Jefferson Nickels Westward Journey 2004-2005

In 2002 the Mint began planning a nickel redesign for the 200th anniversary of Lewis and Clark's journey. According to Wikipedia, Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia objected to any permanent removal of Monticello, and the result was the American 5-Cent Coin Design Continuity Act of 2003, Public Law 108-15. President Bush signed it on April 23, 2003. It let the Treasury change the nickel's designs through 2005 to mark the Louisiana Purchase and the expedition, and it required Monticello to be back on the reverse of any nickel issued after December 31, 2005.

The Mint called it the first redesign of the nickel since 1938. Four coins followed, each issued in turn: the Peace Medal in March 2004, the Keelboat in August 2004, the American Bison in March 2005 and the Ocean in View that August. For 2005 the Mint picked its designs from 144 entries by its own sculptor-engravers and the 24 artists of its new Artistic Infusion Program. A panel narrowed them to 17, and the Commission of Fine Arts and the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee reviewed those before the Treasury Secretary chose.

The Schlag nickels before the program are on the 1938-2003 Jefferson nickel page. From 2006 the coin became the Return to Monticello nickel.

2004

Both 2004 coins kept Felix Schlag's left-facing Jefferson, the likeness in use since 1938.

Peace Medal. The reverse copies the back of the 1801 Jefferson Peace Medal, which the Mint credits to John Reich, as adapted by Mint sculptor-engraver Norman E. Nemeth. Two hands clasp. One wears a military cuff and stands for the U.S. government; the other wears a beaded silver band with an eagle and stands for the Native American nations. LOUISIANA PURCHASE 1803 is part of the lettering.

Keelboat. Al Maletsky's reverse shows the expedition's keelboat at an angle under full sail, with Lewis and Clark in uniform at the bow. The Mint notes the 55-foot boat was built to Lewis's own plans and could be sailed, rowed, poled or towed from shore.

2005

Both 2005 coins have a new obverse, the first change to Jefferson's face on the nickel. Joe Fitzgerald designed a portrait facing right, which the Mint says is based on Jean-Antoine Houdon's bust, and Don Everhart sculpted it. The word Liberty is written in Jefferson's own hand. Wikipedia adds that Fitzgerald had to borrow the capital L from other Jefferson documents.

American Bison. Jamie Franki's bison, sculpted by Nemeth, stands for the wildlife and the Native peoples the expedition met. Wikipedia notes that it recalls the Buffalo nickel of 1913-1938.

Ocean in View. Fitzgerald also designed the last reverse, sculpted by Donna Weaver. It shows the Pacific coast with Clark's journal line of November 7, 1805, "Ocean in view! O! The joy!" Clark spelled it "Ocian"; the Mint used the modern spelling. LEWIS & CLARK 1805 runs along the rim.

Obverse. A left-facing profile with FS below it means 2004. A right-facing portrait with Liberty written in script means 2005.

Mint mark. P and D coins were struck for circulation, and S marks a proof. On the 2004 coins the letter sits just past the date, as it had since 1968. In 2005 it moved under the Liberty signature.

Satin finish. The 2005 Uncirculated Coin Set was the first Mint set with a satin finish, and it held P and D examples of both 2005 nickels. NGC calls the satin Bison and satin Ocean in View coins SMS and gives 1,160,000 of each. There are no satin 2004 nickels.

Proofs. San Francisco struck proofs of all four designs. NGC gives 2,992,069 Peace Medal and 2,965,422 Keelboat proofs, and 3,344,679 each of the Bison and Ocean in View.

Business strike figures (NGC and USA Coin Book):

2005-D Speared Bison. A die gouge left a raised straight line on some Denver bison nickels. It starts at the left side of the E in STATES and runs down through the bison to below its belly. Coin World reported the find by Pamela Ryman-Moir of Texas in April 2005, and Ken Potter judged the line a gouge because it runs evenly across open field and a large recessed area of the die. PCGS lists it as a separate coin (search).

2004-P Peace Medal doubled die obverse. Gabriel Alonso reported a Peace Medal nickel with offset hub doubling to the north-northeast on the motto, LIBERTY, the date, the star and Schlag's initials. VarietyVista lists it as DDO-001 (FS-101), and the Wexler file includes it among its "Best Of" nickel doubled dies.

2005 Ocean in View doubled dies. In the Wexler listings carried by Brian's Variety Coins, every 2005 doubled die reverse is an Ocean in View coin. They come from Philadelphia business strikes, Denver business strikes and the satin Mint set coins, and most are tilted hub doubling (Class VIII). The extra image usually shows on the branches of the trees. VarietyVista lists the same family by its own numbers and notes which turn up in satin Mint sets. An example is the business strike WDDR-028.

Satin finish doubled die obverses. Doubled dies of the new 2005 obverse are listed on satin coins of both designs. The Bison WDDO-001, reported by Kenneth Russell, shows tilted hub doubling on IN GOD WE TRUST that grows toward the right and is strongest on RUST, with more on LIBERTY and the date.

The "peeing bison." Mad Die Clashes lists a light clash below the bison's stomach on a 2005-P coin and gives it that nickname.

There is no silver in any Westward Journey nickel. The satin coins are the same metal as circulation strikes; only the finish differs.