- Today the 1937 nickel value begins at $.50 cents each. The price is for a heavily worn coin, in what is known as 'Good' condition. However, the 1937 nickel is famous because of an interesting and rare variety where the buffalo has only three legs. Find below a description.
- Buffalo Nickel 1913–1938 The Buffalo Nickel was part of president Theodore Roosevelt’s Renaissance of American Coinage, which set out to bring new life to the designs of U.S. Designed by sculptor James Earl Fraser, the Buffalo Nickel replaced the Liberty Head Nickel and was followed by the current Jefferson Nickel.
- 1912 Liberty Nickel
- 1937 Buffalo Nickel Error
- 1937 Buffalo Nickel Value Ebay
- 1937 Buffalo Nickel 3 Legged
- 1937 Nickel Value Chart
- 1937 Buffalo Nickel Errors
Coin Values Moving with Precious Metals: Up-Dated 2/8/2021: Gold $1813 Silver $26.90
1912 Liberty Nickel
Today the 1937 nickel value begins at $.50 cents each. The price is for a heavily worn coin, in what is known as 'Good' condition.
See full list on treasurepursuits.com.
However, the 1937 nickel is famous because of an interesting and rare variety where the buffalo has only three legs. Find below a description and close up view to help identify this valuable coin.
Two more important elements change how much your buffalo nickel is worth. First mintmarks, they indicate the mint that produced the coin and are valued separately.
Secondly, consider the condition of your coins. The 'Uncirculated' 1937 nickel pictured is highly prized by rare coin dealers and collectors because of condition. Huge swings in value follow the better condition coins.
An exciting year with many variables, such as date, mintmarks and the elusive 3 Legged variety contributing to 1937 nickel value.
The chart separates values according Condition and the Mints that produced the coin.
A listing of '1937-D' is a coin minted in Denver, they used a 'D' as a mark.
An 'S' is the mintmark used by the San Francisco mint. These two mints placed their mintmark on the reverse below the buffalo. The third mint to strike Buffalo nickels, Philadelphia, did not use a mintmark.
| 1937 Nickel Value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Condition of Coin | ||||
| Date | Good | Fine | Extremely Fine | Uncirculated |
| 1937 Nickel Value Updated | 2021 | |||
| 1937 | $0.51 | $1.05 | $2.44 | $19 |
| 1937 D | $0.51 | $1.03 | $2.82 | $20 |
| 1937 D 3 Leg | $232 | $270 | $428 | $1,107 |
| 1937 S | $0.51 | $1.27 | $3.41 | $18 |
Finding the 1937-D 3 Legged Buffalo Nickel
Notice the right front leg of the buffalo is missing!
A very distinctive mint made error once you have seen it, the 3 Legged Buffalo variety is popular with collectors and considered necessary to complete a collection. These are two powerful forces driving the value of the 1937-D 3 Leg Buffalo nickel.
The 3 Legged variety is found on nickels minted at the Denver mint. Locate the 'D' mintmark, identifying the mint, below the buffalo under the 'Five Cents.'Excessive die polishing is believed as the reason too much metal was removed causing the buffalo's leg to vanish. Before the mint realized the error a few thousand had been released into circulation.
Back in the day many of these now valuable nickels circulated freely, the result is 3 legged buffalo nickels are found today showing all degrees of wear. They can turn up in any box of old coins.
In the later years of the buffalo nickel series greater numbers of coins were saved, both from circulation and new from the banks. With many to choose from and many in better condition, collectors favor the high grade buffalos. It takes a very nice coin to break away from being worth a dollar.
Condition Determines 1937 Nickel Value
Uncirculated: A 1937 buffalo nickel in this condition stands out as a superior coin. It never circulated, therefore its surfaces show no signs of wear. Handle coins in Uncirculated condition by their edges to preserve their surfaces. Rotate the coin under a light, examine the cheek of the Indian and upper back of the buffalo for signs of wear, appearing as dullness on the high spots.
Extremely Fine: This coin shows evidence of use but was collected from circulation before to much wear took place. A nice looking coin with abundant detail, although the hair braid is reduced and shows some loss of detail, and on the reverse the small details along the buffalo's back have begun to wear.
Fine: Additional wear has reduced the major details and eliminated the finer points of design. Obvious loss of sharpness and an overall smoothness is evident on the entire surface of the coin.
Good: The date is readable, however parts of the numbers are often merged. The rim is no longer separated from the tops of the letters. The roundness of the design to the buffalo has become flat on the hip, stomach, shoulder and head. This coin is at the low side of 1937 nickel value.
1937 Buffalo Nickel Error
Coin Values CoinStudy Articles
Date by Date
In Depth Buffalo Nickel Value
1913 to 1938
1937 Buffalo Nickel Value Ebay
1913 | 1919 | 1926 | 1934 |
1914 | 1920 | 1927 | 1935 |
1915 | 1921 | 1928 | 1936 |
1916 | 1923 | 1929 | 1937 |
1917 | 1924 | 1930 | 1938 |
1918 | 1925 | 1931 |
Check all your buffalo nickel values with the coin value chart and separate the common from the rare. Rising prices, increasing demand from both collectors and rare coin dealers requires a second look at your coins.
Including more relating to your 1937 nickel value. These early Buffalo nickels are becoming valuable. Easily find how much your old coins are worth.
Covering the Nickel series from Shield nickels, Liberty, Buffalo and Jefferson nickels. All include value charts, along side grading images to find the accurate value of your old nickels.
★Coin Values Discovery... finds 1937 nickel value and...
1937 Buffalo Nickel 3 Legged
all old US coin values. It links to coin series, from Cents to Gold. Value charts, images to judge the all important condition of coins, and a guide to getting the best deal if selling coins.
Finding Rare Nickels!
On occasion rare nickels do turn up... old better date buffalo nickels, valuable silver war nickels, even a few Jefferson nickels and others. Search your box of old coins and discover the possibilities of... Finding Rare Nickels
1937 Nickel Value Chart
The 1937-D “3 Legged” Buffalo Nickel (Buy on eBay) is unique type of error which remains very popular with collectors. The coin takes its name from the fact that the buffalo on the reverse of the coin appears to only have three legs. Collector fascination with this unusual appearance has made this one of the most famous coins of the 20th century.
The error was created when a newly hired Denver Mint employee attempted to remove clash marks from one of the reverse dies. His die polishing successfully removed the marks, but also inadvertently removed one of the buffalo’s legs. The mistake was not realized until most of the coins had already reached circulation.
1937 Buffalo Nickel Errors
Both PCGS and NGC identify the Three Legged Buffalo Nickel by including “3 Legs” on the holder. Pieces are in demand in all grades, but especially so in mint-state.
Between the two major grading services, approximately 20 pieces have been graded MS66, with two coins graded MS67 by NGC. One of the examples graded PCGS MS66 sold for $80,500 at auction in August 2007. In more recent years, other examples carrying the same grade have sold for around $50,000.
Coin Specifications
- Designer: James Earle Fraser
- Composition: 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
- Weight: 5 grams
- Diameter: 21.2 mm
- Edge: Plain