2006 nickel

The artists on the U.S. Mint Artistic Infusion Program have received their next assignment: the 2006 nickel.

Mint officials divided the group into 12 artists working on the obverse and the other 12 working on the reverse (this breaks down to three “Master Artists” and nine “Associate Artists” in each group.)

Here’s a timeline:

• Invitations sent in mid-July
• Initial designs are expected by mid-August.
• National Endowment for the Arts narrows down designs
• CCAC & CFA reviews designs in September

According to the law that allowed for the nickel redesign of 2004-2005, the nickel reverts to a Jefferson obverse and Monticello reverse permanently in 2006 (though the designs do not have to be the same images that have adorned the Jefferson nickel for decades.)