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5 Cents 'Jefferson Nickel' 1st portrait
| Issuer | United States Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 1938-2003 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
| Obverse lettering | IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY * [YEAR] [MINT MARK] |
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| Additional information |
Felix Schlag won the design competition in 1938 from a field of 390 artists, but the Mint forced him to revise his original reverse before striking began — his submitted design included a perspective view of Monticello that judges considered too unconventional. The obverse portrait was also modified without his input, a slight Schlag reportedly never forgot.
During 1942–45, nickel was diverted to war production and the composition shifted to a 35% silver alloy, making those wartime issues a distinct sub-type. The standard copper-nickel alloy resumed in 1946 and ran essentially unchanged for decades.