1937 Buffalo Nickel Errors: Value Guide & Rare Varieties
Discover 1937 Buffalo Nickel error values — the famous 3-Legged Buffalo (FS-901) is worth $400–$99,875. Full variety guide with RPM diagnostics, authentication tips, and prices updated January 2026.
Most 1937 Buffalo Nickels are worth $0.50–$70, but the 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo (FS-901) is a legendary error worth $400 to nearly $100,000 depending on condition.
- 🏆 Top prize: 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo (FS-901) — $400 circulated, up to $99,875 (MS66+, Heritage 2021)
- 🔍 Secondary finds: 1937-D and 1937-S Repunched Mintmark varieties — $50–$188 in Mint State
- ⚙️ Striking errors: Off-center strikes — $100–$4,000+; Broadstrikes — $100–$350
- 📋 Proof issue (Philadelphia only): Just 5,769 minted; a PR65 is worth $1,375
⚠️ Tooled fakes of the 3-Legged Buffalo are extremely common. Never buy a candidate coin raw (uncertified) without a return policy — the "pissing stream" die-erosion line and moth-eaten rear leg are mandatory authentication markers.
1937 Buffalo Nickel Errors Error Checker
Check your coin for valuable errors and varieties
Values shown are typical retail estimates as of 2026-01.
The 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo is heavily counterfeited through tooling and alteration. Professional authentication (PCGS/NGC) is mandatory before buying or selling any candidate.
Error coin values vary significantly based on grade, eye appeal, and current market conditions.
Machine Doubling (flat, shelf-like) is NOT a valuable doubled die variety and adds no premium.
RPM values are estimates that depend on the specific variety, grade, and eye appeal.
Acid-treated dates (Nic-A-Date), gold or silver plating, and other post-mint alterations destroy numismatic value.
A 'weak strike' on the horn or high points is common for Buffalo Nickels and is not an error.
The 1937 Buffalo Nickel is the second-to-last year of James Earle Fraser's iconic series — and for most collectors it's a common coin worth a dollar or two. But if yours carries a D mintmark and the buffalo appears to be missing its front right leg, you may be holding the 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo (FS-901), one of the most recognized coin errors in American history, worth anywhere from $400 to nearly $100,000. This guide walks you through every 1937 error and variety, what to look for, and what's a fake. See baseline 1937 Buffalo Nickel values →
1937 Buffalo Nickel: Specifications & Mintage
All three 1937 mints — Philadelphia (no mintmark), Denver (D), and San Francisco (S) — produced coins with identical composition, weight, and diameter. The dramatic differences in mintage drive both baseline values and the scarcity of varieties.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Composition | 75% Copper, 25% Nickel |
| Weight | 5.00 g (circulated may drop to 4.80–4.90 g from wear) |
| Diameter | 21.2 mm |
| Designer | James Earle Fraser (obverse & reverse) |
| Series | Buffalo (Indian Head) Nickel, 1913–1938 |
The 1937 Proof Buffalo Nickel — mirror-like fields and frosted devices. Only 5,769 were made at Philadelphia.
Mintage & Baseline Values by Mint
| Mint | Mintage | Circulated | Mint State | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia (no mm) | 79,485,769 | $0.50–$2.00 | $20–$35 | Most common; MS67+ commands steep premium |
| Denver (D) ⭐ | 17,826,000 | $1.25–$5.00 | $25–$45 | Check for 3-Legged Buffalo (FS-901) and RPMs! |
| San Francisco (S) | 5,635,000 | $1.50–$10.00 | $37–$70 | Lowest mintage; higher baseline; check for S/S RPMs |
| Philadelphia Proof | 5,769 | N/A | $1,375 (PR65) | Mirror finish; no 3-Legged errors exist in Proof format |
ℹ️ Mintmark Location
The mintmark (D or S) is on the reverse (tail side) below the words "FIVE CENTS". Philadelphia coins have no mintmark. A coin with no mintmark is simply the most common 1937 variety — 79.5 million were made.
For full grade-by-grade values, see our 1937 Buffalo Nickel value guide →
1937 Buffalo Nickel Quick Checks: Is Yours Valuable?
Use these checks as a triage system. Start by identifying your mintmark, then work through the checks relevant to your coin with a 10x loupe (an inexpensive magnifying glass used by coin collectors).
Check 1 — 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo (FS-901) Denver only
The reverse (tail side), at the buffalo's front right leg — the leg closest to you — and the area directly under the buffalo's belly.
The front leg must be completely absent, severed cleanly at the shoulder. A raised, ragged line of die erosion — called the "pissing stream" — must extend from the belly toward the ground. The rear leg should appear thin and "moth-eaten."
A leg that's simply faint from wear or a weak strike. NOT a coin where the leg has been ground off by a tool — that shows a shiny, polished, or recessed depression that doesn't match the surrounding field texture. A strong, full rear leg on a supposed "3-Legged" coin almost always signals a fake.
Check 2 — 1937-D Repunched Mintmark (D/D) Denver only
The reverse, below "FIVE CENTS". Focus entirely on the D mintmark.
A distinct shadow, secondary outline, or notch on the D. RPM-001 shows a secondary D to the east. RPM-004 shows one to the northwest. RPM-005 (most spectacular) shows a tripled D/D/D with three distinct impressions.
Machine Doubling — a flat, shelf-like step on the letter that has no numismatic value. Also not die erosion, which makes the mintmark look bloated or fuzzy without distinct separation lines or notching at the serifs.
Check 3 — 1937-S Repunched Mintmark (S/S) San Francisco only
The reverse, below "FIVE CENTS". Focus on the S mintmark — use 10x–15x magnification, as San Francisco mintmarks from this era are small.
A distinct shadow or secondary outline on the S. RPM-001 (S/S West) is the most cited variety — look for a clear notch or separation at the top or bottom curves of the S.
Machine Doubling (flat shelf, zero value). A fuzzy or bloated S from grease filling the die. Die erosion that makes the S look larger without distinct directional separation.
Check 4 — Common False Alarms (All Mints)
Acid-etched dates (rough, cratered surface from Nic-A-Date), gold or silver plating, scratches and dings, or a missing "F" designer initial below the date on the obverse.
These are post-mint damage or normal die wear — not valuable errors. The missing "F" is almost always grease filling the die, not a rare variety. Gold color means the coin has been plated.
A digital scale helps: a coin at standard weight (5.00 g ±0.2 g) with rough, discolored, or etched surfaces is almost certainly damaged. Any coin with "gold" color has been plated and is worth face value only.
1937 Buffalo Nickel Errors & Varieties: Master Value Table
All significant 1937 Buffalo Nickel errors and varieties in one reference table. Values as of January 2026. Linked error types have detailed guides in the Jackpots section below.
| Error Type | Designation | Mint | Rarity | Value Range | Auction Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Legged Buffalo | FS-901 | D | URS-12 | VF: $750 | MS: $25,000+ | $99,875 (MS66+, 2021) |
| RPM-001 (D/D East) | RPM-001 | D | Scarce | MS65: $50–$100 | — |
| RPM-004 (D/D NW) | RPM-004 | D | Scarce | MS65: $150+ | $188 (MS65, 2013) |
| RPM-005 (D/D/D Triple) | RPM-005 | D | Rare | MS62: $150 | $150 |
| RPM-001 (S/S West) | RPM-001 | S | Scarce | MS66: $60–$100 | $59 (MS66, 2018) |
| Off-Center Strike | — | P/D/S | Rare | $100–$4,000+ | $4,000 (20% off) |
| Broadstruck | — | P/D/S | Scarce | $100–$350 | $333 |
| Clipped Planchet | — | P/D/S | Scarce | $15–$150+ | ~$95 |
| Lamination Error | — | P/D/S | Common | $10–$100+ | Varies |
| Wrong Planchet | — | P/D/S | Extremely Rare | $10,000+ | — |
Values are retail estimates as of January 2026. Grade, eye appeal, and market conditions significantly affect actual prices. RPM values depend on specific variety and condition.
1937 Buffalo Nickel Jackpots: Detailed Error Guides
1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo (FS-901)
Normal 1937-D Buffalo Nickel (left) vs. genuine 3-Legged Buffalo (right) — the front right leg is completely absent on the error.
Origin & Background
The 3-Legged Buffalo is not a broken die or a grease-filled die — it is the result of intentional human intervention gone wrong. In 1937, a Denver Mint pressman (identified in numismatic lore as "Mr. Young") was tasked with salvaging a pair of dies that had clashed — meaning they struck each other without a planchet between them, transferring ghost images across the die faces. To remove those clash marks and keep the dies in production, he polished the reverse die with an emery stick. He polished too aggressively. The buffalo's front leg is a high point on the coin, corresponding to a deep recess in the die. The polishing planed that recess down until it was flush with the field — and the leg simply disappeared from every subsequent strike.
How to Identify — All Three Markers Must Be Present
- Missing front leg: The front right leg must be completely absent, severed at the shoulder. Crucially, the empty area should have matching field flow lines — the same texture as the surrounding coin surface. If it looks smooth, polished, or recessed, it is a fake.
- "Pissing stream" die-erosion line: This is the single most important authentication marker. A raised, ragged line of die erosion extends from the buffalo's belly toward the ground line. Counterfeiters can grind off a leg, but they rarely replicate this raised ridge because it requires the specific terminal die-erosion state of the genuine die.
- Moth-eaten rear leg: The same over-polishing that eliminated the front leg also weakened the rear leg. It should appear thin, ragged, and "moth-eaten." A 3-Legged coin with a fat, perfectly detailed rear leg is a near-certain fake.
Bonus marker: The letters of "E PLURIBUS UNUM" are often thinned or appear to float away from the buffalo's back due to the polishing event. The Indian's neck on the obverse may also show die-erosion marks from the clash event.
The raised "pissing stream" die-erosion line under the buffalo's belly — the hardest feature for counterfeiters to fake.
Genuine 3-Legged Buffalo (left) shows a thin, moth-eaten rear leg. A tooled fake (right) often has a suspiciously strong rear leg.
False Positives to Avoid
The most dangerous fake is the "tooled" alteration — a scammer takes a normal 1937-D nickel and grinds or polishes off the front leg with a Dremel tool or abrasive. These coins will show a shiny, smooth, recessed depression in place of the leg. Under directional light, angle the coin and watch the field: on a genuine 3-Legged coin, that empty space reflects the same flow lines as the rest of the field. A tooled fake will show scratches, polish marks, or a mirror-like surface that doesn't match. Another red flag: the 3-Legged error exists ONLY on 1937-D coins. It does not exist on 1937-P or 1937-S. Cast counterfeits feel "soapy" or slick and lack the coin's normal surface grain.
Market Values by Grade
- $400–$700 — Good to Fine (circulated, legible "filler" grade)
- $750 — VF (Very Fine, moderate wear)
- $5,000–$10,000 — MS63–MS64 (Mint State, some marks)
- $25,000–$30,000 — MS65 (Gem Mint State)
- $25,000+ — MS65 and above
Auction Record
$99,875 for MS66+ (NGC Coin Explorer | Heritage Auctions, 2021).
1937 Repunched Mintmark Varieties (D/D and S/S)
In 1937, mintmarks were punched by hand into working dies at the Philadelphia Mint before those dies were shipped to Denver or San Francisco. A worker positioned the letter punch and struck it with a mallet. If the first blow was too light or the punch shifted slightly between blows, a Repunched Mintmark (RPM) was created — a second ghost impression of the letter is locked permanently into the die, and from there into every coin struck from it.
Normal D mintmark (left) vs. RPM-004 (right) — the secondary D impression to the northwest creates a visible notch at the upper-left serif.
1937-D RPM Varieties
- RPM-001 (D/D East): A secondary D punched to the east of the primary. Look for a vertical bar or notch to the right side of the main upright. Value: MS65 $50–$100.
- RPM-004 (D/D Northwest): Secondary punch to the upper-left. Look for a notch at the upper-left serif of the D. Auction record: $188 (MS65, 2013). Value: MS65 $150+.
- RPM-005 (D/D/D — Triple): The standout variety, showing three distinct D impressions. Value: MS62 $150.
RPM-005 shows three distinct D impressions — a spectacular triple mintmark variety.
1937-S RPM Varieties
San Francisco also produced RPMs, with RPM-001 (S/S West) as the most frequently cited. Look for a clear notch or separation at the top or bottom curves of the S, indicating the secondary punch displaced to the west. San Francisco mintmarks from this era are small, so 10x–15x magnification is recommended. Value: MS66 $60–$100. Auction record: $59 (RPM-001, MS66, 2018).
How to Confirm — Machine Doubling vs. True RPM
The critical distinction: a genuine RPM shows a distinct secondary letter with a clear notch, gap, or separation line in the serif of the D or S. Machine Doubling (MD) — caused by a die bouncing on impact — looks like a flat, shelf-like ledge that reduces the letter's width. MD adds zero value. When in doubt, use directional lighting and rotate the coin: RPM doubling appears consistent in one direction; MD shelving appears on just one flat face.
Reference: Variety Vista — 1937-D RPMs | Variety Vista — 1937-S RPMs
1937 Buffalo Nickel Off-Center Strike
An off-center Buffalo Nickel with the design shifted and a blank crescent visible — a visible date is essential for maximum value.
An off-center strike occurs when the planchet (the blank coin disc) is not properly centered between the dies when the press strikes. The design prints off to one side, leaving a blank crescent of unstruck metal. The date must be visible to command full premium — on Buffalo Nickels, the date sits on the Indian's shoulder and is easily lost in dramatic off-center strikes.
- $10–$30 — Minor (1–5% off), often hard to distinguish from a misaligned die
- $100–$500 — Moderate (10–20% off), date must be partial or full
- $1,000–$4,000+ — Major (20–50% off), Mint State with visible date
Auction record: $4,000 for a coin struck 20% off-center on a 38% rolled-thin planchet, graded PCGS MS62, unique (Mike Byers Inc.).
1937 Buffalo Nickel Broadstruck
A broadstruck coin was struck outside the retaining collar — the ring that holds the planchet in place and forms the rim. Without the collar, the metal spreads outward when struck, producing a coin with a larger-than-normal diameter (over 21.2 mm), a spread-out design, and a flat or irregular rim instead of a normal raised edge. The full design should still be present but expanded. Distinguish from post-mint damage: broadstrikes show uniform outward expansion; a coin flattened by a vise or railroad track shows asymmetric distortion. Auction record: $333.
1937 Buffalo Nickel Clipped Planchet
Clipped planchet Buffalo Nickel — the curved smooth bite and the Blakesley Effect weakness opposite are the two authentication keys.
A clipped planchet has a smooth, curved "bite" taken out of its edge. This happens when the blanking punch that cuts coin blanks from a strip of metal overlaps a hole already punched from a previous blank. To confirm a genuine mint clip — not post-mint damage — look for the Blakesley Effect: a corresponding weakness in the rim and design at the point directly opposite the clip on the coin's edge. This feature confirms the clip occurred before the coin was struck. Minor curved clips: $15–$40. Large clips (>15%) in AU/MS: $50–$150+. Post-mint cuts have rough, straight, or irregular edges and lack the Blakesley Effect.
1937 Buffalo Nickel on Wrong Planchet
Extremely rarely, a Buffalo Nickel die struck a planchet intended for a different coin — such as a copper cent planchet (lighter, smaller, coppery color, ~3.11 g) or a silver dime planchet (smaller, silver-colored, ~2.50 g). The coin carries the Buffalo Nickel design but on clearly wrong-sized or wrong-colored metal. Professional authentication is mandatory — a wrong-planchet Buffalo Nickel is extraordinarily rare and worth $10,000+, but gold/silver plating (common on 1937 nickels sold as novelties) is easy to mistake at a glance. Always weigh the coin: a significant deviation from 5.00 g combined with wrong color or size is the key diagnostic.
⚠️ No 1937 Doubled Dies
There is no widely recognized, valuable Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) or Doubled Die Reverse (DDR) for 1937 specifically. Famous doubled dies exist for 1935 and 1936, but not 1937. Any 1937 coin offered as a "major DDO" should be verified by PCGS or NGC before purchase. Most doubling seen on 1937 nickels is Machine Doubling — a valueless striking artifact.
1937 Buffalo Nickel Traps: Common Mistakes & False Alarms
The 1937 Buffalo Nickel attracts more deliberate fakes and misidentifications than almost any other coin series. Here are the most common traps.
⚠️ Tooled "3-Legged" Fakes
A 1937-D nickel where the front right leg appears missing — but the field where the leg should be looks unusually smooth, shiny, or slightly recessed compared to the rest of the coin.
Scammers use abrasive tools (Dremel, sandpaper, polishing compound) to grind off the front leg of a normal 1937-D nickel and sell it as the valuable FS-901 variety — which can be worth 200x more.
- Genuine 3-Legged coins have matching flow lines in the empty leg space — tooled fakes show polishing scratches or a mirror-like depression
- Genuine coins have a thin, moth-eaten rear leg — fakes often have a strong, full rear leg (a paradox)
- Genuine coins show the "pissing stream" erosion line — tooled fakes rarely replicate this raised feature
- Never buy a raw (uncertified) 3-Legged Buffalo without a full return policy
Value if tooled: Face value (5 cents).
True RPM (top) shows a distinct secondary impression. Machine Doubling (bottom) shows only a flat shelf — worth nothing extra.
⚠️ Machine Doubling Sold as a Valuable RPM
A 1937-D or 1937-S nickel where the mintmark appears to have a "shadow" or secondary image alongside it.
Machine Doubling (also called Mechanical Doubling) occurs when the die slightly shifts or bounces at the moment of impact. It is extremely common and has no numismatic value.
- Machine Doubling looks like a flat, shelf-like ledge on one face of the letter — it does not show a distinct, separate secondary letter
- A true RPM shows a clear notch or gap, and the secondary image is directional (east, northwest, etc.) with its own distinct outline
- Machine Doubling can reduce the apparent width of a letter; a true RPM does not reduce letter width
Value if Machine Doubling: No premium over standard date value.
⚠️ Gold or Silver Plated Nickels
A 1937 Buffalo Nickel with a gold or silver color, often sold in antique stores or online as "rare" or "special."
Starting in the mid-20th century, novelty companies plated common coins with gold or silver for souvenir sets. These are not mint errors — they are post-mint alterations.
- Any non-standard color on a Buffalo Nickel (gold, silver, copper) is plating — Buffalo Nickels were made only in a silver-gray cupronickel alloy
- The plating destroys the original surfaces, making the coin numismatically worthless
- There is no legitimate mint error that produces a "gold" Buffalo Nickel
Value: Face value only (5 cents).
⚠️ Acid-Restored Dates (Nic-A-Date)
A Buffalo Nickel with a visible "1937" date but a rough, cratered, or etched-looking surface around the date area — often darker or chemically stained.
Buffalo Nickel dates wear off quickly. A product called "Nic-A-Date" uses acid to chemically reveal the ghost impression of a worn date. The process is irreversible and destroys the coin numismatically.
- The date area looks rough, cratered, or chemically etched compared to the rest of the coin
- The color around the date is different — often darker or with a mottled appearance
- A genuine coin's date has smooth, raised metal consistent with the rest of the design
Value: Face value only. No collector premium, even if the date is a key date.
1937 Buffalo Nickel Grading: How Condition Affects Value
Coin grades run from Poor (P-1) through Mint State (MS-70). For 1937 Buffalo Nickels, condition creates dramatic value differences — especially for the 3-Legged Buffalo and high-grade standard coins.
- Good (G-4) to Fine (F-12): Major details visible, date clear. Standard 1937-D: $1.25–$3.00. 3-Legged: $400–$700.
- Very Fine (VF-20 to VF-35): Moderate wear, high points flat. Standard 1937-D: $3–$5. 3-Legged: ~$750.
- Extremely Fine (EF-40 to AU-58): Light wear on high points. Standard 1937-D: $8–$20. 3-Legged: premium mid-grade examples are rare.
- Mint State (MS-60 to MS-64): No wear, but may have marks or contact lines. Standard 1937-D: $25–$45. 3-Legged: $5,000–$10,000+.
- Gem Mint State (MS-65+): Exceptional surfaces. Standard 1937-P: hundreds to thousands. 3-Legged MS-65: $25,000–$30,000.
A key challenge with Buffalo Nickels: weak strikes — common due to the hard alloy and high-relief design — can mimic wear. A weakly struck horn or flat Indian cheekbone is not a grade deduction for wear if the luster is intact. Submit high-quality uncirculated 1937 nickels to PCGS or NGC for professional grading if they appear to be MS-65 or better.
1937 Buffalo Nickel Authentication: When & Why to Get Certified
The two major third-party grading (TPG) services are PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) and NGC (Numismatic Guaranty Company). Certified coins are sealed in tamper-evident holders with an official grade, dramatically reducing the risk of buying a fake or a cleaned coin.
Authentication close-up: genuine field flow lines (left) vs. polished, recessed tooled area on a fake (right).
When to Certify
- Any 3-Legged Buffalo candidate (mandatory): The prevalence of tooled fakes makes raw 3-Legged coins essentially unsaleable at full value to knowledgeable buyers. Authentication is non-negotiable before buying or selling. Both PCGS and NGC attribute FS-901 on the holder. Reference: NGC counterfeit detection guide | Stack's Bowers authentication guide.
- Any standard 1937 nickel in MS-66 or higher: The value jump from MS-65 to MS-66 is steep enough to justify certification costs.
- RPM varieties in MS-65+: Attribution by a TPG confirms the variety and protects value at resale.
- Proof coins: The 1937 Proof's value ($1,375 at PR65) justifies certification and ensures the coin's mirror surfaces are protected.
Authentication Toolkit for At-Home Triage
- 10x–15x triplet loupe: Essential for the "pissing stream" and RPM notching checks.
- Digital scale (0.01 g precision): Standard weight is 5.00 g. A "Mint State" coin weighing significantly below 4.80 g is a red flag for a cast fake or wrong-planchet issue.
- Reference images: Bookmark PCGS CoinFacts — 1937-D for verified comparison images of genuine examples.
For buying or selling authenticated examples, established auction houses such as Heritage Auctions and Stack's Bowers are recommended for significant pieces like the 3-Legged Buffalo.
1937 Buffalo Nickel Errors: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo worth?
It depends heavily on condition. Circulated examples in Good to Fine grade typically sell for $400–$700. A VF example commands around $750. Mint State coins start at $5,000 (MS63) and can exceed $25,000 in Gem grades (MS65). The auction record is $99,875 for an MS66+ example sold at Heritage Auctions in 2021.
How do I know if my 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo is real?
Three markers must ALL be present: (1) the front right leg is completely gone with matching field flow lines (not a smooth, polished depression); (2) a raised, ragged "pissing stream" die-erosion line runs from the belly toward the ground line; and (3) the rear leg looks thin and moth-eaten. If any of these are missing — especially the stream line — the coin is almost certainly a tooled fake. Professional PCGS or NGC certification is mandatory before any significant transaction.
Can the 3-Legged error appear on 1937-P (Philadelphia) or 1937-S (San Francisco) nickels?
No. The 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo (FS-901) exists only on Denver Mint coins. The error was caused by a specific incident at the Denver Mint involving one pressman over-polishing one reverse die. A 1937-P or 1937-S coin with a missing front leg is a post-mint alteration, period.
What is the "pissing stream" on the 3-Legged Buffalo?
The "pissing stream" is the informal name for a raised, ragged line of die metal that extends from under the buffalo's belly toward the ground line. It is a die-erosion artifact that formed on the reverse die before — and during — the over-polishing that removed the front leg. Because it is a raised feature (it stands up from the field), counterfeiters who grind off a leg on a normal coin cannot easily replicate it. Its presence is the single strongest indicator of a genuine FS-901.
Is there a valuable 1937 Buffalo Nickel doubled die?
No major, widely recognized Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) or Doubled Die Reverse (DDR) for 1937 carries a significant premium. Famous doubled dies exist for 1935 and 1936 in the Buffalo series, but not for 1937. Most "doubling" on 1937 nickels is Machine Doubling — a flat, shelf-like striking artifact with no numismatic value. Any 1937 coin offered as a "major DDO" should be verified by PCGS or NGC.
My 1937 Buffalo Nickel has no mintmark — is it rare?
No. A coin with no mintmark is a Philadelphia issue — 79,485,769 were minted in 1937, making it the most common variety of the year. The lack of a mintmark on a Buffalo Nickel is standard, not an error. Check the reverse below "FIVE CENTS" for a D or S; if nothing is there, it's Philadelphia.
Should I clean my 1937 Buffalo Nickel before submitting it?
Never clean a coin intended for grading or sale. Cleaning — including wiping, polishing, or dipping — destroys the delicate "cartwheel" luster of the copper-nickel alloy and results in a "details" or "cleaned" designation from PCGS and NGC, which dramatically reduces value. A problem-free, naturally toned coin is always preferable to a cleaned one, even if the surfaces look dull.
What tools do I need to check my 1937 Buffalo Nickel?
A 10x loupe (available for $10–$20) is essential for spotting the 3-Legged diagnostics and RPM notching. A digital scale with 0.01 g precision (standard nickel weight: 5.00 g) helps flag counterfeits and wrong-planchet errors. Reference images from PCGS CoinFacts or NGC Coin Explorer are free online and invaluable for side-by-side comparison.
1937 Buffalo Nickel Values: Sources & Methodology
Values and diagnostics in this guide are drawn from the following authoritative numismatic sources, cross-referenced as of January 2026:
- PCGS CoinFacts — 1937 Buffalo Nickel (Philadelphia)
- PCGS CoinFacts — 1937-D Buffalo Nickel
- NGC Coin Explorer — 1937-D 3-Legged Buffalo
- NGC Counterfeit Detection Guide — 3-Legged Buffalo
- American Numismatic Association — "Break a Leg" (3-Legged Buffalo origin)
- Variety Vista — 1937-D RPM Varieties
- Variety Vista — 1937-S RPM Varieties
- Stack's Bowers — 1937-D 3-Legged Authentication Guide
- Mike Byers Inc. — 1937 Off-Center on Rolled-Thin Planchet (PCGS MS62)
Auction records sourced from Heritage Auctions realized prices and NGC Coin Explorer. RPM values reflect thin market data and should be treated as estimates. All values are retail estimates and subject to change with market conditions.
A note on images: To help illustrate coin diagnostics and rare varieties — especially complex errors that are difficult to describe in text alone — this guide uses AI-generated images. All written values, diagnostics, and variety attributions have been manually reviewed against the cited sources above. While our editorial team works to ensure every image is accurate and helpful, AI-generated illustrations may occasionally misrepresent fine details. If you spot any discrepancy between an image and its written description, please contact us or leave a comment below — we review all feedback and correct errors promptly. Numismatic knowledge is a community effort, and your input helps us build a more accurate resource for everyone.
