Current Nickel: Ugliest Coin Of All Time?

I love to collect nickels. I like the way the '30s-'60s nickels look when they wear. The patina is great. Since I've worked at the store, I've found a V nickel, a Buffalo nickel, two War Nickels, and many pre-1960 Jeffersons. I also bought a Shield nickel a few days ago at the coin shop. Lately I've had better luck in searching nickels than any other coin. The only ugly new nickel that is in my collection is one that an old lady said was good luck.

Perhaps something that revolves around these little known contributions of Jefferson for a reverse:

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Declaration of Independence
Testing a young US navy in Tripoli
Establishment of West Point
University of Virginia
Louisiana Purchase

Of course I disapprove of this episode you bring up Raymo, but I'm also not big on judging historical personalities out of their context i.e. modern historians judging someone from a few hundred years ago trying to place them in modern context. It sells books and TV air time, but I'd look at what historians of their time to judge the person.

Thinking about it now, that's what America is all about: people aren't perfect like some ideal, but future generations are there to point out mistakes and rectify the mistakes. That's the true story of America, we make mistakes and people are able (albeit it slowly and through hardship) can change American way of life for future generations, but they can change the system.

Jefferson more than doubled the size of America without bloodshed, laid the roots to protect citizens with training military officers and wrote out some of the most important fundamental ideas of what this country were founded on and practiced for two hundred years after his passing.

To ignore his grand contributions to American life over something that was instilled and he inherited, isn't the way to go.

Back to the original poster, those profile designs are fine but it's the 21st century, lets see what the mint can produce. Some do not like the current designs, that's fine, lets come up with another design that can test the abilities of the US Mint and see what happens. But I'm not for a design that the US Mint could crank out back in the 1930's. Lets go forwards, not backwards.

I'm not putting him down for having a long affair with Sally Hemings. I was serious about that reverse. Why stick our heads in the sand ? It happened and who knows how much influence she had over him. Do you know if he ever freed her ? I would have to go look it up.

I have no problem with the current nickel, or the pre 2006 Jefferson nickels.

I would be in favor of putting Liberty on all our coins

As for Jefferson, I would not put myself in his camp.
I think he did a good job on the Declaration of Independence.

But....

Jefferson had so much love for France, I feel he made bad decisions for America when dealing with them. When Vice President under Adams, he did not like Adams policies with France, so he would send letters to France to let them know what Adams was doing.

Although making the lousianna purchase was a good thing for America, it was not really legal how he did it. Jefferson was against a strong federal government, he was not of the Federalist Party, but he like using the power once he became president.

When he was Secretary State and Vice President, if he did not like what was going on, he would go home, for long periods of time.

As far as Sally Hemings, I really don't see anything wrong with it. She was either 1/2 or 1/4 ...maybe less, African/slave. She was Jefferson's deceased wifes half sister. When they were in France most wrote of her, of how beautiful she was. And no mention of her being a slave. She could have stayed in France, and lived free, but made the choice to go back to America with Jefferson.

Jefferson never freed his slaves, because he owed so much money on them. He did not like banks, but like to borrow money and live beyond his means.

He did give Sally Hemings papers that sort of said .. She was on vacation.
And set her up with a small house, that he spent a lot of time in.

Of course all this is my opinion, from what I read. I like reading books on the presidents, but then a lot of that information is the authors opinions.

Ugliest coin? You can't beat some of the tacky crap put out in Liberia's name!!

There are also the numerous Somali tokens: private mints across the globe picked Somalia as a "stateless state" with which to emblazon their ridiculous products, with no fear of retribution...

Yes, I hate the new nickel. The Nickel Dansco was one of the first I completed. I am collecting them now only because I have no choice if I want to keep my run going.

As for the other stuff, I am in no way in the mood for that debate.