It seems that the San Francisco Mint discontinued its former practice of repolishing worn dies to remove heavy erosion lines. These are freely seen on many 1953 S nickels, though these same coins may have brights and superficially pleasing luster. Perhaps this accounts for a fair number of certified gems, but these coins are unlikely to satisfy the sophisticated collector who values sharpness of strike and early die state.
Several minor re-punched mintmarks are known.
Mintage:
| Philadelphia | Denver | San Francisco | Proof |
| 46,772,800 | 59,878,600 | 19,210,900 | 128,800 |