The Stone Mountain Memorial half dollar was an American fifty-cent piece
struck in 1925. Its main purpose was to raise money for the Stone
Mountain Memorial – a large sculpture in memory of Confederate general
Robert E. Lee on a huge rock outcropping near Atlanta, Georgia. The
obverse of the coin (pictured) features Lee and Stonewall Jackson; the
reverse has the caption "Memorial to the Valor of the Soldier of the
South". Stone Mountain and the coin were designed by sculptor Gutzon
Borglum, who, like other proponents, was a Ku Klux Klan member. To
appease Northerners, the proposed coin was also to honor the recently
deceased president, Warren G. Harding, but all reference to him was
removed, by order of his successor, Calvin Coolidge. Extensive sales
efforts for the coin took place throughout the South, though these were
hurt by the firing of Borglum in 1925, which alienated many of his
supporters. A 1928 audit of the fundraising showed excessive expenses
and misuse of money, and construction halted the same year—a scaled-
down sculpture was completed in 1970. Due to the large quantities
issued, the Stone Mountain Memorial half dollar remains inexpensive
compared with other U.S. commemoratives.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_Mountain_Memorial_half_dollar>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1593:
Ottoman forces were crushingly defeated by the Habsburgs at
Sisak (now in Croatia), triggering the Long War.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sisak>
1813:
War of 1812: After learning of American plans for a forthcoming
surprise attack, Laura Secord set out on a 30 km (19 mi) journey from
Queenston, Ontario, Upper Canada, on foot to warn Lieutenant James
FitzGibbon.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Secord>
1937:
Camille Chautemps became Prime Minister of France for the third
time, in the second Popular Front ministry.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camille_Chautemps>
1986:
Argentine footballer Diego Maradona scored both the "Hand of
God goal" and the "Goal of the Century" against England during the
quarter-final match of the FIFA World Cup in Mexico City.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina_v_England_(1986_FIFA_World_Cup)>
2009:
Two Metro trains in Washington, D.C., collided, killing nine
people and injuring 80 others.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_2009_Washington_Metro_train_collision>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
avocation:
1. A hobby or recreational or leisure pursuit.
2. Pursuits; duties; affairs which occupy one's time; usual employment;
vocation.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/avocation>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone
taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To
suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love,
openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable. All these and other
factors combined, if the circumstances are right, can teach and can lead
to rebirth.
--Anne Morrow Lindbergh
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Anne_Morrow_Lindbergh>