One week into the new year, the United States Mint offers a strike from the last year with today’s release of the 2019-S Reverse Proof New Jersey American Innovation Dollar. The coin honors inventors and invention from the state with a design showing an electric lightbulb developed by Thomas Edison and his team of researchers.
This newest dollar features a unique reverse proof finish with frosted backgrounds and mirror-like polished design elements. It comes on the heels of earlier releases with an uncirculated version available in rolls and bags and a proof edition within a four-coin proof set. Photos of uncirculated New Jersey dollars and the proof set follow.
These next two photos highlight differences between proof and reverse proof coins. They show the previously released 2019 Delaware American Innovation dollar in both collector finishes.
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Designs for New Jersey American Innovation Dollar
Appearing on the New Jersey dollar’s reverse is a likeness of an Edison bulb with its filament that could last 1,200 hours. The lightbulb is pictured against an ornate background. The design is emblematic of the significant contributions of Thomas Edison and his team of researchers in New Jersey for their development of a long-lasting bulb which changed the world.
Inscriptions on the reverse include "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA," "NEW JERSEY" and the artists’ initials. Paul Balan created the design and Phebe Hemphill executed its sculpting.
The obverse (heads side) offers a representation of the Statue of Liberty as designed by Justin Kunz with Hemphill sculpting. The image is common across all Innovation dollars. Inscriptions include "IN GOD WE TRUST," "$1" and the artists’ initials.
Also found on the obverse is the privy mark of a stylized gear. This mark was added to program coins in 2019 — it did not appear on the introductory 2018 dollar.
Year of issue, a mint mark and "E PLURIBUS UNUM" are edge-incused on each dollar.
Specifications for the coin, as provided by the U.S. Mint, are as follows:
| Denomination: | Dollar |
|---|---|
| Finish: | Reverse Proof |
| Composition: | 6% Zinc, 3.5% Manganese, 2% Nickel, Balance Copper |
| Weight: | 8.100 grams |
| Diameter: | 1.043 inches (26.49 mm) |
| Edge: | Lettered |
| Mint and Mint Mark: | San Francisco – S |
Price, Ordering and Limits
Priced at $11.95, the 2019-S Reverse Proof New Jersey $1 Coin is available directly from the U.S. Mint. Place orders by visiting the Mint’s website page dedicated to American Innovation products or by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).
Mintage for the coin is capped at 75,000. An initial household order limit of five units applies.
About the Innovation $1 Coin Program
The U.S. Mint’s American Innovation™ $1 Coin Program debuted in 2018 with a single introductory dollar. That release paid homage to President George Washington who issued the first U.S. patent. From 2019 until 2032, series coins will be released at a rate of four per year with designs honoring innovation throughout the country with one such example chosen from each state, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories.
2019 Innovation dollars honor innovators or innovations in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Georgia. 2020 Innovation dollars will feature innovators or innovations from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland and South Carolina.
Boycott the mint and all these ugly junk so called coins? Let Mike Mezack push this waste of money!!!
ALREADY DONE, I WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM THE MINT AGAIN AFTER THE LAST FIASCO.
ditto!
$2 increase will make this coin less interesting for investment.
Can’t the Mint be bothered to release coins in the year of striking?
Passed on all these BS $1 coins that dont circulate, who the phuck will buy them, no one knows about them. NY has X-ray salute with film engraved of Trump’s bone spurs…..