Numismatic

1981-S Jefferson Nickel Type-II Gem Proof

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In 1981, the San Francisco Mint produced a distinctive version of the classic five-cent piece, known to enthusiasts as the Type II variety. This coin is struck as a Gem Proof, a manufacturing method that emphasizes the sharp contrast between the frosted details of the design and the mirror-like background fields. Made from a copper-nickel alloy, this issue represents a refined moment in modern American circulating coinage. The obverse of the coin features the classic profile portrait of Thomas Jefferson, designed by Felix O. Schlag. Accompanying the portrait is the word LIBERTY and the date 1981, alongside the national motto, IN GOD WE TRUST. The 'S' mint mark signifies its origin at the San Francisco facility, where special care was taken to produce these high-quality proof strikes. On the reverse, Schlag's detailed depiction of Monticello, Jefferson's Virginia estate, takes center stage. The building is flanked by the traditional inscriptions E PLURIBUS UNUM above and the denomination FIVE CENTS below. The words UNITED STATES OF AMERICA curve gracefully along the bottom rim, completing a design that has been a staple of American pockets and collections for decades.