image from USA Today
USA Today reports: WASHINGTON — Coming soon: a smiling Thomas Jefferson looking straight at you from a new nickel that will end nearly a century of tradition for U.S. coins. The Mint planned to begin shipping 80 million of the new 5-cent coins Thursday to the 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks for distribution. They will be the first of an estimated 1 billion new nickels to be put into circulation over the next year.I find this interesting, because it is the first time since 1909 that the presidential image has not been in profile, when Abraham Lincoln became the first president depicted on a circulating coin.
The new nickel, a break from tradition, has an image of Jefferson taken from an 1800 Rembrandt Peale portrait in which the nation's third president is looking forward, with just the hint of a smile. The phrase "In God We Trust," is also shown as is the word "Liberty" in Jefferson's own handwriting.
The opposite side of the nickel continues to depict Monticello, Jefferson's Virginia home. Jefferson and Monticello had been on the nickel unchanged for 66 years until 2004.
That year, the Mint began the two-year "Westward Journey Nickel Series" to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase and the exploration of the new territory by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Monticello was replaced, during those two years, with images commemorating their journey, including a keel boat, a buffalo and a view of the Pacific.
Meanwhile, CNN reports:
President Bush traveled to a still-ravaged Gulf Coast Thursday after three months away, promising that a building boom is on its way and encouraging other Americans to visit, too.
Bush's visit to New Orleans and Mississippi was part of a series of events to showcase his priorities leading up to the State of the Union address. He said he was committed to rebuilding communities devastated from Hurricane Katrina.
"People in far away places like Washington, D.C., still hear you and care about you," Bush told survivors gathered at St. Stanislaus College, just a couple of blocks from where Katrina blew ashore.
It's good that Bush is still concerned about domistic issues. With international issues dominating the airwaves these days, it is easy to think he doesn't care about those of us still here in the states.
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