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Release date of New Jersey State Quarter:
May 17, 1999.
The New Jersey quarter, the third coin in the 50
State Quarters® Program, depicts General George Washington and members
of the Colonial Army crossing the Delaware River en route to very
important victories during the Revolutionary War.
The design is based on the 1851 painting by Emmanuel Leutze,
"Washington Crossing the Delaware," which currently hangs in the
Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
It was a cold Christmas night in 1776 and the Delaware River was frozen
in many places. General George Washington calculated the enemy would
not be expecting an assault in this kind of weather. He and his
soldiers courageously crossed the Delaware River into Trenton, NJ.
Using surprise as their greatest weapon, Washington's army captured
over 900 prisoners and secured the town. Later that night, his army
continued towards Princeton, NJ, again taking the enemy by surprise.
These two victories proved very important to his army as they gave the
soldiers courage, hope, and newfound confidence. The ammunition, food
and other supplies confiscated from their captives also helped them
survive the brutal winter of 1777.
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| The New Jersey Quarter
depicts General George Washington crossing the Delaware River. United
States Mint image. |
The selection process for the New Jersey quarter
began November 17,
1997, when Assembly Joint Resolution Number 68 was passed to establish
the New Jersey Commemorative Coin Design Commission. The 15 members of
the Commission were selected for their backgrounds in history, art, and
numismatics. The Commission chose five design concepts for execution
into drawings by the United States Mint's engravers.
After consultation with the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory
Committee, the Fine Arts Commission, and approval by the Secretary of
the Treasury, three of these designs were returned to New Jersey
Governor, Christine Todd Whitman, for the final design selection. With
her approval, the Commission chose the "Washington Crossing the
Delaware" design, creating the first circulating coin to feature George
Washington on both the obverse and reverse sides.
Purchase a New
Jersey State Quarter
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