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2019 New Jersey Innovation Dollar

2019 New Jersey Innovation Dollar

2019 New Jersey Light Bulb - American Innovation Dollar

The 2019 New Jersey American Innovation Dollar was the third in the series. It celebrates the invention of the light bulb.

The first light bulbs were developed in the 1830s, but these early models were short-lived, used excessive energy, or were expensive to produce. It took Thomas Edison and his researchers in Menlo Park, New Jersey, a great deal of experimentation to create a carbon filament bulb capable of lasting 14.5 hours. The bulb’s lifespan was improved to 1,200 hours through continued work and other innovations. Consequently, commercially manufactured light bulbs became widely available, making it easier for individuals and businesses to control lighting. 

At Edison’s lab in Menlo Park, New Jersey, he had built his first high resistance, incandescent electric light as early as January 1879. During the glass vacuum bulb production, a platinum filament was used to delay the melting of the filament by passing electricity through it. Nevertheless, the lamp only burned for a short time. Edison used every bit of perseverance he had learned in his basement laboratory to improve the bulb. To make the filament, he tried a lot of different materials. Unfortunately, the tools available to him at the time prevented him from using tungsten, the metal used for light bulb filaments today. 

American Innovation Dollar Characteristics

With an ornate background, the reverse design features an Edison light bulb. On the coin, some inscriptions read “United States of America” and “New Jersey.” Paul C. Balan designed, and Phebe Hemphill sculpted the reverse. 

2019 New Jersey Light Bulb – American Innovation Dollars
Authorizing Legislation: H.R. 770, American Innovation $1 Coin Act
Click here to buy the 2019 New Jersey Innovation Dollar on eBay

2019 New Jersey Innovation
2019 New Jersey Innovation Dollar in Business Strike

Dollar Obverse Inscriptions

In God We Trust
$1

Dollar Reverse Inscriptions

United States of America
New Jersey

Incused Edge Inscriptions

2019
Mint Mark
E Pluribus Unum

Mint & Dollar Mint Marks
Denver and Philadelphia in Business Strikes
San Francisco in Proof and Reverse Proof Strikes

Available Dollar Mint Strikes
Business, Proof & Reverse Proof

American Innovation Dollar Specifications

Composition:  88.5% Copper, 6% Zinc, 3.5% Manganese and 2% Nickel
Weight: 8.1 grams
Thickness: 2.0mm
Edge: Incused Letter
Diameter: 26.49mm

2019 New Jersey Innovation Dollar
2019 New Jersey Innovation Dollar in Reverse Proof Strike

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