1953-D 5C MS66 Certification #41771616, PCGS #4050

CoinFacts Details

Owner's Comments

Golden Toning

Expert Comments

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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PCGS #

4050

Designer

Felix Schlag

Edge

Plain

Diameter

21.20 millimeters

Weight

5.00 grams

Mintage

59878600

Metal

75% Copper, 25% Nickel

Pop Higher

Pop Lower

1048

Region

The United States of America

Price Guide

PCGS Population

Auctions - PCGS Graded

Auctions - NGC Graded

Rarity and Survival Estimates Learn More

Grades	Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.	Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.	Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.	Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	48000000	R-1.0	9 / 68 TIE	12 / 82 TIE
All Grades	285000	R-1.8	41 / 68 TIE	46 / 82 TIE
60 or Better	180000	R-1.9	31 / 68 TIE	36 / 82 TIE

Survival Estimate The Survival Estimate represents an average of one or more experts opinions as to how many examples survive of a particular coin in three categories: 1) all grades, 2) 60 or better, and 3) 65 or better. These estimates are based on a variety of sources, including population reports, auction appearances, and personal knowledge. Survival estimates include coins that are raw, certified by PCGS, and certified by other grading services.
65 or Better	48000000
All Grades	285000
60 or Better	180000

Numismatic Rarity Numismatic Rarity converts the Survival Estimate for a particular coin into a number from 1 to 10 (with decimal increments) based on the PCGS Rarity Scale. The higher the number, the more rare the coin.
65 or Better	R-1.0
All Grades	R-1.8
60 or Better	R-1.9

Relative Rarity by Type Relative Rarity By Type ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Type. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	9 / 68 TIE
All Grades	41 / 68 TIE
60 or Better	31 / 68 TIE

Relative Rarity by Series Relative Rarity By Series ranks the rarity of this coin with all other coins of this Series. Lower numbers indicate rarer coins.
65 or Better	12 / 82 TIE
All Grades	46 / 82 TIE
60 or Better	36 / 82 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	Pedigree and History
1	PCGS MS67	As NGC MS67+ #4468210-005. GreatCollections, April 27, 2025, Lot 872614 - $297; GreatCollections, September 28, 2025, Lot 1929454 - $320.63. Golden centers blend into bluish-violet toward the periphery. The rim is flattened (as struck) at 11 o'clock.
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.

#1 PCGS MS67

As NGC MS67+ #4468210-005. GreatCollections, April 27, 2025, Lot 872614 - $297; GreatCollections, September 28, 2025, Lot 1929454 - $320.63. Golden centers blend into bluish-violet toward the periphery. The rim is flattened (as struck) at 11 o'clock.

#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.