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 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,274 |
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Valued Member
United States
95 Posts |
Man I'm confused ... I'm trying to put together my nickels in albums, but I really dont get the modern situation with the westward-ho! nickels. So, in 2003 or so, they started making these alternate-art nickels, but there are also ones with the monticello on the back. There are also jefferson-faces on the obverse with a profile picture, then there's this other new Jefferson face with a frontal picture that's much different looking. Some of these have Monticello on the back, others have random images of the Louisiana Purchace, and Lewis and Clark's voyage. I have the 2006 RedBook, which confuses me a little. Are they (the mints) still making NORMAL Jefferson nickels, or is this "Westward HO!" series like the Statehood Quarters where they stop making normal coins? The reason I ask, is because I have a 2006 nickel with A different jefferson face on the front, but monticello on the back. Then I have a 2003 (I think) nickel with the old 'normal' Jefferson bust on the front, but a picture of an ocean or something on the back... I'm very confused ... Anyone albe to shed some light? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
604 Posts |
They are making new nickels because the nickel design hasnt been changed in 66 years so they are making a commerative coin to celatbrate the lousiana purchase because this is the time period that this purcashe was being made and that it there is nothing wrong stop being confused its over  and the new poriat is because america wants to do something never done in coin history with jefferson looking at you and thats it   ouch |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
First of all, it isn't "Westward ho!" it is Westward Journey. As in the journey of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the new Louisiana Purchase territory and find the Northwest passage to the Pacific.
2003 was the last year of issue for the standard Jefferson obverse and Monticello reverse that had been around since 1938. In 2004, the obverse was kept the same but the first new reverse was the "Peace Medal" design. This was based on the actual medals Lewis and Clark distributed to Indian tribes along the way as a sign of peace. The second reverse design is the "Keelboat." The keelboat was the type of boat Lewis and Clark used on the trip.
2005 saw a one year only obverse of Jefferson. The first reverse design was the "American Bison." The second design was "Ocean In View" representing the fact that Lewis and Clark completed their journey by making it all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
2006 now has forward-facing Jefferson on the obverse and a modified Monticello on the reverse. Hope this clears up the confusion.
Edited by biokemist6
05/31/2006 1:31 pm
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Valued Member
 United States
95 Posts |
Thanks blokemist ... So to summarize:
2003: Business as normal
2004: Regular obverse with 2 types of reverses (peace medal & Keelhaul) -- no monticello
2005: Special "one-time-only" large profile of Jefferson with 2 reverses (Buffalo and Ocean) -- still no monticello
2006: Yet another (here to stay) obverse of Jefferson with the same old Monticello reverse returned
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Yes Moose, you are essentially correct. One thing to mention though- the Monticello on the 2006 issues is slighty different from the original Monticello. I believe that a few more details were added that the real Monticello has but the original nickel design didnt include.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
986 Posts |
This might also help get more people involved in collecting, just like the State Quarter madness. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
867 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by fengk
This might also help get more people involved in collecting, just like the State Quarter madness.
Funny you should say that, I really haven't noticed the demand for new nickels. A lot of people don't even know they exist, and they've been around for going on three years now.  Rachel [:p] |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
986 Posts |
That says a lot about the attentiveness of the general public...
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Rest in Peace
United States
3730 Posts |
I actually found that a teller in my credit union wasn't asware of certain new coins.
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Valued Member
United States
411 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by Kyra
Funny you should say that, I really haven't noticed the demand for new nickels. A lot of people don't even know they exist, and they've been around for going on three years now.
Rachel [:p]
I agree. This underlies a very important paradox. If people think a coin is ugly, they won't save it, even if it's special. They probably don't know about it because no one they know knows about it either. And that's because the Mint isn't telling them. The mint tries so hard to be responsive to collectors, but they're just not very good at it. Anyway, nobody knows about the single year issues so they don't save them in a sock in the back of a drawer or whatever. What then happens is the coin becomes virtually unobtainable in higher grades, and it becomes a classic. Go figure.[:0] This is precisely what happened with Barber dimes, quarters, and half-dollars. All the issues are rare, even in circ'd grades because everyone hated the designs and none were saved and treasured. The ugliest of the Statehood Quarters will be the same way (You know who you are, Maryland). On the other hand, I'm not sure if this applies, however, in these days where 100 gazillion coins are minted every year at both mints. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
604 Posts |
Well I only have one thing to say.... Take advantage of the oppertunity you have and get the nickels with the new designs on them and hurry before they dessapear from currcilation. Oh and mods will you from now on as a favor correct any misspelling I might have not noticed so I dont look uneduacated |
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Valued Member
United States
95 Posts |
quote:
Oh and mods will you from now on as a favor correct any misspelling I might have not noticed so I dont look uneduacated
You can always use a simple spellchecker like ispell ( http://lasr.cs.ucla.edu/geoff/ispell.html), or something. I'm sure there are even a few online spellcheckers. I know that gmail will spellcheck for you in the compose window. Spelling mistakes dont really make you look uneducated per se, just lazy! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
604 Posts |
Good point Moooseknuckle |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
590 Posts |
I don't see alot of the new Buffalo nickels in circulation, so I think they are the most saved design out of the five newer ones. |
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Valued Member
United States
95 Posts |
I'll second that... It's the only Westward Ho! nickel I don't have yet.
Edited by Mooseknuckle
06/01/2006 4:54 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
604 Posts |
quote:
Originally posted by Dewayne76
I don't see alot of the new Buffalo nickels in circulation, so I think they are the most saved design out of the five newer ones.
You are right Dewayne I have one roll of a 2005 buffalo westward journey nickel and I aint letting go  its mine all mine hahahaahahaha"bang"  And thats what happens to greedy men a lesson to learn |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 1,274 |
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Posted 05/22/2006 4:22 pm
