Jefferson Westward Journey Nickel, 2004-2005

By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek Notes …..

The Jefferson Nickel entered service in 1938, changing James Earle Fraser’s Indian Head (Buffalo) Nickel design. The erudite third president is finest identified for his authorship of the Declaration of Independence, his bitter rivalry with John Adams, his Virginia plantation residence Monticello, and the Louisiana Buy. This 1803 land acquisition introduced giant swaths of the continental inside west of the Mississippi River beneath American management for $15 million- then seen by the opposition Federalist Celebration as an exorbitant sum.

1938 marked the bicentennial of Jefferson’s start. Simply six years earlier, the United States Mint had modified the quarter’s design to honor first President George Washington on the event of his start. With three Presidents now on the coin (Abraham Lincoln was given the cent in 1909), the die was forged for the removing of the allegorical determine of Liberty from our cash in favor of an imperial coinage honoring American politicians.

The Jefferson Nickel design remained comparatively untouched till 2004 when Congress licensed the Mint to concern a collection of 4 cash to honor the two hundredth Anniversary of Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery Expedition. The well-known expedition to the Pacific coast was undertaken between Could 1804 and September 1806 in order that the United States Military might survey the newly acquired territory, study its assets, and set up relations with indigenous tribes. One of many expedition’s key members, the Shoshone lady Sacagawea, was honored on the one-dollar coin beginning in 2000.

The Westward Journey Nickels

The Westward Journey Nickels instructed the story of the expedition in 4 reverse designs. The primary design symbolized Lewis and Clark’s effort to determine pleasant relations with the indigenous tribes and relies on the Jefferson Indian Peace Medals given to tribal chiefs. The design options the clasped fingers of an American soldier and an Indian chief and a crossed battle axe and peace pipe. This design was tailored by Mint sculptor Norman E. Nemeth.

The second nickel depicts the keelboat that carried the expedition up the Missouri River from 1803 till 1805, when it was introduced again by a returning get together in order that the remainder of the expedition might proceed their journey overland. Meriwether Lewis is credited with designing the ship, which was in-built Pittsburgh, presumably by Jacob Myers. The keelboat reverse was designed and engraved by Mint sculptor Alfred Meletsky.

The third nickel depicts an American bison. The American bison had been vitally vital to indigenous tribes, offering meals and supplies for shelter, clothes, instruments, and commerce. The commodification of bison led to overhunting, illness, and habitat loss, which almost drove the species to extinction within the late nineteenth century. Lewis and Clark first caught sight of bison in June 1804, close to present-day Kansas Metropolis. They’d handle to kill their first one in August of that yr close to present-day Vermillion, South Dakota. That animal was shot and killed by Joseph Subject, who, alongside along with his brother Reubin, enlisted within the Corps with William Clark on August 1, 1803. Joseph Subject was the primary member of the Corps of Discovery to die, presumably killed in a battle with the Arikara in September 1807.

For this nickel, Jamie Franki is credited with the design. Norman E. Nemth offered the sculpt.

The ultimate nickel within the collection depicts the shoreline of Cape Disappointment within the southwestern nook of the present-day state of Washington. It was right here the place Lewis and Clark first laid eyes on the Pacific Ocean on November 7, 1805, and it was on this spot the place they arrange their winter camp earlier than heading again east. On the coin is the inscription, “Ocean in view! O! The Pleasure!” – the phrases Clark wrote in his journal concerning the historic event. The “Ocean in View” nickel was designed by Joe Fitzgerald and sculpted by Donna Weaver.

The Peace Medal and Keelboat nickels had been issued in 2004 and have Felix Schlag’s obverse design. These cash had been issued into circulation, however Satin End variations had been produced particularly for that yr’s Uncirculated Coin Units. Proof variations had been struck on the San Francisco Mint and have extremely polished fields and frosted cameo design parts.

The Bison and “Ocean in View” nickels had been struck in 2005. For this concern, the Mint modified the design to depict a right-facing close-up of Jefferson’s face. This design was tailored from the Jean-Antoine Houdon bust of the third president and was drawn by Joe Fitzgerald and engraved by Don Everhart.

Gathering Westward Journey Nickels

America Mint supplied the general public a number of methods of accumulating the Westward Journey Nickels, together with annual coin units in 2004 and 2005 that featured Satin End Uncirculated variations of the Philadelphia and Denver mint points in addition to the San Francisco Proof. These units promote at the moment for lower than $5 every in authentic packaging – which appears honest, as that is far beneath the set’s concern worth of $12.95.

Licensed examples of every design may also be bought, however premiums for these cash are greater and account for the price of submission. “Excellent” Proof 70 examples of every of the designs are available, however Very good Gem examples in grades above MS68 are at the moment obtainable in low numbers. Informal collectors could wrestle to distinguish cash struck for circulation (enterprise strikes) from the Satin End Uncirculated cash issued in units. The latter will probably be way more plentiful in excessive grade.

Coin Specs

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