Owner Comments:
I acquired this coin on 1/16/2007.
Population 1 of 487 with none graded higher by NGC as of 1/2007.
Prior to introduction of the nickel, five-cent pieces were very small silver coins called half dimes. Due to shortages of silver during and after the American Civil War, an alternative metal was needed for five-cent coinage, and the copper-nickel alloy still in use today was selected.
Applying the term "nickel" to a coin actually precedes the usage of five-cent pieces made from nickel alloy. The term was originally applied to the Indian cent coin from 1859–1864 which was composed of copper-nickel. Throughout the Civil War these cents were referred to as "nickels" or "nicks."
The shield nickel, designed by James B. Longacre, was the first nickel five-cent piece minted in the United States, in accordance with the Act of May 16, 1866.
Liberty Head (V) Nickels were officially minted from 1883 to 1912. However, an unknown mint official illegally produced an unknown quantity of V Nickels with the date 1913. There are currently only five known genuine examples of this 1913 coin (though many counterfeits exist), making them some of the most valuable coins in existence. The "Olsen specimen", named for a previous owner, was auctioned in 2003 for $3 million.
Today, one of the 1913 Liberty nickels is in the Smithsonian Institution, one is in the American Numismatic Association's Money Museum, and the other three are in private collections.
The buffalo nickel (also known as the Indian head nickel) was produced from 1913 to 1938, inclusive.
The Jefferson nickel, designed by Felix Schlag in a Mint-sponsored contest, was minted beginning in 1938. The obverse features a profile of Thomas Jefferson, while the reverse features his Virginian estate, Monticello.
Since 1970, all nickels for circulation have been minted at Philadelphia and Denver. Mint marks may be found on the reverse, in the right field between Monticello and the rim, on nickels from 1938 to 1964. From 1965 to 1967, no mint marks were used, and beginning in 1968, the mint mark was moved to the obverse, just below the date, where it remains today. In 1980, the Philadelphia mint began using a "P" mint mark on all nickels. In 1966 the designer's initials were added under Jefferson's bust.
In 2004, the reverse of the nickel changed, with two different designs during the year. The first design, placed into circulation on March 1, 2004, featured a design based upon a rendition of the original Indian Peace Medal commissioned for Lewis and Clark's expedition. It was designed by Norman E. Nemeth.
In the autumn of 2004, the reverse changed again to feature a view of Lewis and Clark's keelboat in full sail that transported members of the Corps of Discovery expedition and their supplies through the rivers of the Louisiana Territory. This design depicts Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in full uniform, standing in the bow of the keelboat. This nickel was designed by Al Maletsky.
Also, on September 16, 2004 were two new reverses - a depiction of the American bison - designed by Jamie N. Franki, and the final Westward Journey nickel reverse which depicts the Pacific Ocean and the words from William Clark's diary upon reaching it -"Ocean in view! O! The Joy!" - designed by Joe Fitzgerald.
In 2005 the new obverse of the Jefferson nickel was designed by Joe Fitzgerald.
In 2006, the nickel returned to using Felix Schlag's Monticello design on a newly cast reverse, while the obverse features a new forward-facing portrait of Jefferson, based on the 1800 Rembrandt Peale painting of Jefferson. It is the first U.S. circulating coin that features the image of a President facing forward. The new obverse was designed by Jamie Franki. The word Liberty is shown in Jefferson's own handwriting, as it was on the 2005 Westward Journey nickels.