What is the value of an 1805 Lewis and Clark nickel?

Answer 1

It's only worth 5 cents. That nickel was actually minted in 2005, commemorating 200 years since the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis & Clark expedition. The 1805 date on the back and the "Ocean in View" design honors the expedition's arrival at the Pacific Ocean.

There were three other designs in the four-coin series of "Westward Journey" nickels: the "Peace Medal", keelboat, and bison/buffalo preceded the "Ocean in View" coins.

Even though the expedition began in 1803 the first commemorative nickels weren't released until 2004. The discrepancy (201 years, not 200) was caused by Congressional wrangling over whether the new coins would continue to feature a portrait of Thomas Jefferson. The Virginia delegation held up work until the Mint agreed to keep the same portrait, although they partially relented in 2005 by allowing a new design though not a different person.