Jefferson Nickels: 2006-Now

I would probably have preferred the 2005 obverse to continue as well.

I'll go against the grain here and say I like the forward facing portrait and think all the portraits should be done similarly (like Sacagawea, too) to get a consistency across the denominations. I like the concept that Jeff and Co. are looking out at us and the world. More engaging. That being said, I am no fan of the low relief and that goes for Abe and George, too! Flatness is unbecoming of their stature and does not represent the "gravitas" American money should convey. A permanent change to the reverses would be good, too, and for the nickel I'd vote to reuse the 2005 Buffalo.

The reverse side could have a little bit more then just that.

The reason they mint hundreds of millions (or billions if cents) is that the banks are ordering that much to meet demand from the market. One might think that reducing mintage would flush out the coin jars and couch cushions, but the lower mintages might actually induce hoarding. In the case of cents, most are just being thrown away.

That just delays them being pulled from circulation by one year.