The nickel is a five‑cent coin made of a copper‑nickel alloy (75% copper, 25% nickel). It is larger and heavier than the penny and dime, weighing 5 grams with a diameter of 21.21 mm. Its smooth edge makes it distinct from the quarter and dime, which have ridges.

On the obverse (front), the nickel features Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. His portrait faces left, accompanied by the inscriptions “IN GOD WE TRUST”, “LIBERTY”, and the year of minting.

On the reverse (back), the coin shows Monticello, Jefferson’s Virginia estate. Since 2006, the design has been updated to a more detailed depiction of Monticello, framed by the words “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA”, “E PLURIBUS UNUM”, and the denomination “FIVE CENTS”.

The nickel’s silver‑gray color and larger size make it easy to identify in circulation. It is widely used in vending machines, coin‑operated devices, and everyday transactions, serving as a practical bridge between the penny and the dime.