FARGO-When in circulation, the Nickel Trophy was subject to practical jokes and theft when it was the prize for the winner of the North Dakota State and University of North Dakota football series. On Monday, at least one state representative is wondering what happened to it.

It seems the trophy is still missing.

An amendment to a bill the 2017 North Dakota Legislature passed that required the Nickel to be put on display at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum in Bismarck became law on Aug. 1, 2017. The trophy isn't there.

"It's pretty obvious they're not in compliance with the law," said State Rep. Roscoe Streyle, R-Minot. "It's unbelievable to me. It should have been done six months ago."

Streyle said he put in a call for UND President Mark Kennedy, but had yet to hear back as of Monday morning.

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The Nickel, a 75-pound replica of a once-minted U.S. coin, has a buffalo on one side and an American Indian head on the other. It went to the winner of the annual game starting in 1938.

UND has been in possession of the trophy since 2003 when it defeated NDSU 28-21 in overtime at the Alerus Center.

The schools quit playing each other when the Bison started a Division I reclassification that had them playing a mostly-Division I schedule in 2004. At the time, it was the longest-running rivalry in Division II football.

The teams renewed the game in 2015, a 34-9 NDSU win at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome, but the trophy was not on the line since UND had already shelved the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo in favor of the Fighting Hawks.

UND was given two options following the passage of Senate Bill 2003: either put the trophy up for grabs again or put it on display in Bismarck.

"We believe the Nickel Trophy should be sent to the Heritage Center, where the entire state can enjoy the trophy and celebrate its history," UND spokesman Peter Johnson told Forum Communications, in a story last August.

The last real public display of the Nickel was in 2008 when UND brought it along while traveling the state as part of the school's 125th anniversary celebration. Then came the amendment that was written by Streyle, which read:

"To promote national recognition and statewide enthusiasm, the legislative assembly encourages the University of North Dakota and the North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Science to play for the Nickel Trophy during the course of a National Collegiate Athletic Association football game. If the athletic director or president of either institution elects not to play for the Nickel Trophy, the Nickel Trophy must be permanently displayed at the Heritage Center."

UND athletic director Bill Chaves, who has only been on the job for less than two months, was out of town and not immediately available for comment on Monday.