Posted on 09/16/2004 7:25:57 AM PDT by evets
WASHINGTON - There's change in store for Thomas Jefferson — on the nickel that is. He's getting his first makeover since his likeness was put on the coin in 1938.
The makers of the nation's coins, the U.S. Mint, was unveiling Thursday designs for two new nickels. It's the latest in a series of design changes for the coins to honor two important events in U.S. history: the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The revamped nickels will be issued in 2005.
A new likeness of Jefferson, the third president, will be on the front of the two revised coins, while the "tails" side of will also get a new look.
The new nickels are part of the Mint's Westward Journey Nickel series, which began earlier this year. In March, the so-called Peace Medal nickel went into circulation, followed by the Keelboat five-cent piece in August.
Those were the first two nickels issued under the new series. Those nickels, however, kept the current image of Jefferson on the front, while featuring new designs on the back.
The design of the old nickels — a centered profile of Jefferson on the front — and his Virginia home, Monticello, on the back — was introduced in 1938.
A 2003 law authorized the nickel's makeover. In 2006, an image of Monticello will return to the back of the five-cent piece and a likeness of Jefferson will be carried on the front.
Separately, a colorful new $50 bill with touches of red, blue and yellow will start showing up in banks, cash registers and wallets later this month. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which makes U.S. paper currency, says the new bill will go into circulation Sept. 28.
100% agree. What about the Liberty Head Nickles or the Liberty Seated Dime design? The Mercury Dime is very pretty. Bring back the Liberty Standing Quarter or even the Liberty Head Quarter. What about putting the Walking Liberty Half Dollar design on a new quarter? To me, these designs are what money should look like. Enough of political correctness. Bring back Liberty!
That would be kewl!
I love the Liberty designs, but if they are going to come out with a new design, put Teddy Roosevelt on the front with a row of battleships on the back. :)
Ya know? I think you're right. The west coast is also map inverted. This is clearly a coin designed by and for nawtherners!
Stand facing the south and he will.
Well, many feel that Jefferson WAS ahead of his time. :)
I'm there. Almost a minute ahead of you...
Makes too much sense...(vbg)
FRegards,
As time passes, the previous design generally drops from circulation. When was the last time you saw a wheat penny? Similarly, it's pretty darn rare to find any coin higher than a nickel in denomination that is older than 1965 (1972 in the case of half-dollars) because that's the year they debased them from silver to junk metals.
What I've recommended to kids is that they start by saving and putting aside one nickel of every year and mint mark they can find. As time passes, and they find a better example of a given year and mint, they could replace it with the one in better shape, so their collection will, over time, become both more complete and of better quality. It's cheap and easy for them.
Ten years from now you'll start seeing the Jefferson/Monticello nickels become more and more rare. Frankly, though I realize updating the design is probably not entirely a bad idea, I still am saddened by it.
Here is a sneak look at the new nickels:
Dammit, why isn't an African American woman on this coin? I nominate Sally Hemmings!
She'll be lounging in her jammies. :-}
Thomas Jefferson wrote quite a bit about freedom of the press.
My favorite:"The only security of all is in a free press. The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to. It is necessary, to keep the waters pure." --Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 1823. ME 15:491
This Poland Spring is for you, Dan Rather you greedy rich elitist! Anyone know how much this liar earns in one year?!
Further for the 'proof' of my assertion: Only one US coin has a right facing portrait: President Lincoln on the penny. Now, President Jefferson, who was so maligned by the press just like someone we all know and love, now turns 'right'. The tables have turned. W is for Write!
As for the quote.. a truely free press would eliminate the need for an 'intelligence' agency. I believe the CIA is a relic of the Cold War and if we eliminate MSM/Old Media, we can eliminate a good deal of the intelligence apparatus. The world is totally interconnected... Pajama Clad Analysts who love what they do and do it for the love of Country will be far more effective.
No wonder we didn't know about WMD.. we had career civil servants looking for it.
The new obverse (Jefferson) would remain and Montecello would be restored to the reverse... it would probably be updated too.
Interesting note left off the Yahoo piece: the word "Liberty" is a reproduction of the word in Jefferson's own hand.
Jesus Christ! STOP F*CKING WITH THE MONEY!
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