The American 5-Cent Coin Design Continuity Act of 2003 was enacted to commemorate the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition. The legislation aimed to honor these pivotal historical events through coin design while maintaining continuity in depicting President Thomas Jefferson and his home, Monticello. The Act allowed for the temporary redesign of the Jefferson nickel and made provisions to reinstate the portrait of Thomas Jefferson and Monticello after issuing the commemorative coins for three years.
The American 5-Cent Coin Design Continuity Act of 2003 commemorated a pivotal time in U.S. history and also reshaped the design of the nickel. Its passage and impact on coin design set a precedent for future legislation, marking an important chapter in United States numismatic history.
History and Purpose of the American 5-Cent Coin Design Continuity Act of 2003
The Act was signed into law as Public Law No: 108-15 by President George W. Bush on April 23, 2003. The Act was introduced to honor the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition, a key event in the territorial expansion of the United States. By redesigning the five-cent Jefferson nickel, the Act aimed to educate the public while simultaneously creating a unique collectible item for numismatists and the general American public.
The Five Cent Continuity Act authorized the Secretary of the Treasury to change the obverse and reverse designs of the nickel for 2003, 2004, and 2005. The Act also stipulated that the Secretary of the Treasury consult the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and the Commission of the Fine Arts before enacting the design changes.
The Act furthermore dictated that if President Thomas Jefferson’s likeness was on the coins, it would be a different depiction than that found on the 2002 Jefferson nickel. Specifically, the likeness of Thomas Jefferson could be redesigned to reflect his role in commissioning the Lewis and Clark expedition. The reverse designs would show images representing the Louisiana Purchase or the expedition itself, temporarily replacing the long-standing Monticello design.
From Tradition to Commemoration
Before the 2003 Act, the nickel had used the same obverse and reverse designs for 65 years, more than twice the duration of any other United States Mint nickel. Thomas Jefferson’s profile had been on the obverse since 1938, and the reverse showcased his estate, Monticello. This consistent design reflected a cultural preference for continuity in U.S. coinage. By focusing on the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition, the redesign utilized the nickel series as historical markers. The public could connect with these events while owning a coin that served as a tangible reminder of the wonder, excitement, and westward expansion of the time.
The Role of the Committee on Financial Services
The Committee on Financial Services was crucial in passing the Five Cent Continuity Act. Members of the committee understood its cultural and educational relevance and facilitated its progress through Congress. On February 26, 2003, the House of Representatives passed the bill by an overwhelming majority vote of 412-5, and the Senate passed it on April 11, 2003.
Strong bipartisan support highlighted the Act’s significance as a way to honor history and as a broader show of national unity. By temporarily changing the nickel, the Act bridged the gap between history and daily life, utilizing circulating nickels as commemorative coins.
The Redesigned Five Cent Coins – Westward Journey Nickels
The Westward Journey Nickel series was issued in 2004 and 2005. It featured four different reverse designs to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase and Meriwether Lewis and William Clark’s expedition through the new territory.
2004 Westward Journey Nickels
The 2004 issues of the Westward Journey depict the portrait of Thomas Jefferson, which has been in use since 1938, although both reverses are unique and embody elements emblematic of the Purchase and Expedition. The year also featured the release of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial dollar.
Peace Medal Design
The Peace Medal issue of the Westward Journey Nickels was the first issue in the series. It depicts a rendition of the 1801 Jefferson Peace Medal that Lewis and Clark dispensed along their expedition. The design features two hands clasped in peace and friendship. On one hand, the cuff of a military uniform symbolizes the United States Government, and the other wears a silver band decorated with beads and an American eagle for the Native American tribes. John Reich designed the reverse of the Peace Medal Nickel.
Keelboat Design
The second issue in the Westward Journey Nickel series depicts a keelboat, or a flat-bottomed boat, with a full sail on the reverse. The Lewis and Clark expedition traversed the rivers of the Louisiana Territory in a keelboat while seeking a northwestern passage to the Pacific coast. Their 55-foot keelboat was built to Captain Lewis’s specifications and could be sailed, rowed, poled like a raft, and towed from the banks of the rivers. The reverse of the Keelboat Nickel displays a side view of the keelboat. Its sails are full, and crew members are either paddling or using poles to make their way downstream. Captains William Clark and Meriwether Lewis are shown in full uniform at the bow. The Keelboat reverse was designed by Alfred Maletsky.
2005 Westward Journey Nickels
The 2005 Westward Journey Nickels featured a new obverse portrait of Thomas Jefferson designed by Joe Fitzgerald, based on Jean-Antoine Houdon’s 1789 sculpture found in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Jefferson’s age was advanced from the sculpture using paintings by Rembrandt Peale and Gilbert Stuart. It was the first nickel in 67 years that featured a new obverse design. The LIBERTY on the new obverse was taken from the handwritten draft of the Declaration of Independence, as penned by Thomas Jefferson, although the capital L was sourced from another document he had written.
American Bison Design
The American Bison reverse of the 2005 Westward Journey Nickel depicts an American Bison, which Lewis and Clark Described seeing in their expedition. The American Bison symbolizes the animals and wildlife the expedition encountered, and the Native American culture the party grew familiar with in their travels. Jamie Franki designed the reverse of the American Bison Nickel.
Ocean in View Design
The Ocean in View issue of the Westward Journey Nickel series commemorates the success of the expedition to find a passage to the Pacific Ocean and depicts a scene as it may have been observed by members of the journey. The reverse features an inscription from Captain Clark’s journal entry on November 7, 1805, reading, “Ocean in view! O! The Joy!” The reverse of the Ocean in View Nickel was designed by Joe Fitzgerald.
Relevance to Coin Collectors
For coin collectors, the American 5-Cent Coin Design Continuity Act yielded the valuable and limited mintage of the 2003-2005 nickels. These nickels are prized by collectors for their symbolism and historical context. The Act reflected a broader trend of using circulating coins to commemorate important events, and the 2003-2005 nickels tell the story of American exploration and growth in a form that is collectible and educational.
Continuity and Tradition in Coin Design
Although the 2003-2005 redesigns were temporary, the American 5-Cent Coin Design Continuity Act ensured that Thomas Jefferson and Monticello would return to the nickel in 2006. A new obverse, designed by Jamie Franki, showed Jefferson facing forward, while the reverse returned to the Felix Schlag design of Monticello. This balance between change and tradition showed that while the designs were updated for historical reasons, the integrity of U.S. coinage would remain. Furthermore, the Act’s focus on preserving the long-standing elements reassured collectors and historians that the nickel’s core design would not be permanently altered.
The Abolition of the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee
The Act also brought about the end of the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee and established the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). The CCAC had broader responsibilities, which included advising on the design of all U.S. coins. The CCAC played a key role in ensuring that the designs of the 2003-2005 nickels were historically accurate and artistically engaging. This broader mandate allowed the U.S. Mint to better connect with the public through coin design, making coins not only functional but also symbols of American culture and history.
