Numismatic

1974-S Jefferson Nickel Gem Proof

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The 1974 Jefferson nickel stands as a striking example of modern American coinage, minted in a copper and nickel alloy. This specific piece is a Gem Proof specimen, indicating it was struck using specially prepared dies and planchets to achieve a highly reflective, mirror-like finish and sharp details. Produced at the San Francisco Mint, it carries the distinctive "S" mint mark, a sign of its origin for collectors of twentieth-century coinage. On the obverse, the coin features a classic profile portrait of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, designed by Felix O. Schlag. The portrait is flanked by the familiar national mottos "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "LIBERTY," alongside the 1974 date. This side showcases the clean, elegant lines that have defined the nickel series for decades. The reverse of the coin displays a detailed vignette of Monticello, Jefferson's historic Virginia estate. Below the building, the denomination is spelled out as "FIVE CENTS," while the inscriptions "E PLORIBUS UNUM" and "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" frame the architectural scene. The crispness of the building's columns and dome on this proof striking highlights the enduring geometric beauty of the original mid-century design.