1948-S 5C, FS

Description

1948-S Jefferson Nickel, MS67 Full Steps. This exceptional 1948-S Jefferson Nickel represents a significant find for serious collectors of the series. Graded MS67 by PCGS (Certificate #35626795) with the coveted Full Steps (FS) designation, this coin exemplifies the quality and eye appeal that defines premium examples of this issue. The 1948-S carries one of the lower mintages in the Jefferson Nickel series at just 11,300,000 pieces struck at the San Francisco Mint. While circulated examples and coins through MS65 remain relatively common in the marketplace, this specimen's MS67 grade represents a significant rarity threshold. The Full Steps designation—indicating sharp, fully defined steps on Monticello's reverse—further elevates its desirability, with only a handful of 1948-S nickels known to achieve this combination of grade and strike quality. Population data confirms the scarcity: just 4 examples have graded higher at PCGS, with only 22 total graded across all grades, underscoring this coin's position among the finest known examples. Struck from 75% copper and 25% nickel composition, this issue was designed by Felix Schlag and exhibits the technical specifications standard to the series: 5.0 grams and 21.2mm diameter with a plain edge. The combination of superior preservation, exceptional strike definition, and the challenging 1948-S date makes this an outstanding opportunity for the advanced collector seeking a premium example of this key-date Jefferson Nickel.