WASHINGTON - Millions of shiny nickels sporting their first new look in 66 years are being shipped to the Federal Reserve, the supplier of the nation's cash, officials of the U.S Mint said Tuesday

The new nickels - which honor the 1803 Louisiana Purchase on the back but retain Thomas Jefferson on the front - should start showing up in cash registers in several weeks, Mint officials said.

A total of 180 million new nickels have been sent to the Federal Reserve as of March 1, said Mint spokeswoman Becky Bailey.

That marks the first of the new nickels to be rolled out. Another nickel honoring the 1804-1806 Lewis and Clark expedition will be released in the fall.

The new commemorative themed nickels, part of the Mint's new Westward Journey Nickel Series, replace the image of Jefferson's home, Monticello, now on the back of the coins. The current design was introduced in 1938.

The back of the new nickels now headed into circulation bear the words "United States of America," "Louisiana Purchase" and "1803." There is an image of hands clasped in friendship - one with a military cuff to symbolize the U.S. government, and the other with an ornate bracelet to represent American Indians.

Above the clasped hands is a tomahawk crossed by a peace pipe. The images are similar to those on Jefferson Peace Medals, which were presented ceremonially to Indian chiefs and other important leaders. Below the clasped hands are the Latin words "E Pluribus Unum" (meaning "Out of many, one"), and hugging the bottom of the coin is the denomination: "Five Cents."

Approximately 900 million of this nickel have been made, up from an initial estimate of 500 million, reflecting an improved economic climate which typically increases demand for coins, Bailey said. Mint Director Henrietta Holsman Fore will show off this new nickel, which some have already begun calling the peace pipe nickel, today.

The front of the two new nickels debuting this year remain the same, featuring, among other things, the visage of Jefferson and the words "In God We Trust." But a third version of the nickel to be released in 2005 may sport a different image of Jefferson.

Vending machines will be able to accept the new nickels because their composition - 75 percent copper and 25 percent nickel - and their size remains the same, Mint officials said.