May 24, 2013
The nickel's getting a new look today.
The US Mint is unveiling the five-cent piece's first makeover in more than 60 years.
The new one will still have the familiar Thomas Jefferson on the "heads" side but instead of his home, Monticello, the "tails" side will have a design honoring the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. It features hands gripped in friendship below a crossed tomahawk and peace pipe.
The Mint has made about 900 million of the new nickels and they'll be showing up in the next few weeks.
And they'll work just fine in vending machines -- like the old ones, they're 25 percent nickel and 75 percent copper.
