New nickel designs unveiled

This is not original reporting. All information has been compiled from The Washington Post.

The U.S. Mint revealed two new nickel designs to be minted in 2005 as part of the Westward Journey Nickel Series started earlier this year.

The designs have similar fronts and show a bolder and more distinguished profile of Thomas Jefferson gazing into the distance. "Liberty" is written in script beside Jefferson's deep chin, and the phrase "In God We Trust" circles the perimeter of the coin.

The back of the first nickel, which is expected to be issued early next year, depicts an American bison on a grassy patch, which commemorates the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The back of the second nickel, which is to be issued late summer 2005, shows the Pacific coastline and a few trees. The famous words of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805 are written beside it: "Ocean in view! O! The joy!"

Two nickels have already been released in March and August of this year and depict the Peace Medal and Keelboat, respectively as part of the Westward Journey Nickel Series.

An older design, minted between 1913 and 1938, had an Indian head on one side of the nickel and a buffalo on the other. In 1938, the nickel design was changed into Jefferson's home, Monticello, on the "tails" side. Monticello will return to the nickel in 2006.