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.
They humanize Thomas Jefferson. He looks as if he is praying. Wow, I guess the commies at the ACLU will be fighting more of our nations symbols.
I would love to see our coins/bills put the Bill Of Rights on our money. Sometimes our money is all people know of America. Might as well give them an education in our freedoms...
He looks like a visionary, and the two events commemorated required a visionary to undertake them.
The new design is great.
I don't like it. Keep the old Jefferson portrait. This one looks like a bad Disney caricature.
Just damn.
If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
I agree. I don't like it either. Why do we have to keep changing everything???
It could be worse. If the leftists had their way, he'd be portrayed whipping a slave.
I'll go for it. Just don't dream up another stupid $1 coin.
He sure looks like he had a 'vision', which he did! Your remark may not be far off - the conspiratorialists will insist that he was listening to God and then the ACLU will chomp.
I don't like the portrait either although, I do like the buffalo and the coastline.
Uhhh, because change is the natural of order of things?
Oh, I'm sorry, you were talking about the design of the nickel.
I think the U.S. Mint is making a mistake with the profile of Jefferson. How the hell is Gore going to recognize Jefferson now?
the irony of this is trying to teach 5 year old kids the differences in monetary value of coins. The schools use imitation (plastic or cardboard) to show the children the front and back of each coin. The state quarters kept the front design the same, but the nickels are changing.
Unintended consequences??
I agree that this is a great design -- a "modern" look, consistent with contemporary design.
LOL!
I like the new designs, BUT I think Jefferson should be facing the other way. West...
Because, as a people, we drive the change in the world.
The concept of "New and Improved" started as a uniquely American one.
Huh
I already have new nickles. The front side is the same and the back is the Louisiana purchase???
He is facing west, you're just on the wrong side of him!
No, you have the map upside down!
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