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>
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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)>
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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>
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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>