David Hall writes for PCGS that the 1937-D “three-legged” Buffalo nickel is one of the most famous and most important coins of the 20th century. It is arguably the classic Buffalo nickel. This is an excessively polished die variety with the front leg of the Buffalo missing, though interestingly, the hoof shows. The popularity of this “super cool” variety drives its price as much as its rarity. This statement may seem contradictory, but most 3 leggers are fairly well struck…the leg is just missing! These coins were pulled out of circulation in 1937/38 as collectors of the era searched their change for this widely publicized variety. A diagnostic feature of this variety is the “stream” that appears beneath the bison’s belly. If this feature is not present, beware of an altered coin.
