Undoubtedly, Felix Schlag is the designer for both the obverse and reverse of the U.S. Nickel (pre-Westward Journey issues). Also, most in the hobby know that the design he submitted in the contest had a totally different reverse and a different font. While continuing my (very slow) weekend inventory and research tasks, I came across this fantasy piece. Researching this one took me a while but I learned that it's another contest submission and it's from Wilhelm and Franz Hejda. What caught my attention is the reverse of this piece. It closely resembles the nickel we're familiar with, which is Schlag's revised design. This then made me wonder why credit for the Nickel's design was not allotted jointly to both Schlag and the Hejda father-son team; obverse by Schlag and reverse by Hejda. If you know the reason, please share with me. I really enjoy reading the stories behind the coins. Finally, unrelated to the title of this thread, I learned something while researching this piece. I learned about FINNING! It looks like the folded-up edges of crepes. (That's how I described it to someone while asking for his help. LOL.) It's not that obvious from the photo above, but from an angle, you'll see what I mean. Look around the coin's rim. If this condition is not finning, please correct me. I don't see much about finning here on CoinTalk. Thanks for looking and reading.
I don't know the reason, so only speculating if I may, but given the close association with Monticello to Jefferson (his home, a real place and not a concept out of the blue), it wouldn't at all be out of the realm for multiple submissions of designs from totally unrelated people with similar ideas but slightly different versions. One was chosen and another/others weren't...no reason to give dual credit I would think, IMO.
There was another reverse design submission that is almost identical to the adopted 1938 - 2003 design. The difference was that FIVE CENTS was in larger letters with the letters drawn to a point so the words kind of formed a triangle or shield shape. Basically Schlag was awarded the competition, but both the obv and reverse were altered so the only thing remaining on his design was Jefferson's bust. And several other submissions used the same or nearly the same bust. (Not surprising since the rules of the competition specified the artists use the Houdon bust of Jefferson currently in the Metropolitan Museum in New York.)
