Lewis and Clark Nickel

Back of 2004 nickel at ten times original size.

Back of 2004 nickel at sixty times original size.

Did you know there are Lewis and Clark commemorative nickels this year? I didn't until I got one in change a couple of days ago. Needing to have a closer look I fired up the microscope and took these photos. This design is the "Louisiana Purchase/Peace Medal" which, accoriding to the U.S. Mint is "a rendition of the reverse of the original Indian Peace Medal commissioned for Lewis and Clark's expedition, bearing... symbols of peace and friendship" on the reverse. A second new nickel design was released earlier this month.