1953-D 5C, FS MS66FS Certification #83556561, PCGS #84050

CoinFacts Details

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 #

84050

Designer

Felix Schlag

Edge

Plain

Diameter

21.20 millimeters

Weight

5.00 grams

Mintage

59878600

Metal

75% Copper, 25% Nickel

Pop Higher

Pop Lower

133

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	55000	R-2.4	30 / 65 TIE	36 / 79 TIE
All Grades	55000	R-2.4	30 / 65 TIE	36 / 79 TIE
60 or Better	32000	R-2.6	37 / 65 TIE	45 / 79 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	55000
All Grades	55000
60 or Better	32000

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-2.4
All Grades	R-2.4
60 or Better	R-2.6

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	30 / 65 TIE
All Grades	30 / 65 TIE
60 or Better	37 / 65 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	36 / 79 TIE
All Grades	36 / 79 TIE
60 or Better	45 / 79 TIE

Condition Census Learn More

Pos	Grade	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 - $9,675. Rainbow toned in peach, green, yellow, and blue. Note a dark spot above the left arch of Monticello.

#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 - $9,675. Rainbow toned in peach, green, yellow, and blue. Note a dark spot above the left arch of Monticello.