The United States Bicentennial coins are commemorative versions of the Washington quarter, Kennedy half dollar and Eisenhower dollar (pictured). They bear the double date 1776–1976, though some were struck in 1975 as well as 1976. The US Mint had opposed issuing commemorative coins since the 1950s, but beginning in 1971, members of Congress introduced bills authorizing coins to honor the Bicentennial. New legislation required the temporary redesign of the reverse of the quarter, half dollar and dollar; a nationwide competition yielded designs of a Colonial drummer for the quarter, Independence Hall for the half dollar, and the Liberty Bell superimposed against the moon for the dollar. The coins that circulated were in copper nickel, and so many were struck that they remain common today. Congress also mandated that 45,000,000 part-silver pieces be available for collectors; the Mint sold over half before withdrawing them from sale in 1986 and melting the remainder.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bicentennial_coinage
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1054:
Chinese astronomers recorded the sudden appearance of a "guest star", which was in actuality the supernova that created the Crab Nebula. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_Nebula
1862:
In a rowing boat on the River Thames from Oxford to Godstow, author Lewis Carroll told Alice Liddell and her sisters a story that would eventually form the basis for his book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice%27s_Adventures_in_Wonderland
1945:
The Brazilian cruiser Bahia was accidentally sunk by one of its own crewmen, killing more than 300 and stranding the rest in shark- infested waters. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_cruiser_Bahia
1965:
The first Annual Reminder, a series of early pickets organized by homophile organizations, one of the earliest LGBT demonstrations in the United States, took place at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annual_Reminder
2005:
The NASA space probe Deep Impact impacted the nucleus of the comet Tempel 1, excavating debris from its interior so that its composition could be studied. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Impact_(spacecraft)
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
auteur: A creative artist, especially a film director, seen as having a specific, recognisable artistic vision, and who is seen as the single or preeminent ‘author’ of their works. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/auteur
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
"It was much pleasanter at home," thought poor Alice, "when one wasn't always growing larger and smaller, and being ordered about by mice and rabbits. I almost wish I hadn't gone down that rabbit-hole — and yet — and yet — it's rather curious, you know, this sort of life! I do wonder what can have happened to me! When I used to read fairy-tales, I fancied that kind of thing never happened, and now here I am in the middle of one! There ought to be a book written about me, that there ought! And when I grow up, I'll write one." --Alice's Adventures in Wonderland https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alice%27s_Adventures_in_Wonderland