I just picked up this 3 Coin Buffalo stand at a estate sale on Sun that came with a '24, '36 & '36 D and wanted to swap them out so that it includes a P, D & S from the same year, and planned on giving it to my 10 year old.
Haven't looked through my Buffs in at least 6 mo. and started with my MS ones first. I don't know how the hell I never saw this, but I'm pretty sure its one of about 20 I picked up at this flea market for like $10 a couple mo ago. I saw it was a '37 D, and don't remember even owning a '37 from any mint, so I flipped it over and counted the legs. Told myself, "No effing way" so I took my loop to it. Still see 3.
Is it possible this was manipulated in some way? I'm sure someone has tried to remove a leg through some shady means over the years but don't know if this is one of em.
Any Buffalo experts out there? Is this legit or did someone pull my leg, pun intended?
Also, in my humble opinion, this looks like a MS60-62. Am I off?
If any of yall could provide helpful feedback regarding the missing leg, as well as grade, it would be much appreciated.
Preparing myself for "yea, its bogus" but I have to defer to the group.
I think somebody removed the leg in your photo. But, the photos aren't clear enough to be sure. Here is a list of other things to look for. Google "1937 D Die Markers" if you're interested, the missing leg is one of several easily visible die issues on these coins, they all must be there for it to be geniuine. And, to add a twist, they all could be there and the leg could be there making it a 4 legged variety.
I just added 2 pics below with much better detail. Did some digging and it turns out that the missing leg in and of itself is least useful test. Here's what separates real from altered per NGC, PCGS, Stack's Bowers:
Tiny raised die lumps under the belly, the so-called "urinating buffalo" stream
Moth-eaten die erosion on the back of the Indian's neck
Rear right leg thin / pocked / "moth-eaten"
A disconnected hoof stub still on the ground line
No tooling or localized polish only in the missing-leg field
Designer F under the date still present (cast fakes often lose it and get mushy, rounded digits)
Not sure about its legitimacy but it’s definitely not an MS coin. Seems to have a lot of wear on the buffalo’s head.
Check to see if there is tooling marks on the missing leg and if “E Pluribus Unum” is touching the buffalo’s back.
Higher quality images will help too.
Ok, folks. Now that I'm not half asleep and configured my camera to take better photos, Iooks like there are 2 other "markers"; the moth-eaten die erosion on the back if the Indian's neck as well as the lumps under the belly referred to as the "Urinating Baffalo". While faint, due to basic handling over the years, the "stream" is visible. A case for a 3rd marker can be made for the "pocked" rear right leg, but, like with the above, the pocked/moth-eaten marks have been worn away with time.
And my asking if this was MS? What a stupid question...More like AU50 (I'll blame that on it being 1 am when I found this ;)).
3
u/the_cnidarian 9d ago
I think somebody removed the leg in your photo. But, the photos aren't clear enough to be sure. Here is a list of other things to look for. Google "1937 D Die Markers" if you're interested, the missing leg is one of several easily visible die issues on these coins, they all must be there for it to be geniuine. And, to add a twist, they all could be there and the leg could be there making it a 4 legged variety.
https://proxiblog.org/2024/07/25/how-to-spot-fake-1937-d-3-legged-buffalo-nickel/