Greysheet Catalog Details (GSID: 10914)

1953 was the year that Proof set sales really took off, as a speculative market grew in the 1936­ to ­1942 sets and even the 1950­ to ­1952 sets. Already the 51,386 sets sold in 1950 made this date a modern rarity, at least in relative terms.

Despite a larger mintage, the Proof coins of 1953 are scarce as cameo pieces and very rare with deep or ultra cameo frosting. As with most Proofs from the 1950s and ’60s, it is the half dollar that is most in demand in gem cameo or deep cameo condition. Being the largest and heaviest coin in the set, it is the one most subject to suffering hairline scratches and abrasions. Proof quarters, once largely neglected, have recently become quite popular as a consequence of the state quarters program, which has increased interest in the Washington series across the board.

Cameo Proofs are certainly more readily available for coins dated 1950 and later than they are for the 1936­ to ­1942 issues, though they remain in the minority of Proof pieces minted through the early 1970s. During this period, the Mint took no special effort to preserve the frosty texture that the dies possessed when first placed into the coin press. Some 3,000­ to 5,000 Proofs may have been made from each die before it was retired from Proof production, and this frost was quickly worn smooth through repeated striking of coins. Only the first few hundred Proofs from each die could be expected to show any frostiness. Perhaps only the first few dozen impressions would result in coins having deep or ultra cameo contrast, and these are consistently the most desired of Proofs among specialists.

Collectible varieties for 1953 include a doubled­-­die obverse cent with doubling quite visible in numerals “19” of the date. While not especially rare, this one is very popular. Somewhat scarcer, though still obtainable for any interested collector, is the 1953 nickel with die doubling in the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. This doubling is slight, and it will require a magnifying glass to see. A truly fascinating variety is the tripled­-­die obverse 1953 Proof quarter. It shows faint extra outlines to both sides of the date numerals.

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