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The New York quarter's reverse features the Statue of Liberty, the state outline, the words, "Gateway to Freedom", and 11 stars representing the number of states when it entered the union.
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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.
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