Series: Jefferson Five Cents 1965 to Date
| Survival Estimate | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 500 |
| 60 or Better | 500 |
| 65 or Better | 50 |
| Numismatic Rarity | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | R-6.0 |
| 60 or Better | R-6.0 |
| 65 or Better | R-8.5 |
| Relative Rarity By Type All Specs in this Type | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 1 / 73 TIE |
| 60 or Better | 1 / 73 TIE |
| 65 or Better | 1 / 73 |
| Relative Rarity By Series All Specs in this Series | |
|---|---|
| All Grades | 1 / 73 TIE |
| 60 or Better | 1 / 73 TIE |
| 65 or Better | 1 / 73 |
|
#1 PCGS MS65FS
Stack's Bowers, August 9, 2016, Lot 3049 - $30,550; "The George 'Buddy' Byers Buckeye Collection," Stack's Bowers, August 25, 2021, Lot 2171 - $33,600; "The Ray Overby Collection" (PCGS Set Registry). Brilliant. A mark is visible on the jaw, with multiple marks along the left edge of Jefferson’s coat. Two ticks appear above the bedroom and study, and a planchet void is noted above "TE" in STATES. |
The Denver Mint struck 202,807,500 1969-D Jefferson Nickels (#4082). While substantial, this mintage was a fraction of the 2.8 billion nickels produced just five years prior. During 1969 and 1970, the U.S. Mint consolidated nickel production at its Denver and San Francisco facilities, leaving Philadelphia with no nickel output for those years.
Given the high mintage, the 1969-D Jefferson Nickel remains common in circulation. Now over 50 years old, most "in the wild" examples are heavily worn, though persistent hunters may still find coins in Extra Fine condition. Generally, these circulated coins carry limited numismatic interest and rarely justify the cost of PCGS encapsulation.
In uncirculated condition, the valuation shifts based on preservation, the presence of Prooflike (PL) surfaces, and the most elusive feature of all: Full Steps (FS) at the base of Monticello.
Finding a 1969-D with Full Steps is a monumental task. As numismatist Q. David Bowers famously noted, it is the "Golden Fleece" of Jefferson Nickels. This rarity stems from the Mint’s continued use of a nearly 30-year-old Master Hub. By 1969, the hub had lost significant detail; a Full Steps image could only be produced if every stage of the die-making process was executed perfectly, and even then, only during the earliest stages of a die's production life.
A more realistic goal for collectors is the pursuit of Gem and Superb Gem examples. The primary sources for these are:
To date, only one 1969-D Jefferson Nickel has earned the PCGS Full Steps designation. To qualify, a nickel must grade PCGS MS60 or better and exhibit at least five complete, uninterrupted steps. Any steps that are fused, joined, or obscured by damage—whether during the strike or through later wear—disqualify the coin from the designation
In August 2016, the only specimen to ever meet these criteria sold for a staggering $30,550 at the Stack’s Bowers ANA World’s Fair of Money auction. This specific coin, graded PCGS MS65FS, made another high-profile appearance in 2021 during the sale of the prestigious George "Buddy" Byers Collection.
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