The Quarter Dollar is a United States coin worth 25 cents. It has been produced on and off since 1796 and consistently since 1831. From its inception until 1964, the denomination was issued in silver; it underwent several design changes, including finally the silver Washington quarter (1932 - 1964) featuring the first President of the United States on the obverse and the American Eagle clutching a bunch of arrows on the reverse. Initially meant as a one-year design to commemorate 200 years since the birth of George Washington in 1932, the obverse became the definitive design for the denomination and has been used ever since. The reverse was issued in this form until 1998, after which time a large number of circulating commemoratives started being issued instead; the State Quarters series of 50 coins featuring each State was issued from 1999 to 2008; in 2009, a six-coin series represented the District of Columbia and five US territories.
The America the Beautiful Quarters Program (abbreviated ATB) running from 2010 until 2021 was then introduced; it is a 56 quarter-dollar coin series featuring designs depicting national parks and other national sites in each state, federal district or territory.
The Ellis Island quarter is the fourth to be released in 2017 and the 39th overall in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program; it was released on 28 August 2017 and represents the state of New Jersey.
From 1892 to 1954, Ellis Island was the largest and most active immigration station in the United States, where approximately 12 million immigrants were processed. On average, the inspection process took approximately 3-7 hours. For the vast majority of immigrants, Ellis Island truly was an “Island of Hope” - the first stop on their way to new opportunities and experiences in the United States. For the rest, it became the “Island of Tears” - a place where families were separated and individuals were denied entry into the country.
Ellis Island was added to the Statue of Liberty National Monument in 1965 by Presidential Proclamation and is administered by the National Park Service. The main building re-opened in September 1990 as the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, at that time the largest restoration project in U.S. history. Most of the remaining un-restored buildings on Ellis Island were one of the first and largest public health hospitals in the United States. The facility was considered to be the most modern of its day. The 725-bed Ellis Island Hospital Complex, completed in 1909, consisted of a powerhouse, morgue, laboratory and housing for doctors and nurses. Covered corridors connected the main hospital building to infectious disease wards, kitchens, laundries and recreation facilities for patients and staff.
Since a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1998, Ellis Island, all of which is federal property, belongs within the territorial jurisdiction of both New York and New Jersey depending upon where you are. The iconic main building, housing the immigration museum, is within the boundary of New York State. Since the island was expanded over many years to its current 27.5 acres, this expanded area, which includes the hospital complex, is now within the territory of New Jersey.
Ellis Island (New Jersey) Quarter Dollars issued in 2017 have now been in circulation for seven years. |