Rare nickel sells for $1,452 online – the number of legs you need to look for to find one worth thousands
A RARE nickel has sold for nearly $1,452 on eBay – and you could make a mint if you spot one too.
The 1937 coin features a buffalo with three legs on one side, with an Indian head on the other.
The standard US nickels came with a buffalo on the reverse side between 1913 and 1938.
The animals were all supposed to have four legs, but some coins were produced with just three legs clearly showing.
In particular, one of the front legs is missing.
In June, one version of this coin minted in Denver sold for $1,451.67 on eBay after attracting 20 bids.
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The circulated piece had been certified by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) in an AU-55 state.
This means the coin showed "full detail", but with light friction on the high points.
Other error coins with three legs have also sold for thousands recently, with buyers snapping them up for $1,027 and $1,776.
Meanwhile, the auction record for a buffalo nickel without the error is currently $18,213, according to the PCGS.
As always, the value of any coin is only how much someone else is willing to pay for it.
In other words, you're not guaranteed to get hundreds or thousands if you have a similar one.
Is your small change worth a fortune?
If you believe you have a rare coin then you may be able to make a real mint.
The most valuable coins are usually those with a low mintage or an error, as they're deemed the most valuable by collectors.
To find out if your small change could be worth a fortune, check how much the specific coins are selling for on eBay.
Search the full name of the coin, select the "sold" listing and then toggle the search to "highest value".
It will give you an idea of the amount of money that the coin is going for.
You can either choose to sell the coin on eBay or through a specialist site such as Coinappraiser or USA Coin Book.
If you choose eBay, remember to set a minimum price that is higher or at the very least equal to the face value of the coin - or you'll make a loss.
You also need to be aware that even if your coin “sells” on eBay for a high price there’s no guarantee that the buyer will pay up.
In its terms and conditions, eBay states that bidders enter a “legally binding contract to purchase an item”, but there’s no way to enforce this rule.
The most eBay can do is add a note to their account for the unpaid item or remove their ability to bid and buy.
Read More on The US Sun
Read More on The US Sun
We reveal the most valuable coins with a double die error, including both Lincoln pennies and Washington quarters.
And we compiled the most valuable coins featuring US presidents, including a $267,000 silver dollar featuring Dwight Eisenhower.