Information about Portrait: Thomas Jefferson (left)

The portrait of Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826), the third President of the United States (1801 - 1809) has been displayed on the obverse of American five-cent coins since 1938; the coins that carry the portrait are known as "Jefferson nickels". From 1938 until 2004, the copper-nickel coin's obverse featured this profile depiction of founding father and third U.S. President Thomas Jefferson facing left, by artist Felix Schlag.

First struck in 1913, the Buffalo nickel had long been difficult to coin, and after it completed the 25-year term during which it could only be replaced by Congress, the Mint moved quickly to replace it with a new design. The Mint conducted a design competition, in early 1938, requiring that Jefferson be depicted on the obverse and Jefferson's house Monticello on the reverse. Felix Schlag won the competition, but was required to submit an entirely new reverse and make other changes before the new piece went into production in October 1938. Either through a misunderstanding or an oversight, Schlag did not include his initials in the design; they would not be added until 1966.

The bust of Jefferson on the obverse closely resembles his bust by sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon, which is to be found in Boston's Museum of Fine Arts.

The portrait was used until 2004, when the design of the denomination changed. The obverse design used in 2005 was also in profile, though by Joe Fitzgerald. Since 2006 Jefferson's portrayal, newly designed by Jamie Franki, faces forward.

Thomas Jefferson on a Five Cents coin

United States / Five Cents 1981 Jefferson Nickel

The portrait has been shown on this type of coins - called a Jefferson nickel - from 1938 until 2004.