?
Yes. It is one of the major rarities of the series. Check the variety notes on this page, look at the date and mint mark under magnification and consider professional grading before selling.
More Buffalo Nickel values
Where these numbers come from
Buffalo nickel, Wikipedia: composition, weight, diameter, edge, designer, mint mark position.
Buffalo nickel mintage, Landofcoins.com: mintage by year and mint.
Lustre editorial grade-value estimates, Lustre: grade value ranges (estimates, not market data).
gold-api.com spot prices (reference level for estimates), gold-api.com: reference spot prices behind the estimates.
How the estimates are made. Facts reviewed Oct 2026.