Jefferson Nickel

About This Series

Felix Schlag won a public competition in 1938 to design the Jefferson nickel, which replaced the Buffalo nickel. His initials weren't added to the obverse until 1966, nearly three decades in. The "wartime" nickels from 1942 to 1945 were struck in 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese to save nickel for war production; a large mintmark on the reverse identifies them. The 1950-D had a low mintage and was heavily hoarded. The Westward Journey designs in 2004 and 2005 were the first major reverse change in 66 years; a new portrait and reverse followed in 2006.