What was the weekly prize advertised by New Jersey's 1976 Bicentennial Lottery?
Answer
$1,776 per week
New Jersey's 1976 Bicentennial Lottery advertised a prize of $1,776 per week for 20 years.
The unusual prize used the year 1776 as a patriotic numerical theme. Instead of presenting the winner with a single lump sum, the lottery promised weekly payments before taxes for two decades. The total stated value was $1,847,040.
The lottery was one of many commercial and civic projects that incorporated anniversary numbers into everyday life. During the Bicentennial, businesses, sports teams, public agencies, and local governments frequently used 1776 and 1976 in names, designs, promotions, and commemorative products.
The payment amount can be confused with the duration or the total prize value. The correct weekly figure was $1,776, while the promised period was 20 years. The published total of $1,847,040 reflects 1,776 dollars paid each week for 1,040 weeks, before taxes.