SOLD: Super Rare USA Double-Sided Strike 3-Legged Buffalo Nickel, Lightly Circulated

This particular coin came in as part of a simple pile of loose change. At first glance it looked like an ordinary Buffalo nickel, the classic American coin featuring a Native American profile on one side and a buffalo on the other. But a closer look revealed a super rare double-struck error coin.

At EstateMaster Antiques we have a bit of a specialty in error coins, and certain details immediately stood out. The coin had been double struck on both sides, with the second strike slightly rotated by about 10 percent. This kind of minting error is quite rare.

The rotation caused a cool visual effect on the reverse: the buffalo appears to have three legs instead of two, where the overlapping strikes created an extra limb.

Double-struck coins occur when a coin fails to eject properly from the minting press and is struck again before leaving the machine. When that second strike happens at a different angle, the design elements shift and overlap, producing dramatic and highly collectible errors. Finding one hidden among everyday change is a reminder that sometimes the most valuable discoveries appear where you least expect them.

A very lucky find for us, and the coin sold within minutes of being listed on ebay.