The 2006 "Return to Monticello" nickel features a new forward-facing portrait of Thomas Jefferson on its obverse side shown above. The "Liberty" script is in Jefferson's own handwriting. Below, the reverse of the new nickel once again features Jefferson's home, Monticello. The dies for this side of the nickel were retooled in an attempt to restore details the original sculptor, American-German Felix Schlag, had envisioned for the coin. Click images to enlarge. (Images courtesy of the U.S. Mint)

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

I've not heard much in the press about the new nickel that's likely to be jangling in your pocket in the very near future.

On Jan. 12, the U.S. Mint released the "Return to Monticello" 5-cent coin,, the new standard issue Jefferson nickel for the forseeable future. It's a wonderful upgrade to the familiar coin we've grown accustomed to since Jefferson's face arrived on the nickel in 1938.

For the first time since in U.S. history, a president's face will be depicted from a frontal view rather than a profile one.

The 2006 Jefferson nickel will again feature the president's home, Monticello, on the reverse. The image of Monticello has been refined and detailed to more closely match the original artist's design.

The nickel will continue to bear the cursive "Liberty" inscription, which is done in Jefferson's own handwriting. The inscription debuted on the 2005 nickels.

Original nickel

The design on the nickel that we've grown up with was the result of a contest sponsored by the U.S. Treasury Department. The rules specified that the coin's obverse (front) would feature a portrait of Thomas Jefferson, and the reverse would show his home, Monticello.

After judging 390 entries, the designs of Felix Schlag, a German-American sculptor, were selected in April 1938. He received an award of $1,000 for his design.

Schlag's design went into production that year, and ran until Congress authorized the Westward Journey nickel series to highlight the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis & Clark Expedition. The last of the Schlag design nickels were produced in 2003, though the front side of the 2004 nickels used his design -- only the reverse side of the nickels were changed that year.

In 2005, a new portrait of Jefferson debuted on the nickel, a much more lifelike depiction of his face in near profile. Nickels with this portrait were produced for only a single year.

The 1909 Lincoln penny was the first U.S. coin to feature a U.S. president.