Numismatic

1952 Jefferson Nickel PF-68 Cameo NGC

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In 1952, the Philadelphia Mint produced a limited run of proof coinage, including a small mintage of just 81,980 nickels. Among these, an incredibly small number achieved the exceptional preservation and visual contrast required to earn a high-grade cameo designation. This particular five-cent piece is certified in Proof 68 Cameo condition, representing an extraordinary survivor from the mid-century era. The obverse features the classic profile of Thomas Jefferson facing left, accompanied by the inscriptions LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST, alongside the date of 1952. On the reverse, the historic home of Monticello is depicted in sharp detail. The surrounding inscriptions include E PLURIBUS UNUM above the dome, with FIVE CENTS, MONTICELLO, and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA framing the lower half. Because this coin was struck at the Philadelphia facility, it does not bear a mint mark, which is standard for the issue. What makes a cameo proof of this caliber so remarkable is the intense contrast between the deeply frosted design elements and the highly reflective, mirror-like fields. This visual depth is difficult to achieve and even harder to preserve over decades, making this pristine specimen a captivating study in mid-twentieth-century American numismatic art.