Nickelback

I saw my first new nickel today. It has a picture of a handshake on the reverse side and is the first of two new designs this year to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Jefferson's sending Lewis and Clark to explore his recent purchase.

Doing my own exploring (of a more cyberspacial nature), I found this "Fun Fact" in the section of the mint's site aimed at kids: "Before the Mint Police, there was a Mint Pup. Old records show that $3 was spent to purchase a watchdog to protect the first Mint in Philadelphia." I would have had to call the dog Ten Spot, but I bet that's just me.