Schlag won the competition, but was required to submit an entirely new reverse and make other changes before the new piece went into production in October 1938.

The design for the Buffalo nickel is well regarded today, and has appeared both on a commemorative silver dollar and a bullion coin.

However, during the time it was struck (1913–1938), it was less well liked, especially by Mint authorities, whose attempts to bring out the full design increased an already high rate of die breakage.

The Mint, which is part of the Department of the Treasury, moved quickly and without public protest to replace the coin.

[1] In late January 1938, the Mint announced an open competition for the new nickel design, with the winner to receive a prize of $1,000.

The deadline for submissions was April 15; Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross and three sculptors were to be the judges.

This seeming lack of response proved to be misleading, as many artists had planned to enter the contest and submitted designs near the deadline.

[7] Art historian Cornelius Vermeule described the change: Official taste eliminated this interesting, even exciting, view, and substituted the mausoleum of Roman profile and blurred forms that masquerades as the building on the finished coin.

However, Commission chairman Charles Moore asked that the positions of the mottos on the reverse be switched, with the country name at the top; this was not done.

[7] On August 21, the Anderson (Indiana) Herald noted: [T]he Federal Fine Arts Commission ... didn't like the view of Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello, so they required the artist to do another picture of the front of the house.

There is no more reason for imitating the Romans in this respect [by using Roman-style lettering on the coin] than there would be for modeling our automobiles after the chariot of Ben Hur's day.

[4] Production of the Jefferson nickel began at all three mints (Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco), on October 3, 1938.

[11] In 1939, the Mint recut the hub for the nickel, sharpening the steps on Monticello, which had been fuzzy in initial strikings.

The Mint's greatest concern was in finding an alloy which would use no nickel, but still satisfy counterfeit detectors in vending machines.

[21] In both 1994 and 1997 matte proof nickels, with distinctive grainy surfaces, were struck in small numbers at the Philadelphia mint for inclusion in commemorative coin sets.

The 1987 modification saw the sharpening of Jefferson's hair and the details of Monticello—since 1987, well-struck nickels with six full steps on the reverse have been relatively common.

[23] In June 2002, Mint officials were interested in redesigning the nickel in honor of the upcoming bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

[27] The first, designed by United States Mint sculptor-engraver Norman E. Nemeth, depicts an adaptation of the Indian Peace Medals struck for Jefferson.

[28] The 2005 nickels presented a new image of the former president, designed by Joe Fitzgerald based on Houdon's bust of Jefferson.

[30] The reverse for the first half of the year depicted an American bison, recalling the Buffalo nickel and designed by Jamie Franki.

According to Acting Mint Director David Lebryk, "The image of a forward-facing Jefferson is a fitting tribute to [his] vision.

[35] The unusually low 2009 figures were caused by a lack of demand for coins in commerce due to poor economic conditions.