Shield Nickels Liberty "V" Nickels Buffalo Nickels Jefferson Nickels Certified Nickels The nickel is a five-cent coin, representing a unit of currency equaling one-twentieth, or five hundredths, of one United States dollar. The nickel's design since 1938 has featured a profile of President Thomas Jefferson on the obverse. From 1938 to 2003, Monticello was featured on the reverse. For 2004 and 2005, nickels featured new designs to commemorate the bicentennials of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition; these new designs were called the Westward Journey nickel series. In 2006, Monticello returned to the reverse, while a new image of Jefferson facing forward was featured on the obverse.