Why on does Thomas Jefferson face the same direction on the 2005 nickel as Abraham Lincoln on the cent?

It's purely an artistic decision. Despite huge numbers of internet rumors, there's no hidden meaning in the direction portraits face on US Coins.

In fact, other modern coins including nickels made since 2006, Sacajawea dollars, and some Presidential dollars have portraits facing right or forward. Up to the 20th century, images on US coins pointed left or right roughly equally.