New Jersey
"The Garden State," a crossroads of the Revolutionary War. It features the famous scene of Washington crossing the Delaware River.
New Jersey was the site of countless battles during the Revolutionary War, and so it is often called the “Crossroads of the Revolution.” Its nickname is “The Garden State,” a name that arose from its fertile farmland and garden-like scenery. It was also the third state to ratify the Constitution (No. 3).
The coin’s reverse holds one of the most famous scenes in American history. It is a design modeled on the painting “Washington Crossing the Delaware,” engraved with George Washington standing on the boat and James Monroe holding a flag. Below is written the phrase “Crossroads of the Revolution.”
This scene captures the moment early in the Revolutionary War when Washington and his soldiers crossed the frozen river to launch a surprise attack. As a symbol of the courage that did not give up even in dire circumstances, it is a story long beloved by Americans.
New Jersey joined the Union on December 18, 1787. Having been the stage for many battles toward independence, this state takes great pride in calling itself the “Crossroads of the Revolution.”
Gazing at the single boat on the coin and the people standing upon it, we can recall how many moments of decision it took before a nation could be founded.