Who is on a dime and nickel? The dime and nickel – two of America’s most common coins – feature prominent political figures from the early 20th century. But do you know exactly who these iconic faces belong to and why they were chosen to adorn U.S. currency?
If not, read on to uncover the fascinating stories behind the figures on the dime and nickel.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: The figure on the dime is Franklin D. Roosevelt, America’s longest-serving president, while the face on the five-cent nickel is Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence and America’s third president.
In this article, we’ll explore the complete background behind Roosevelt’s dime and Jefferson’s nickel. You’ll learn all about these leaders’ accomplishments and why they were selected for coinage honors after their deaths.
We’ll also overview the coin design process and dive into some fun facts you may not know about the 10-cent dime and 5-cent nickel pieces.
The Man on the Dime: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Brief Background and Accomplishments
Franklin D. Roosevelt, often referred to as FDR, served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 to 1945. Before entering politics, he worked as a lawyer and went on to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President Wilson.
After contracting polio in 1921, FDR founded a polio rehabilitation center in Georgia to help others afflicted with the disease.
As president, FDR led the country through monumental crises like the Great Depression and World War II with his ambitious New Deal domestic agenda and infectious optimism. Some of his major accomplishments include establishing Social Security, passing extensive banking reforms, and spearheading job stimulus programs that helped lift the economy.
FDR was also instrumental in forming the United Nations after the war to promote world peace.
Selection for Coinage Honors
In 1946, the Roosevelt dime was introduced to honor FDR’s legacy as one of America’s most revered presidents. As the March of Dimes organization that FDR founded played a key role in funding the vaccine research that ended the polio epidemic, it was fitting that he would appear on the 10-cent coin.
The deserialize of Roosevelt for the dime was authorized by Congress and personally endorsed by President Harry Truman to memorialize FDR’s courage and perseverance in the face of adversity.
The Roosevelt Dime Design
The current design of the Roosevelt dime has undergone little change since its introduction in 1946. It depicts a left-facing portrait of FDR framed by inscriptions of the word “Liberty” and the date of minting.
The reverse side retains the iconic torch, oak, and olive sprig imagery symbolic of liberty that first appeared in 1916.
In 2023, the U.S. Mint launched a two-year series of special Roosevelt dimes with reverse designs honoring his presidential accomplishments to celebrate the coin’s 75th anniversary.
The Figure on the Nickel: Thomas Jefferson
Overview of Jefferson’s Legacy
As the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson left an indelible mark on American history. Revered as a champion of democracy, education, and individual liberties, Jefferson embodied the ideals that the Founding Fathers strove to build a new nation.
During his presidency from 1801-1809, the US expanded significantly with the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the country. Jefferson also slashed the national debt by a third during his tenure.
While Jefferson’s early political career is defined by lofty rhetoric on freedom and human rights, his record as a slave owner has complicated his legacy. Though Jefferson called slavery a “moral depravity” and a violation of human rights, he enslaved over 600 people during his lifetime.
Jefferson’s relationship with Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman who bore six of his children, remains controversial.
Choosing Jefferson for Nickel Immortality
Jefferson’s visage was selected to appear on the US five-cent coin in 1938 to commemorate the 35th president’s1935 birth bicentennial. As Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau Jr. unveiled the new nickel, he proclaimed that Jefferson was the “apostle of freedom” and “one of the really great minds of all times.”
The previous figure on the nickel, the American bison, was beloved by the public but was replaced to honor Jefferson’s legacy. Morgenthau stated that placing Jefferson on the nickel was fitting due to the denomination’s popularity and wide circulation.
It ensured that millions of Americans would carry a miniature reminder of Jefferson in their pockets daily. Over 85 years later, Jefferson still accompanies Americans everywhere on the modern US nickel.
Design Elements of the Jefferson Nickel
The obverse side of the nickel depicts a right-facing bust portrait of Jefferson by artist Felix Schlag. Jefferson’s name arcs across the top rim above his head. The words “Liberty” and “In God We Trust” flank either side of the portrait.
Schlag chose a forward-facing bust as an “affirmation of Jefferson’s courageous spirit.”
The reverse features a rendition of Jefferson’s historic home, the Monticello estate, by Schlag. Jefferson was intimately involved in the estate’s design and construction, imbuing his passion for architecture and the natural world into every detail.
Monticello is considered one of America’s iconic landmarks and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. With over half a million tourists visiting annually pre-pandemic Monticello’s appearance on the nickel has certainly increased its familiarity.
Minting and Circulation Facts About the Dime and Nickel
U.S. Mint Production Statistics
The United States Mint produces billions of dimes and nickels each year to meet demand. In 2021 alone, the U.S. Mint manufactured over 1.1 billion dimes at the Denver Mint and Philadelphia Mint facilities. Nickel production totaled over 1 billion units in 2021 as well.
Surprisingly, the combined face value of all dimes and nickels struck in 2021 exceeded $255 million.
The U.S. Mint tracks coin production statistics like these on its website. Anyone can view data tables summarizing the mintage figures for circulating coins going back many decades. Dimes and nickels always rank among the highest mintage counts.
The ubiquitous nature of “dimes and five-cent nickels” in commerce makes them prime targets for massive-scale manufacturing every year.
Popularity in Commerce and Collecting
Dimes and nickels earn their keep as two of the most frequently encountered coins Americans use in cash transactions. The popularity index site CoinQuest.com gives dimes and nickels high rankings among widely collected U.S. numismatic pieces as well. Reasons for their enduring appeal include:
- Dimes and nickels both feature historical figures on the obverse, attracting casual collector interest.
- The small cash value of dimes and nickels makes them ideal for commerce. Consumers appreciate handy changes for small purchases.
- Ubiquity drives demand – with billions upon billions of both coins circulating, availability and affordability drive collecting activity.
Dimes have depicted Lady Liberty and various notable Americans over the years. Since 1946 the obverse has featured former President Franklin Roosevelt. Nickels have shown both icons like Liberty and real people such as Thomas Jefferson.
Collectors can readily obtain dimes and nickels honoring these famous figures to add to hobby albums.
| Dime Design Lifespan | 1946-present (FDR) |
| Nickel Design Lifespan | 1938-2003 (Jefferson) |
Dimes and nickels earn high marks as coins offering historical significance, utility for commerce, and collectibility – a versatile trifecta making them hugely popular on all fronts!
Coins Honor History: Why it Matters Who is on Our Money
The faces we see every day on our coins and currency carry more meaning than many realize. The prominent government, activist, inventor, and Native American tribal leaders honored serve as reminders of key moments, sacrifices, innovations, and communities that have profoundly shaped America’s ongoing fight for “liberty and justice for all.”
Inspiring Future Generations
Imagine being a young child of the 21st century holding a nickel bearing the face of Thomas Jefferson. His stony gaze may prompt curiosity about the Founding Fathers and Declaration of Independence author engraved there.
The nickel becomes an exploratory portal into America’s formative years and Jefferson’s contradictory legacy as both a revolutionary thinker and slave owner.
Or perhaps a teen in 2030 closely examines a dime emblazoned with FORD MOTOR CO. and the profile of company founder Henry Ford. She gains exposure to a pioneer of assembly line production whose Model T automobile revolutionized 20th-century transportation, even as the automaker attracted controversy for ways it exercised corporate power.
In moments like these, the metal discs in people’s pockets transform into jumping-off points for diving into the key stories, sacrifices, innovations, and injustices intertwined with the American experience. They have the power to pique the curiosity of citizens of all ages.
Honoring Unsung Contributions
Placing activists and leaders from marginalized communities on prominent currency underscores how American culture and business owe an enduring debt to the structural reforms, artistic movements, and technological contributions of these groups.
For example, the campaign in 2020 to replace Andrew Jackson’s portrait on the $20 bill with abolitionist Harriet Tubman would have memorialized a woman whose daring efforts delivering enslaved persons to freedom helped fuel the anti-slavery movement.
The news that groundbreaking author Toni Morrison will become the first Black woman with her portrait on a U.S. quarter-dollar coin celebrates her indelible literary imprint while highlighting the overlooked genius of African American arts and letters.
Efforts to transform whose faces Americans see on money seek to mend, in some small way, critical oversights that excluded marginalized populations from national narratives and consciousness. Rectifying these oversights, however late, does matter.
Sparking Examination of America’s Flaws
Debates that spring up on whether figures like slave owners should remain in prominent U.S. currency offer teachable moments on the nuances and contradictions of history. They illuminate where America’s founding principles around equality and liberty sharply diverged from its actions.
For example, while early Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton’s championing of American finance and manufacturing is indisputable, scrutiny around 2020 about his legacy as an enslaver sparked meaty discussions on the selective lens of whose exploits society celebrates.
Removing or adding certain faces on money, far from erasing history, can actually spur citizens to wrestle with it in full scope.
Most great individuals and the movements or companies they represent contain uplifting and destructive qualities when examined closely enough. Debating who American currency should and should not honor brings many of these ethical complexities jarringly to light.
The end result is a populace perhaps better equipped to apply lessons of history to guide future moral progress.
Who Is On A Dime And Nickel – Conclusion
As we’ve explored, the distinguished men depicted on America’s dime and nickel coins were no accidental choices. Franklin D. Roosevelt and Thomas Jefferson shaped the course of U.S. history, making indelible marks as president.
They earned their numismatic tributes through visionary leadership and dedication to freedom, equality, and the common good.
So next time you get a dime or nickel in change, take a moment to appreciate the iconic leaders behind these coins. Though coins pass through our hands everyday in small amounts, they symbolize American ideals much greater than their modest face value.
