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 2004 Jefferson nickel obverse

First we will have to start out with the obverse.  President Thomas Jefferson has been on the obverse of the nickel for over 66 years.  In 1938 designer Felix Schlag's nickel design was intrudes into circulation and has had minimal changes since. In 1942 there was a change to the composition and the mint mark was placed on the back and in larger form to identify them from the regular nickels. After 1945 they went back to the original design and have stayed that way until 2004 which the reverse was change for the 200 centennial of the Louisiana purchase and the Louis and Clerk expedition.

2004 Spring Design: Louisiana Purchase/Peace Medal

The first of two new reverses on the 2004-dated Jefferson nickel will feature a rendition of the reverse of the original Indian Peace Medal commissioned for Lewis and Clark's expedition, bearing the likeness of America's third president on one side, and symbols of peace and friendship on the other.  The medals were presented to Native American chiefs and other important leaders as tokens of goodwill at treaty signings and other events.

The design, by United States Mint sculptor/engraver Norman E. Nemeth, features two hands clasped in friendship - one with a military uniform cuff, symbolizing the American government, and the other with a silver band adorned with beads and a stylized American eagle, representing the Native American community with whom the United States sought good relations.

2004 Fall Design "Keelboat" 

In late 2004, the 2004-dated Jefferson nickel will feature an angled, side-view of the keelboat with full sail that transported members of the expedition and their supplies through the rivers of the Louisiana Territory in search of a northwest passage to the Pacific Ocean.  Built to the specifications of Captain Lewis, the 55-foot keelboat could be sailed, rowed, poled like a raft, or towed from the riverbank.  The design, by United States Mint sculptor/engraver Al Maletsky, shows Captains Lewis and Clark in full uniform in the bow of the keelboat.

New for 2005:

In commemoration of the bicentennials of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition, the President enacted Public Law 108-15 to modify the Jefferson 5-cent coin (nickel) to reflect images evocative of the historic expedition into the Louisiana Territory. The United States Mint began the Westward Journey Nickel Series™ in 2004 with the release of the Peace Medal and Keelboat nickels. In 2005, a contemporary image of President Jefferson will appear on the nickel, along with two new reverse designs that recognize the American Indians and wildlife encountered by the Lewis and Clark expedition and the progress and culmination of the journey. Depictions of Monticello and Thomas Jefferson will return to the nickel in 2006

2005 Obverse Design: "President Jefferson with Handwritten Liberty"

The obverse design for the 2005 nickels will bear, for the first time in 67 years, a new likeness of America’s third president, Thomas Jefferson. The “Liberty” inscription on the coin is based upon Jefferson’s own handwriting. The design is based on the marble bust of Jefferson by the French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon, completed in 1789. The design was made age-appropriate to his presidency by utilizing later paintings by Gilbert Stuart and Rembrandt Peale.

2005 Spring Reverse Design: "American Bison"

The first of two new reverses on the 2005-dated nickel will feature the American bison, recognizing the American Indians and wildlife encountered by the Lewis and Clark expedition. Expedition journals described the buffalo, and it was an animal of great significance to many American Indian cultures

2005 Summer/Fall Reverse Design: "Ocean in view! O! The joy!"

In late 2005, the nickel will feature a scene of the Pacific Ocean and an inscription reflecting an excited entry in the journal of Captain William Clark on November 7, 1805. The design visually depicts the expedition’s exultation on believing they had finally reached the Pacific Ocean after so many months of arduous travel.

2006 and on... "Return to Monticello"!

The final obverse design in the series features a new portrait of Jefferson.  And, instead of the usual side view, Jefferson faces forward.  This design marks the first time a presidential bust on a circulating American coin is not shown in profile.

The reverse design, although very much like the pre-2004 design, is actually very different.  The new image takes advantage of the advances in coin-making technology to produce a crisper, more detailed Monticello than has ever been seen on the five-cent coin.

Just as Lewis and Clark came full circle, returning to the East and Jefferson's home in Monticello, the "Return to Monticello" Nickel brings the Westward Journey Nickel Series back to its beginnings:  Thomas Jefferson on the front and his home, Monticello, on the back.  And yet, how the coin has changed!

More facts about the United States Jefferson Nickel:

   War Series - During the early months of the World War II the critical need for nickel and copper required the treasury department to substitute other metals for the scarce elements. On October 8, 1942 the new nickels composed of 56% copper, 35% silver and 9% manganese were released. These “Silver Nickels” were issued until the old composition of 75% copper and 25% nickel was revived in 1946.

   Statistics - Designer Felix Schlag, Diameter 21.2, Weight 5.0g,  Composition Copper Nickel

   Key dates - 1950-D (2.6m), 1939-D (3.5m), and 1938-S (4.1 m)

   Common known errors and varieties - 1939 Doubled Monticello, 1943/2 P, 1943P double eye, 1945P double die, 1949D/S, 1954S/D, 1955D/S and 1971 no S. Types I and II for the 1939, 1979 and 1981 and the Matte finish on the 1994P and 1997P from the Coin and Currency sets.

   In closing - Since there has not been a change in the nickel design in the last 66 years it’s basically pretty easy to put a whole set together right out of circulation. With exception of a few key dates and the war series which was made of 35% silver.

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