New York 50 State Quarter
50 State Quarter of New York
Designed by Alfred Maletsky
Released January 2, 2001
New York is a state in the Northeastern United States. The state has a maritime border in the Atlantic Ocean with Rhode Island, east of Long Island, as well as an international border with the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the north and Ontario to the west and north. Home to the Empire State Building, Times Square, Statue of Liberty and other iconic sites. On July 26, 1788, New York , one of the thirteen colonies, became the 11th state.
Mintage: 1,275,040,000
The New York quarter, is the first quarter of the 2001 series. The 50 State Quarter of New York was released on January 2, 2001, featuring the Statue of Liberty superimposed over an outline of the state bordered by 11 stars signifying that New York was the eleventh state to enter the Union. The imagery celebrates New York both as a symbol of freedom and as the point of entry for generations of immigrants. From 1892 to 1954, over twelve million people entered the United States through the portal of Ellis Island, a small island in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty. Inscription: Gateway to Freedom.
New York 50 State Quarter
The New York quarter, the first quarter of the 2001 series, features the Statue of Liberty superimposed over an outline of the state along with the inscription "Gateway to Freedom." Also incorporated into the state outline is a line tracing the Hudson River and the route of the Erie Canal.
This final New York design celebrates the "Empire State" as a point of entry for millions of immigrants seeking the political freedom and democracy that American citizenship provides. President Grover Cleveland accepted the Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France, on behalf of the United States on October 28, 1886. Lady Liberty was designated a National Monument on October 15, 1924 and underwent extensive restoration for her remarkable centennial on July 4, 1986. Governor George E. Pataki asked the United States Mint to add the line tracing the Hudson River and the route of the Erie Canal because of the vital developmental role of the waterways.
Governor Pataki's office requested design ideas from the residents of New York and received hundreds of suggestions from school children, history buffs, graphic artists and coin collectors across the state. On June 19, 2000, Governor Pataki unveiled five candidate designs. They included Henry Hudson and his ship, the Half Moon; a rendering of the historic painting, "Battle of Saratoga"; the Statue of Liberty; and the New York Federal Building. New Yorkers were encouraged to write or email Pataki's office to vote for their favorite design. Capturing 76% of the vote, the Statue of Liberty design was officially selected by Governor Pataki to adorn the reverse of the New York quarter.
Source: United States Mint's 50 State Quarters Program
