This is the first time nickels have been changed in 65 years. The old nickel we have been using was designed way back in 1938. The old nickels show a side view of President Jefferson's head on the "head" side and the other side shows his home, Monticello. The new nickels still show Jefferson on the "heads" side, and the "reverse" or the back side, has the new designs.

     The first new design depicts the Jefferson Peace Medal, which commemorates the anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase. When the U.S. bought 800,000 square miles of land from France for $15 million, that much land doubled the size of the United States. The design shows an image of clasped hands, one with a military cuff to represent the U. S. government, and the other wearing an ornate bracelet to represent Native Americans. Above the clasped hands is a tomahawk crossed by a peace pipe. Below the hands are the words "E Pluribus Unum" (Out of Many, One) and at the bottom of the coin are written the words "Five Cents."

     The second design, coming out this fall, features an engraving of the keelboat used by Lewis and Clark as they explored the American West.

     The Mint has made 900 million of the new coins and will circulate them this spring. There will also be new designs put out in 2005. In 2006, the nickel will go back to the design of Jefferson and his Monticello home.

Did You Know?

You can still use these new nickels in vending machines, as they're made of the same metals and are the same size as the old ones!