1936-D 3-1/2 Legs

The 1936-D 3-1/2 Legs Buffalo nickel is a die variety in which the bison's front leg appears partially removed due to excessive die polishing. Unlike the more famous 1937-D 3 Legs (which shows a complete leg removal), the 1936-D variety shows the leg partially intact with significant obliteration of the knee and lower leg detail. The variety was created when a Denver Mint die was over-polished during maintenance, removing metal from the die face and creating a planchet impression with reduced leg detail.

Identification requires examining the reverse carefully. The 3-1/2 Legs variety shows the bison's front leg with clear polishing damage: the upper portion of the leg remains but the lower portion and hoof area are weakly struck or missing entirely. The diagnostic is clearest on higher-grade coins where the polishing damage can be distinguished from ordinary wear patterns.

The 1936-D 3-1/2 Legs is considered a die variety, and specialist references catalog it as one of the Buffalo series varieties worth premium pricing. The variety is significantly scarcer than normal 1936-D coins and commands meaningful premiums, though it remains substantially less expensive than the 1937-D 3 Legs because the leg damage is less dramatic and the variety is less widely recognized.

Survival is limited. PCGS and NGC both attribute the variety on certified examples, and specialist collectors pursue it as one of the two "legs" varieties in the Buffalo series. For collectors building comprehensive Buffalo nickel sets with varieties, the 1936-D 3-1/2 Legs is a required entry alongside the 1937-D 3 Legs.