The mintage for this fourth-year Proof Franklin half dollar issue is 128,800 pieces. The Proof 1953 is a bit more obtainable with a cameo finish than the Proof 1950, 1951 and 1952, but it is every bit as rare in the certified Deep/Ultra Cameo category. Writing in the third edition (2018) of the Guide Book of Franklin & Kennedy Half Dollars, Rich Tomaska explains the situation:

"There are only a few known cameo dies that struck any examples possessing the intense obverse and reverse cameo contrast needed for a deep cameo designation, though only the very earliest strikes off these dies possessed the level of cameo and depth of mirror required for a deep or ultra cameo designation. Additionally, the few that were struck are typically heavily hairlined, which is not surprising since the same packaging was used for 1953 as for the earlier years."

The example to the left was sold by Stack's Bowers Galleries in the March 2021 Showcase Auction, where it realized $7,200.