In 2004, the United States Mint released two commemorative nickels designed to honor the bicentennials of the Lewis and Clark expedition and the Louisiana Purchase. Two additional nickels honoring the Lewis and Clark expedition have been designed for 2005. These commemorative coins do not display likenesses of Lewis and Clark themselves, although two designs do make reference to Lewis and Clark in their inscriptions. The 2004 spring design, generally referred to as the Peace Medal design, depicts the original Indian Peace Medal commissioned for Lewis and Clark's expedition on the nickel's reverse side. The reverse of the coin also contains the words "Louisiana Purchase" and the date "1803" above the rendition of the medal. The 2004 fall design is called the Keelboat nickel. The reverse of the Keelboat nickel features a portrayal of the keelboat used by the Lewis and Clark expedition on the rivers of the Louisiana Territory. The words "Lewis and Clark" appear below the keelboat. The 2005 coins incorporate an updated image of Jefferson next to a handwritten "Liberty" inscription, along with two new reverse designs. The spring design features the American bison, an animal described in journals from the expedition. The summer/fall design bears an inscription "Ocean in view! O! The joy!" superimposed on a rendition of trees against the water. The inscription is based on an entry in Captain Clark's journal in 1805. This design contains the legend "Lewis and Clark 1805" at the outer edge of the coin. Production of traditional Jefferson nickels with the original image of Jefferson on the front, and Monticello on the reverse, will resume in 2006.
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