WESTWARD JOURNEY NICKEL DESIGNS
In commemoration of the bicentennials of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition, the President enacted Public Law 108-15 to modify the Jefferson 5-cent coin (nickel) to reflect images evocative of the historic expedition into the Louisiana Territory.

2004 Reverse Devices:

The first nickel of the series features the Peace Medal design adapted from the reverse of original Indian Peace Medals commissioned for the Lewis and Clark expedition to present to Native American chiefs and other important leaders as tokens of goodwill from the United States.

The Keelboat nickel features an angled side view of 55-foot keelboat built to Captain Lewis's specifications that transported Lewis & Clark throughout their expedition.

2005 Devices:

2005 Obverse Device: The obverse design for the 2005 nickels bear, for the first time in 67 years, a new likeness of America’s third president, Thomas Jefferson. The “Liberty” inscription on the coin is based upon Jefferson’s own handwriting.

2005 Reverse Devices:
The first of the two new reverses on the 2005-dated nickel features the American bison, recognizing the American Indians and wildlife encountered by the Lewis and Clark expedition.

The "Ocean in view! O! The joy!" nickel features a scene of the Pacific Ocean and an inscription reflecting an excited entry in the journal of Captain William Clark on November 7, 1805.