New Jersey State Quarters (Buy on eBay) were released on May 17, 1999 as the third coin in the 50 State Quarter Program. New Jersey’s original Statehood date was December 18, 1787.
The reverse design features George Washington crossing the Delaware River. The inscriptions include the State name, Statehood date, mintage date, “E Pluribus Unum,” and “Crossroads of the Revolution.” The coin’s reverse was designed and engraved by Alfred Maletsky.
The reverse design is based on an 1851 painting by Emmanuel Leutze titled “Washington Crossing the Delaware.” It depicts Christmas night in 1776 when George Washington and members of the Colonial Army crossed the Delaware River into New Jersey to perform an important surprise attack.
The final design was selected by the New Jersey Commemorative Coin Design Commission, with approval of the governor, after initial review and approval by the Secretary of the Treasury, Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee, and Fine Arts Commission. Notably, the use of this reverse design meant that George Washington appeared on both the obverse and reverse of the coin.
The Philadelphia mint produced 363,200,000 coins. The Denver mint produced 299,028,000 coins. The San Francisco Mint produced clad proof and 90% silver proof coins for inclusion in government issued proof sets.
New Jersey Quarter Mintages
- 1999-P New Jersey Quarter: 363,200,000
- 1999-D New Jersey Quarter: 299,028,000
- 1999-S Proof New Jersey Quarter: 3,713,359
- 1999-S Silver Proof New Jersey Quarter: 804,565
New Jersey Quarter Specifications
- Designers: William Cousins after John Flanagan (obverse), Alfred Maletsky (reverse)
- Composition: 91.67% copper, 8.33% nickel (clad), 90% silver, 10% copper (silver proof)
- Diameter: 24.26 mm
- Weight: 5.67 grams
- Thickness: 1.75 mm
- Edge: Reeded
