The British florin, or two-shilling coin, was issued from 1849 until
1967, with a final issue for collectors dated 1970. Valued at one tenth
of a pound (24 old pence), it was introduced in 1849 as part of an
experiment in decimalisation that went no further at that time. The
original florins attracted controversy for omitting a reference to God
from Queen Victoria's titles; that type is accordingly known as the
"godless florin", and was in 1851 succeeded by the "Gothic florin",
for
its design and style of lettering. Throughout most of its existence, the
florin bore some variation of either the shields of the United Kingdom
or the emblems of its constituent nations. In 1968, prior to Decimal
Day, the Royal Mint began issuing the ten-pence piece, identical to the
florin in specifications and value. Both coins remained in circulation
until 1993, when the ten pence piece was made smaller, and the florin
was demonetised.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florin_%28British_coin%29>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1862:
The Battle of Perryville, one of the bloodiest battles of the
American Civil War, was fought west of Perryville, Kentucky.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Perryville>
1956:
Major League Baseball pitcher Don Larsen threw the only perfect
game in World Series history.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Larsen>
2019:
Anti-government protests calling for free and fair elections
began in Baku, Azerbaijan.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Baku_protests>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
dojo:
1. (martial arts) A training facility, usually led by one or more
sensei; a hall or room used for such training.
2. (by extension) A room or other facility used for other activities,
such as meditation or software development.
3. (sumo) Synonym of dohyo (“the ring in which a sumo wrestling match is
held”) [...]
4. The dojo loach, Japanese weather loach, or pond loach (Misgurnus
anguillicaudatus), a freshwater fish native to East Asia.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dojo>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
The thing we must do intensely is be human together. People are
more important than things. We must get together. The best thing humans
can have going for them is each other. We have each other. We must
reject everything which humiliates us. Humans are not objects of
consumption. We must develop an absolute priority of humans ahead of
profit — any humans ahead of any profit. Then we will survive. …
Together.
--Frank Herbert
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Frank_Herbert>