1913 5C Type One, 3 1/2 Legs MS64 PCGS....

Click the image to load the highest resolution version.

Sold on Apr 30, 2009 for:

$10,350.00 Bid Source: Live: Phone bidder

Get one of these:

Share this lot

Track Item Printable Auction Results

Sell One of These

Description

Auction Info

Guides & Info

Description

Rare 3 1/2 Legs Type One
1913 Buffalo Nickel MS64

1913 5C Type One, 3 1/2 Legs MS64 PCGS. FS-901, formerly FS-014.85. The bison's leftmost (facing) leg is indistinct. The most important Type One variety; the 1913-D "Two Feathers" listing is a distant second place. This relatively new variety, not discovered until 1995, is very rare in Mint State where only a few pieces are known. The Indian's profile is lightly strike doubled. Dusky gold toning is most prominent near the denomination. A few pinpoint obverse flecks determine the grade.
A June 7, 2004 Coin World article by Eric von Klinger describes the origin of the 3 1/2 legs mint error:
"James Earl Fraser's design for the Buffalo nickel, as it is commonly known, left the animal's forelegs relatively shallow in the die. When a reverse die had to be abraded to remove marks, the detail in this area was most at risk of being abraded away altogether. Such vigorous abrasion, or 'polishing,' is typical when two dies have come together in the coining press without a planchet between them, transferring design elements to each other in the form of 'clash marks.' "
This example was previously sold by Bowers and Merena, as lot number 3397 in their 2003 Baltimore A.N.A. auction, where it realized $19,550.
An MS65 example of this rare variety was sold by Heritage as lot 5513 at the 2004 Pittsburgh A.N.A. sale, for $47,500.

View Certification Details from PCGS