To continue celebrating the bicentennial of the historic Louisiana Purchase, the U.S. Mint will release commemorative nickels in 2004.
Henrietta Holsman Fore, Mint director, announced two weeks ago that the re-designed 5-cent piece still will feature a rendering of President Thomas Jefferson on the “heads” side. The “tails” side will include a depiction of the Jefferson Peace Medal to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase, according to the U.S. Mint Web site.
A CNN/Money online said The Jefferson Peace Medal – featuring clasped hands and peace pipe lying over a hatchet – was a medallion the U.S. government presented to Native American chiefs during ceremonies.
Fore told CNN/Money U.S. coins used to be re-designed every eight years, but the changes have come only every 25 years in more recent history. But the 50 State Quarter series as well as the commemorative nickels have changed the cycle.
“The United States is in a renaissance in coin design,” Fore said.
The current nickel design has Monticello, Jefferson’s home, on the back. Monticello is a tourist attraction in Virginia.
During initial discussions about the re-design, Virginian Congressional delegation raised concerns about losing free publicity for Monticello. The Mint agreed to go back to the Monticello tail in 2006, according to CNN/Money online.
By the same token, some might assume the commemorative nickels would be free publicity for states that were part of the purchase.
But Paul Hoffman, a Louisiana Purchase historian and history professor, said the nickel likely will not produce more than “marginal” interest in Louisiana tourism.
“The Louisiana Quarter is in circulation,” he said. “I don’t know it has made much difference.”
But Mike Mouret, owner of Louisiana Gold and Gems located on Coursey Boulevard, is a local coin collecting expert who is excited to see the re-design.
“Anytime the world ‘Louisiana’ is mentioned it’s a good thing,” he said. “At least it brings awareness.”
Mouret said the State Quarter series caused benefits for coin collecting, or numismatics.
“[The quarters] have been phenomenal for long-term growth of the hobby,” he said.
The re-designed nickel is the first U.S. commemoration of the historic purchase, but the nation that sold the land – France – made a commemoration of sorts about 150 years ago.
The gold coin – the Napoleon III French 20 Franc – was named after Napoleon Bonaparte, the self-proclaimed “Emperor of France” who made the sale.
President Thomas Jefferson spearheaded the purchase of the 800,000-square-mile piece of land in 1803 $15 million. The purchase doubled the size of the nation and brought numerous cultures – including Native American and French – into the U.S. “melting pot.”
The Mint also will release a bicentennial nickel for the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led a western trek starting in 1804 from Illinois to Washington at Jefferson’s request.
Lewis and Clark mapped the land they covered and kept journals about the species of plants and animals along their 3,700-mile trip.
The Mint will release the Lewis and Clark nickels in fall 2004.