The 1976-S Jefferson Nickel with a grade of PCGS PR70DCAM is a proof coin that has been certified by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). Here’s a breakdown of what that means:
- 1976-S Jefferson Nickel: This is a 5-cent coin minted in 1976 at the San Francisco Mint, as indicated by the “S” mint mark. The mintage for the proof version of this coin was 4,149,730.
- PCGS PR70DCAM: This is the highest possible grade a coin can receive from PCGS.
- PCGS stands for Professional Coin Grading Service, one of the most respected third-party coin grading services.
- PR70 (or PF70 by other services) is the numerical grade. A grade of 70 on the Sheldon Scale means the coin is flawless, with no imperfections visible under 5x magnification.
- DCAM stands for “Deep Cameo.” This designation is given to proof coins that have a strong, “black and white” contrast, with deeply mirrored fields (the flat part of the coin) and heavily frosted or “cameo” devices (the raised design elements). This effect is highly sought after by collectors.
The value of a 1976-S Jefferson Nickel in this grade can vary. Recent auction and sale prices on sites like eBay and PCGS’s own auction price guide have shown a range from approximately $360 to over $800, with some examples selling for over $2,900 in past auctions. The “PCGS Price Guide” suggests a value of around $500, though actual sale prices can differ based on market demand and the specific coin’s characteristics.