1921-S 5C MS(PCGS#3948)

June 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

1443

Grade

MS65

Price

7,500

Lot Description

Smartly impressed with virtually full striking detail throughout the design. Satiny and smooth, the surfaces are further enhanced by vivid iridescent toning in even champagne-apricot. Tiny flyspecks on both sides preclude an even higher Gem Mint State grade, but they are so faint as to be imperceptible during in-hand viewing. The 1921-S is one of the most challenging issues of its type to locate in high grades and with strong aesthetic appeal. For starters this is a scarce issue due to a limited mintage of 1,557,000 pieces and a high rate of attrition through circulation. Indeed, most survivors are well worn and grade no finer than VG. Perhaps surprisingly, low end Mint State examples are more available than those in EF and AU grades, but the former are usually poorly struck with other unappealing attributes such as planchet laminations, toning streaks or heavy flowlines. All of these attributes point to the use of worn dies and otherwise poor workmanship on the part of San Francisco Mint personnel. The opportunity to acquire a superior quality Gem 1921-S nickel such as offered here usually comes along only once in a long while.