1953-D 5C, FS (Regular Strike)

Series: Jefferson Five Cents 1938-1964

PCGS MS67+FS

PCGS MS67+FS

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PCGS MS67FS

PCGS MS67FS

PCGS MS67FS

PCGS MS67FS

PCGS #:
84050
Designer:
Felix Schlag
Edge:
Plain
Diameter:
21.20 millimeters
Weight:
5.00 grams
Mintage:
59,878,600
Mint:
Denver
Metal:
75% Copper, 25% Nickel
Current Auctions - PCGS Graded
Current Auctions - NGC Graded
For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - PCGS Graded
For Sale Now at Collectors Corner - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades Survival
Estimate
Numismatic
Rarity
Relative Rarity
By Type
Relative Rarity
By Series
All Grades 55,000 R-2.4 30 / 65 TIE 36 / 79 TIE
60 or Better 55,000 R-2.4 30 / 65 TIE 36 / 79 TIE
65 or Better 32,000 R-2.6 37 / 65 TIE 45 / 79 TIE
Survival Estimate
All Grades 55,000
60 or Better 55,000
65 or Better 32,000
Numismatic Rarity
All Grades R-2.4
60 or Better R-2.4
65 or Better R-2.6
Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type
All Grades 30 / 65 TIE
60 or Better 30 / 65 TIE
65 or Better 37 / 65 TIE
Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series
All Grades 36 / 79 TIE
60 or Better 36 / 79 TIE
65 or Better 45 / 79 TIE

Condition Census What Is This?

Pos Grade Image Pedigree and History
1 PCGS MS67+FS

Heritage 1/2016:4893, $15,275 - “Buckeye” Collection (PCGS Set Registry)

2 PCGS MS67FS

As NGC MS67FS #6279420-002. GreatCollections, June 29, 2025, Lot 1857536 - $1,863. As PCGS MS67FS #56844723. GreatCollections, January 4, 2026, Lot 1877510 - $4,725; "The Quantumnavy Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Faint rose toning. 

2 PCGS MS67FS

GreatCollections, November 9, 2025, Lot 1958182 - $4,443.75. Brilliant with isolated faint patches of golden toning. Small diagonal mark on the window representing Jefferson's dining room.

2 PCGS MS67FS

As NGC MS67 #4674995-015. GreatCollections, September 16, 2018, Lot 62036 - $3,937.50. As PCGS MS67FS #37387667. GreatCollections, June 16, 2019, Lot 629667 - $5,036.63. Iridiscent blue and gold toning. Pin-sized light spot above Jefferson's head. Scattered spots elsewhere. 

2 PCGS MS67FS

GreatCollections, July 29, 2018, Lot 602063 - $9,675Rainbow toned in peach, green, yellow, and blue. Note a dark spot above the left arch of Monticello.

3 PCGS MS66+FS
3 PCGS MS66+FS

As PCGS MS66+FS #25282497. GreatCollections, October 20, 2024, Lot 1672850 - $1,944As PCGS MS66+FS #50939905. "The Neon Lights Collection," GreatCollections, January 5, 2025, Lot 1720654 - $1,743.75. Mint gold patination with a hint of peach around US UNUM in E PLURIBUS UNUM and at Jefferson's bedroom. 

As PCGS MS66+FS

3 PCGS MS66+FS

GreatCollections, December 7, 2025, Lot 199873 - $1,209.38.Gold patination throughout. Strike softness on the arch. Multiple die lines under NT in CENTS and around LLO of MONTICELLO.

3 PCGS MS66+FS
3 PCGS MS66+FS

Peach patination. Dark toning spot on the back of Jefferson's jaw. Daigonal mark on the far right window of Jefferson's parlor. 

3 PCGS MS66+FS

Brilliant surfaces blend with gold. Small diagonal mark on Jefferson's jaw.

#1 PCGS MS67+FS

Heritage 1/2016:4893, $15,275 - “Buckeye” Collection (PCGS Set Registry)

#2 PCGS MS67FS

As NGC MS67FS #6279420-002. GreatCollections, June 29, 2025, Lot 1857536 - $1,863. As PCGS MS67FS #56844723. GreatCollections, January 4, 2026, Lot 1877510 - $4,725; "The Quantumnavy Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Faint rose toning. 

#2 PCGS MS67FS

GreatCollections, November 9, 2025, Lot 1958182 - $4,443.75. Brilliant with isolated faint patches of golden toning. Small diagonal mark on the window representing Jefferson's dining room.

#2 PCGS MS67FS

As NGC MS67 #4674995-015. GreatCollections, September 16, 2018, Lot 62036 - $3,937.50. As PCGS MS67FS #37387667. GreatCollections, June 16, 2019, Lot 629667 - $5,036.63. Iridiscent blue and gold toning. Pin-sized light spot above Jefferson's head. Scattered spots elsewhere. 

#2 PCGS MS67FS

GreatCollections, July 29, 2018, Lot 602063 - $9,675Rainbow toned in peach, green, yellow, and blue. Note a dark spot above the left arch of Monticello.

#3 PCGS MS66+FS
#3 PCGS MS66+FS

As PCGS MS66+FS #25282497. GreatCollections, October 20, 2024, Lot 1672850 - $1,944As PCGS MS66+FS #50939905. "The Neon Lights Collection," GreatCollections, January 5, 2025, Lot 1720654 - $1,743.75. Mint gold patination with a hint of peach around US UNUM in E PLURIBUS UNUM and at Jefferson's bedroom. 

As PCGS MS66+FS

#3 PCGS MS66+FS

GreatCollections, December 7, 2025, Lot 199873 - $1,209.38.Gold patination throughout. Strike softness on the arch. Multiple die lines under NT in CENTS and around LLO of MONTICELLO.

#3 PCGS MS66+FS
#3 PCGS MS66+FS

Peach patination. Dark toning spot on the back of Jefferson's jaw. Daigonal mark on the far right window of Jefferson's parlor. 

#3 PCGS MS66+FS

Brilliant surfaces blend with gold. Small diagonal mark on Jefferson's jaw.

Charles Morgan:

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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