2004 Westward Journey Nickel Series 6 Coins Inside!. The Westward Journey Nickels Program itself began around June of 2002 when officials at the US Mint were interested in possibly changing the coin in honor of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which would begin it's bicentennial in 2004. To do this, they needed support from the US Congress to authorize this. First, they contacted US Representative Eric Cantor (R-Virginia). Eric Cantor did have some concerns about the new designs of the coin, particularly removing the Monticello, which was located in his home State of Virginia.