Quality control continued on its inexorable tumble in 1953. The 1953(P) nickels were made with little care, most being weakly struck, slightly dull and dark as issued. Those having 5FS are rare, ones with 6FS being all but unknown.
Mintage:
| Philadelphia | Denver | San Francisco | Proof |
| 46,772,800 | 59,878,600 | 19,210,900 | 128,800 |