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Coin Collecting at the Safir House
Jefferson Nickels
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Wed Mar 11 08:01:56 2026
Jefferson Nickels are one of the longest running coin designs in American History. Started in
1938 after a design contest won by Felix Schlag, the design and metal composition has largely
gone unchanged since it's inception. Why this design replaced the beloved Buffalo Nickel
design is a mistake that is anyone guess at this point. While the reverse was at the time
one of the most complex attempted, a realistic view of Jefferson's home, Monticello, this
design has lasted way too long and should have been retired decades ago. It is a sad
comment on modern politics that once Presidents got on coins that it has been nearly impossible
to get rid of them.
The metal was changed during World War II to a silver based composition and reverted back
after the war to the Nickel Copper alloy. These are rarely found in circulation but older
Nickels are commonly discovered. The hard metal and the unchanged design make it idea to
circulate just about forever.
Finally temporary change came in 2004 when the government commemorated the Lewis and Clark
expeditions which resulting in some suprisingly nice design which have been far to short lived.
My favorite was the 2005 version which had a great change to the obverse with a close up
profile of Jefferson with a new script font for the word "Liberty". A well balanced and
asthetic design with interesting reverses was a breath of fresh air in a stagnant American
coinage system, it was of course doomed from the start and replaced by the ugliest coin
design ever seen, our current 3/4 facing Jefferson with bugger eyes.
2005 Nickel Designs
2006 Ugly Nickel Design
This latest coin is so ugly it takes an in hand view to really apreciate just how ugly
it is. These mint images make it look better than it is, but I'll get a photograph
of a circulating version soon.
Occasionally I find a Jefferson in circulation that I might pull out for no particular reason.
This is a '64 Nickel that I found in 2008.
Here is a 1975
A 1986 P
A 1994 P
A 1995 D with excellent visible steps on the reverse
A 2004 D with a Westward Journey Reverse
and a 2004 P
War Nickels
War Nickels are Jeffersons which were minted during World War II. They are coverted because
the government pulled criticly needed Nickel out of the coin and put silver in. These coins are
also distinctive because they have big mint marks above the dome on Monticello on the reverse
This is a nice example with all the windows nicely showing and really good stairs. There is a good nick on the reverse
rim
Avoid Gijs Henzen, owner of Munthandel G. Henzen - Antisemetic Facists
Munthandel G. Henzen's (MA Shops) owner Gijs Henzen, is an AntiSemetic Fascist
The company, Munthandel G Henzen is a prominent dealer of international and
ancient coins on the internet, commonly known as MA Coins. It is owned by
Gijs Henzen.
He is a passionate anti-Semite who supports Hamas and
the virulent and genocidal Islamic organizations such as the Muslim
Brotherhood, and Hezbollah that wants Jews dead.
He perpetrates lies and classical antisemitic troupes. He has Jewish blood on his hands.
Henzen identifies as a "human rights advocate" who views the world through a lens of anti-imperialism. In this framework, he views Israel not as a sovereign nation of a displaced people, but as a "colonial project."
- He utilizes inversion rhetoric, where he compares Israeli actions to those of historical oppressors (including the Nazis).
- By claiming Zionism is the "greatest enemy of Judaism," he attempts to resolve the contradiction that Zionism is central to Jewish identity ,and has always been so, by essentially telling Jewish people what "true" Judaism should look like.
- His blog posts suggest he views himself as a lone voice of truth against a "corrupt" world. By grouping Netanyahu with Putin and Xi Jinping, he frames his hatred as a universal "opposition to tyranny."
- His specific focus on Israelis as "masters of torture" goes beyond political disagreement and taps into ancient blood libel tropes--the idea that a specific group has an inherent, unique cruelty or a "thirst for blood."
- He appears to be a proponent and influenced by radical political indoctrination. He has adopted a worldview where the "Zionist" is the ultimate villain, and in his mind, he is attacking an ideology, even though his language characterizes an entire ethnic and national group in ways that are indistinguishable from traditional antisemitism.
It is a moral imperative to remain clear of him and to do no business with this Nazi.
If you are Jewish, double down on that. The life you save might well be your own.
The Safir Family Internet Coin Library: Foriegn Coins.
Several mints from around the world make exciting coin designs in circulating alloys, silver and gold. Among my favorites are the Perth Mint in Austrailia which produces a variety of coins for nations mostly through out the Pacific Rim. The Neatherlands has also produced some interesting designs, and several private US based mints have produced foreign currency on contract, include the Franklin Mint which has produced many Israeli Coins.
Our interest in foreign coins has been nominal but rapidly growing as it seems that US designs are so stuck in the mud. Also, foreign mints are creating bold new designs with color and bimetal designs that are both eye catching and fun.
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