The Jefferson Westward Journey Nickel, 2004–2005: A Collector's Guide

For two years, the familiar Jefferson nickel set aside its long-running Monticello reverse for four special designs commemorating the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition. Along the way, one 2005 Denver nickel picked up an unplanned die flaw that’s become the series’ most collected variety: the “Speared Bison.”

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What makes the Westward Journey series important to collectors?

The Jefferson nickel’s reverse had shown Monticello, Jefferson’s Virginia home, since the coin’s introduction in 1938. In 2004 and 2005, the Mint replaced it with four sequential designs telling the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition, all struck in the series’ standard 75% copper, 25% nickel composition, at 5.00 grams and 21.20 mm in diameter:

• Peace Medal (2004): two right hands gripped in a handshake — one cuffed like a soldier’s, the other bare — with a tomahawk and peace pipe crossed beneath them. The design is based on the actual Indian Peace Medals that Lewis and Clark handed out to tribal leaders along the route. Adapted by Mint sculptor Norman E. Nemeth.
• Keelboat (2004): the 55-foot boat that hauled the expedition’s supplies up the Missouri River before it turned back partway through the journey in 1805. Designed and engraved by Mint sculptor Alfred Meletsky.
• American Bison (2005): a close-up profile of a bison, marking the expedition’s first encounter with the animal in June 1804 and its importance to Plains tribes. Designed by Jamie Franki and sculpted by Norman E. Nemeth.
• Ocean in View (2005): the coastline at Cape Disappointment, Washington, where the expedition first saw the Pacific on November 7, 1805, paired with an inscription drawn from William Clark’s journal entry from that day: “Ocean in view! O! The joy!” Designed by Joe Fitzgerald and sculpted by Donna Weaver.

The 2005 coins also carried a new Jefferson portrait on the obverse—a right-facing close-up adapted from Jean-Antoine Houdon’s sculpted bust of Jefferson, drawn by Joe Fitzgerald and engraved by Don Everhart, replacing the left-facing profile the coin had used since 1938. Circulation mintages across the four designs ranged from roughly 345 million to nearly 488 million coins per issue, so ordinary examples of any of the four designs are common and inexpensive.

The 2005-D Speared Bison: the series’ key variety

A small number of 2005-D Bison nickels were struck from a die that developed a prominent gouge running through the bison’s back, giving the design the appearance of a spear piercing the animal—hence the nickname “Speared Bison.” It’s catalogued by the Cherrypickers’ Guide as FS-901 and recognized as a distinct variety by both PCGS and NGC.

Because it’s a recognized, catalogued variety rather than just an informally noticed oddity, the Speared Bison has held its value better than many minor modern errors. PCGS notes that examples become very difficult to find in MS66 or finer, and recorded sales bear that out: values have trended upward over time, with a Heritage Auctions sale in 2010 at $1,265 for a high-grade example, and later auction results reported in the $2,250 to $2,650 range for coins graded MS66. Treat the more recent figures as reported price levels rather than a fixed benchmark, and compare current PCGS or NGC price-guide values and recent completed sales before buying or selling.

How to identify a Speared Bison nickel

Check the bison’s back

Look for a raised, gouge-like line running across the bison’s back on the reverse of a 2005-D Bison nickel, distinct from the coin’s normal design. On a genuine example, the line is bold enough to look like a spear or dart through the animal, not a faint scratch.

Confirm the mint mark and design

The variety is specifically known from the 2005-D (Denver) Bison design—not the Peace Medal, Keelboat, or Ocean in View designs, and not the Philadelphia Bison nickel.

Get it certified

Given how sharply value rises in the higher Mint State grades, and how scarce PCGS says the variety is above MS65, a certified example specifically attributed as “Speared Bison” or “FS-901” is worth the cost for anything beyond a lower circulated grade.

Buying considerations

Certified versus raw coins

For an ordinary Westward Journey nickel of any of the four designs, certification isn’t necessary. For the Speared Bison specifically, a PCGS- or NGC-certified example removes any doubt about the attribution, especially at the higher grades where value climbs quickly.

Understanding grades

As with any modern nickel, compare luster, strike quality, and marks when judging Mint State examples. Cleaning or excessive handling reduces both grade and value.

Suggested search terms and filters

For the series generally: “Westward Journey nickel,” “Peace Medal nickel,” “Keelboat nickel,” “American Bison nickel,” or “Ocean in View nickel.”

For the key variety specifically: “2005-D Speared Bison nickel” or “FS-901 Speared Bison.”

Then narrow by:

• Grade: MS63 through MS66 and above for the Speared Bison, where value rises steeply
• Certification: PCGS, NGC, or “certified Speared Bison FS-901”

Availability and pricing notes

Ordinary examples of all four Westward Journey designs are common and inexpensive, since hundreds of millions were struck across the series. The Speared Bison variety is a different story—genuinely scarce above MS65 and increasingly sought after, with prices that have trended upward over time. Listings and asking prices don’t necessarily represent completed-sale values, so compare grade and certification carefully before buying.

GetCoinHunt does not guarantee that every listing is authentic, accurately graded, or fairly priced. Authentication, grading, pricing, return policies, and fulfillment remain the responsibility of the dealer or marketplace offering the coin.

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1. Search for the coin. Enter “2005-D Speared Bison nickel” to search participating dealer inventory.
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5. Evaluate the coin before buying. Verify certification and photographs, and review the seller’s terms.

Frequently asked questions

What are the four Westward Journey nickel designs?

Peace Medal and Keelboat, both from 2004, and American Bison and Ocean in View, both from 2005—each commemorating a different part of the Lewis and Clark expedition and the Louisiana Purchase bicentennial.

Why does the Jefferson portrait look different on 2005 nickels?

The Mint introduced a new right-facing close-up portrait of Jefferson in 2005, adapted from a sculpted bust by Jean-Antoine Houdon, replacing the left-facing profile used since the coin’s 1938 introduction.

What is the Speared Bison nickel?

A 2005-D American Bison nickel struck from a die with a prominent gouge running through the bison’s back, giving the appearance of a spear through the animal. It’s catalogued as FS-901 and recognized by both PCGS and NGC.

Are ordinary Westward Journey nickels valuable?

No. All four designs had large circulation mintages, so ordinary examples are common and worth close to face value. The Speared Bison is the notable exception.

What if no suitable coin is currently available?

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