1937-D 3-leg Indian Head nickel

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The 1937-D 3-leg Indian Head nickel is a well-known Mint error in the Indian Head nickel series.

[edit] Origins

The "3-leg" Mint error was created by polishing a damaged reverse die with an emery stick.

In 1937, the Denver Mint struck a total of 17.8 million Indian Head ("Buffalo") nickels. These were produced from a wide variety of different die pairs, most of which are very difficult to tell apart because of the modern die making techniques used to create them. During the striking process, however, one die pair came to bear an unusual distinguishing mark. During the striking process, a "die clash" had taken place — that is, the obverse and reverse dies had come together without a planchet in place. As a result of this, various design elements were transferred from the obverse to the reverse and vice versa. While the obverse die was unusable following the clash, Mint personnel felt that the reverse die could be salvaged by polishing it down. A Mint employee then abraded the die with an emery stick, removing the clash marks. In the process, most of the bison's front leg was also removed. Coins struck from this damaged reverse die are "3-legged Buffalo nickels".

[edit] References

• 1937D 3 Legged Buffalo Nickel