New Nickels About to Go Into Circulation

[BEER980]

Do we really need a new nickel design? For some reason I don't remember a public outcry for introudcing a new one. I have a feeling that most people won't notice it for awhile or care.

New Nickels About to Go Into Circulation

Thursday, March 04, 2004

WASHINGTON — New nickels honoring the 1803 Louisiana Purchase will soon be clinking in cash registers and jangling in pockets. It's the first makeover for the five-cent piece in 66 years.

The back of the new coins look different, while the front looks the same, retaining the image of Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States. Millions of the new nickels have been shipped to the Federal Reserve, supplier of the nation's cash. They should start showing up in change in several weeks, say officials of the U.S. Mint.

Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore planned to show off the new coins at an event Thursday. On the back of the new nickels, Jefferson's home, Monticello, is replaced with a scene that commemorates the Louisiana Purchase. The back of the new nickels now headed into circulation bear the words "United States of America," "Louisiana Purchase" and "1803." There is an image of hands clasped in friendship — one with a military cuff to symbolize the U.S. government, and the other with an ornate bracelet to represent American Indians.

Above the clasped hands is a tomahawk crossed by a peace pipe. The images are similar to those on Jefferson Peace Medals, which were presented ceremonially to Indian chiefs and other important leaders. Below the clasped hands are the Latin words "E Pluribus Unum" (meaning "Out of many, one"), and hugging the bottom of the coin is the denomination: "Five Cents." Approximately 900 million of these new nickels have been made.

Another nickel honoring the 1804-1806 Lewis and Clark expedition will be released in the late summer or early fall, Mint officials say. The new nickels are part of the Mint's new Westward Journey Nickel Series. The design of the old nickels with Jefferson on the front and Monticello on the back was introduced in 1938. Vending machines will be able to accept the new nickels because their composition — 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel — and their size remains the same, Mint officials say.

Source

[streetsoldier]

Another example of "change for the sake of change"...

At least these coins will still "work", unlike those Susan B. Anthony and Sacajawea U.S. Dollar disasters.