PCGS MS67
PCGS MS67
- PCGS #:
- 4050
- Designer:
- Felix Schlag
- Edge:
- Plain
- Diameter:
- 21.20 millimeters
- Weight:
- 5.00 grams
- Mintage:
- 59,878,600
- Mint:
- Denver
- Metal:
- 75% Copper, 25% Nickel
- Auction Record:
- $3,435 • MS67 • 08-23-2019 • eBay
Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More
| Survival Estimate | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 48,000,000 |
| 60 or Better | 285,000 |
| 65 or Better | 180,000 |
| Numismatic Rarity | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | R-1.0 |
| 60 or Better | R-1.8 |
| 65 or Better | R-1.9 |
| Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 9 / 68 TIE |
| 60 or Better | 41 / 68 TIE |
| 65 or Better | 31 / 68 TIE |
| Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 12 / 82 TIE |
| 60 or Better | 46 / 82 TIE |
| 65 or Better | 36 / 82 TIE |
Condition Census What Is This?
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#1 PCGS MS67
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#1 PCGS MS67
As PCGS MS67 #5835777. GreatCollections, May 7, 2023, Lot 1362973 - $691.89. As PCGS MS67 348884630. GreatCollections, March 3, 2024, Lot 1529431 - $856.13. Swirling, iridescent peacock-green, magenta, and blue toning appears on both sides. A small diagonal cut is visible high on Jefferson’s cheekbone, with a small vertical cut near the center of the Monticello arch. |
#1 PCGS MS67
Dell Loy Hansen; David Lawrence Rare Coins, October 9, 2022, Lot 692 - $1,475. Intense album toning in Peach, Gold, blue, and green. |
#1 PCGS MS67
GreatCollections, March 24, 2019, Lot 618669 - $439.65; "The Stephen M. Sparks Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). A diagonal toning pattern in intense dark gold, red, and olive covers Jefferson's face, while much of the left obverse field is lightly toned. |
#1 PCGS MS67
GreatCollections, April 8, 2018, Lot 559161 - $545.63; "The KCJ Cir Jeffs Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Faint peach patination. |
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#1 PCGS MS67
Heritage Auctions, September 13, 2006, Lot 1167 - $977.50; "The Compradore Collection," Heritage Auctions, June 26, 2008, Lot 582 - $977.50; "The Robinette Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Light grey surfaces with hints of mint yellow, lilac, and peach. |
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#1 PCGS MS67
Mint yellow patination covers the obverse, while the reverse exhibits a more intense blend of russet and yellow. |
#1 PCGS MS67
Pale yellow patination blends into gold and peach along the upper-left peripheries of both the obverse and reverse. |
#1 PCGS MS67
Faint peach patination. Small diagonal tick on Jefferson's jaw. Small tick below TR in TRUST. |
The 1953-D Jefferson Nickel
In 1953, the Denver Mint reconfigured its production floor to streamline manufacturing into a single, sequential line. Raw ingots entered at one end and emerged as finished coins at the other. However, this efficiency couldn't mask a broader institutional decline. Between 1945 and 1950, Mint staff was slashed from 3,736 to just 1,272 workers, causing production quality to plummet. During this era, weak strikes became the standard rather than the exception, particularly for the Jefferson Nickel.
Continuing this downward trend, the Mint struggled to maintain standards in 1953. Consequently, high-grade 1950s nickels with "Full Steps" are notably rare. Despite these challenges, the Denver facility managed to produce 1953 coins of comparatively higher quality than its sister mints. Supply was further constrained by a general scarcity of nickel for blank planchets, which suppressed mintage numbers across the early '50s.
In total, Denver struck just under 60 million 1953-D Jefferson Nickels (#4050)—only 51.1% of the 117.1 million pieces issued the following year. This combination of a smaller mintage and a lack of high-quality strikes has significantly limited the number of premium examples available to collectors today.
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