The United States Sesquicentennial coins, a commemorative half dollar and quarter eagle (gold $2.50 piece) for the 150th anniversary of American independence, were struck in 1926 at the Philadelphia Mint. The half dollar depicts George Washington and then-president Calvin Coolidge, making Coolidge the only president to appear on a U.S. coin while living. The National Sesquicentennial Exhibition Commission was chartered by Congress in 1925, and was allowed to purchase and resell for profit 1,000,000 specially designed half dollars and 200,000 quarter eagles. The Commission had trouble agreeing on designs with Mint Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock, and asked artist John Frederick Lewis to submit sketches. These were adapted by Sinnock for the half dollar, without giving credit to Lewis, whose involvement would not be generally known for forty years. The maximum number of each coin was struck, with many melted when they failed to sell at a premium. The Liberty Bell reverse for the half dollar was reused by Sinnock, again without giving Lewis credit, on his Franklin half dollar, first minted in 1948.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Sesquicentennial_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 (pictured). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crab_Nebula

1610:

Polish–Muscovite War: The outnumbered forces of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth defeated the Tsardom of Russia at the Battle of Klushino. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Klushino

1855:

The first edition of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass was published, and it went on to become one of the most important collections of American poetry. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaves_of_Grass

1941:

German AB-Aktion operation in Poland: After capturing Lwów, the Nazis executed approximately 45 professors of the University of Lwów. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_Lviv_professors

1976:

Israel Defense Forces raided Uganda's Entebbe International Airport to free hostages taken by hijackers on Air France Flight 139. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Entebbe

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

sparerib: A cut of meat including the rib bones. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sparerib

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Let us cast off our hatreds. Let us candidly accept our treaties and our natural obligations of peace. We know and everyone knows that these old systems, antagonisms, and reliance on force have failed. If the world has made any progress, it has been the result of the development of other ideals. If we are to maintain and perfect our own civilization, if we are to be of any benefit to the rest of mankind, we must turn aside from the thoughts of destruction and cultivate the thoughts of construction. We can not place our main reliance upon material forces. We must reaffirm and reinforce our ancient faith in truth and justice, in charitableness and tolerance. We must make our supreme commitment to the everlasting spiritual forces of life. We must mobilize the conscience of mankind.   --Calvin Coolidge https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Calvin_Coolidge