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Westward Journey nickels
Four designs over two years marking the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
What our records show
- For 2004–2005, the years this site covers for this design, our table has production figures for 2 of 2 years.
- Facilities in the record, with the mark their coins carried: Philadelphia: P (2004–2005); Denver: D (2004–2005).
- What the figures count: circulating production each calendar year, without proof or uncirculated-set coins (archived Mint production pages).
“In 2004, the Mint commemorated the bicentennials of the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark Expedition with the Westward Journey Nickel Series.”
Metal, weight and size, where a Mint table dates it
| Coin years | Specification and source |
|---|---|
| 2004–2005 | No specification dated to these years in the sources we checked. |
Each row covers only the coin years its source establishes. Proof and collector versions can differ and aren't covered.
Current Mint specification (undated; applicability to earlier years not established)
Metal: cupro-nickel (25% nickel, balance copper) · Weight: 5 g · Diameter: 21.21 mm
Source: U.S. Mint, Coin Specifications page (archived October 9, 2024; the page says its content was last updated April 28, 2022). The page doesn't say which years' coins it describes.
How many were made
| Year | Philadelphia P | Denver D | What the figure counts, and notes | Source (see list below) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 728,160,000 | 716,880,000 | All Westward Journey nickels designs of 2004 combined (calendar-year production). Per-design figures are in the by-design table below. circulating production that calendar year | 1 |
| 2005 | 842.40 million | 898.80 million | All Westward Journey nickels designs of 2005 combined (calendar-year production). Per-design figures are in the by-design table below. circulating production that calendar year | 2 |
- Mint production page, 2004 (archived), January 2004 through December 2004
- Mint production page, 2005 (archived), January 2005 through December 2005
By design
The Mint's production pages list each design separately: circulating production at Denver and Philadelphia, without proof or collector coins. For the years shown, each year's designs add up to the calendar-year table above.
| Year | Design | Denver D | Philadelphia P | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Louisiana Purchase/Peace Medal | 372,000,000 | 361,440,000 | Mint production page, 2004 (archived) |
| 2004 | Keelboat | 344,880,000 | 366,720,000 | Mint production page, 2004 (archived) |
| 2005 | American Bison | 487,680,000 | 448,320,000 | Mint production page, 2005 (archived) |
| 2005 | "Ocean in view! O! The joy!" | 411,120,000 | 394,080,000 | Mint production page, 2005 (archived) |
Where the mint mark is
“When mint marks returned in 1968, they were placed on the obverse, after having previously been on the reverse of coins.” (U.S. Mint)
Sources
- Coin Production Figures (U.S. Mint, 1999-2012 site). United States Mint (archived copy).
- Nickel (U.S. Mint, Circulating Coins). United States Mint (archived copy).
- Coin Specifications (U.S. Mint). United States Mint (archived copy).
Figures and quotes checked against their sources on October 12, 2026.