Numismatic

1959 Jefferson Nickel BU

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The 1959 Jefferson nickel offers a wonderful glimpse into mid-twentieth-century American coinage. Struck in a copper-nickel alloy at the Philadelphia Mint, this five-cent piece is preserved in Brilliant Uncirculated condition, meaning it retains its original luster and sharp details just as it looked when it first left the coining press. On the obverse, the coin displays a profile portrait of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States. Accompanying his likeness are the familiar inscriptions of national identity and liberty, including "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "LIBERTY 1959". This side of the coin was designed by Felix O. Schlag, whose work has defined the five-cent piece for generations. The reverse side features a detailed vignette of Monticello, the famous Virginia estate that Jefferson designed and called home. The building is rendered with architectural precision, set above the denomination "FIVE CENTS" and the country of origin, "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA". The traditional Latin motto "E PLURIBUS UNUM" is positioned proudly at the top, completing a classic design that remains a cornerstone of American pocket change.