Five-cent coins in the United States have featured an image of Thomas Jefferson since 1938, when the so-called Jefferson nickel first replaced the controversial buffalo nickel.
The history of the Jefferson nickel is interesting; shortly after its introduction, the usually copper-nickel coin used silver and manganese instead of nickel for a few years during World War II. These can be distinguished by a large mint mark over the Jefferson Memorial on the reverse.
Small adjustments were made occasionally to the Jefferson nickel over the years. In 2003, 2004, and 2005, different variations were produced to honor the expansion of the United States thanks to the expeditions of Lewis and Clark; these are known as the Westward Expansion nickels. The 2005 version also revamped the image of Jefferson himself. In 2006, the reverse image of the Jefferson Memorial was reinstated per the original agreement of the Westward Expansion set.
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There are many collectible versions of the Jefferson nickel over the years, and various proofs, errors, uncirculated coins, and other special subsets can be found in the for-sale listings. Check the current selection, which is updated daily.
