United States five cent coin

The United States five cent coin, commonly called a nickel, is a unit of currency equaling one 1/20th of a United States dollar. Its current design features the profile of President Thomas Jefferson on the obverse and Monticello on the reverse. This design has been used since it was first issued in 1938 as a replacement for the buffalo nickel.

Nickels are 21.21 mm in diameter, 1.95 mm thick, with a plain edge. Except for a period during World War II, nickels are made out of an alloy of 25% nickel and 75% copper. In the middle of 1942, the composition changed to 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese, but this change in content ended in 1945.

For 2004, the reverse of the nickel will change, with two different designs during the year. In the spring, the reverse will have a design that is based on a rendition of the original Indian Peace Medal commissioned for Lewis and Clark's expedition. In autumn, the reverse changes again to feature a view of the keelboat in full sail that transported members of the expedition and their supplies through the rivers of the Louisiana Territory. One or more new reverses for the nickel are expected for 2005.

In 2002, the U.S. Mint proposed changing the reverse of the 2003 nickels as well, to show the image of an American Indian and a bald eagle facing west. Congress allows them to make changes to coinage every 25 years without specific authorization. But, Congressman Eric Cantor (R-Virginia), the Chief Deputy Majority Whip for his party, objected to the lack of consultation with Congress about their proposal, and was particularly concerned that Monticello, located in his district, would not return to the reverse of the nickel in 2006. There was also concern that the Mint's proposed new reverse did not relate specifically enough to Lewis & Clark or the Louisiana Purchase. This led to the enactment of Public Law 108-15, the American 5-cent Coin Design Continuity Act, in 2003, which modified the United States Code to require the return to a depiction of Monticello starting in January 2006. The controversy meant the Mint ran out of time to change the reverse of the nickel in 2003.

See also: United States coinage