The Cleveland Centennial half dollar is a commemorative United States half dollar, dated 1936, issued to mark the 100th anniversary of Cleveland, Ohio, as an incorporated city, and in commemoration of the Great Lakes Exposition, held in Cleveland that year. In the mid-1930s, commemorative coins were increasing in value, and Cincinnati businessman Thomas G. Melish, a coin collector, lobbied Congress to authorize several new issues, for which he would be the sole distributor. He was successful with the Cincinnati Musical Center half dollar and the Cleveland piece, and profited from both. Brenda Putnam designed the Cleveland coin, which was approved by the Commission of Fine Arts after suggestions by sculptor Lee Lawrie. Melish distributed the Cleveland coins through the exposition, at local banks, and by mail order from his office in Cincinnati. Sales were good, and the full authorized mintage of 50,000 was struck at the Philadelphia Mint.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Centennial_half_dollar
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1821:
On the island of Hispaniola, General José Núñez de Cáceres established the Republic of Spanish Haiti, which only lasted three months. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Spanish_Haiti
1941:
The Civil Air Patrol, the civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force, was founded. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Air_Patrol
1971:
A period of political and economic reforms known as the Croatian Spring came to an end as the League of Communists of Yugoslavia decided to purge the reformist leadership of Croatia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatian_Spring
1991:
A referendum to ratify the 24 August Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine passed with more than 92 percent of the votes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Ukrainian_independence_referendum
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
tip of the iceberg: (idiomatic) A small indication of a larger possibility; the first part encountered of a problem that is much bigger than it seems. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tip_of_the_iceberg
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Surely the day will come when color means nothing more than skin tone, when religion is seen uniquely as a way to speak one’s soul; when birth places have the weight of a throw of the dice and all men are born free, when understanding breeds love and brotherhood. --Josephine Baker https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Josephine_Baker