The history of the British penny (​1⁄240 of a pound sterling) from 1901 to 1970 saw it remain a large bronze coin throughout that time, with the obverse depicting the monarch and the reverse Britannia. The obverse from 1902 to 1910 featured George William de Saulles's depiction of Edward VII, followed by Bertram Mackennal's portrait of George V. No pennies were produced for commerce in 1933, as there were a sufficient number in circulation. At least seven were struck for placement beneath foundation stones and in museums. Edward VIII's short reign is represented only by a single pattern coin, dated 1937. That year, a new obverse design depicting George VI by Humphrey Paget went into use. From 1953, the penny bore Mary Gillick's portrait of Elizabeth II. The officials who planned decimalisation in the 1960s did not favour keeping the large bronze penny. It quickly went out of use after Decimal Day, 15 February 1971, and was demonetised on 31 August 1971.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_British_penny_%281901%E2%80%931970%29

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1808:

William Bligh, the governor of New South Wales, was deposed by the New South Wales Corps in the only military coup in Australian history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rum_Rebellion

1918:

A group of Red Guards hung a red lantern atop the tower of the Helsinki Workers' House, symbolically marking the start of the Finnish Civil War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_Civil_War

1991:

Somali Rebellion: Factions led by the warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid and his rebel group, the United Somali Congress, ousted President Siad Barre. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Farrah_Aidid

2001:

An earthquake in the Indian state of Gujarat killed at least 13,000 people, injured 167,000 others and destroyed nearly 400,000 homes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_Gujarat_earthquake

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

emu: 1. (obsolete) A cassowary (genus Casuarius). 2. A large flightless bird native to Australia, Dromaius novaehollandiae. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/emu

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Today, freedom is on the offensive, democracy is on the march.   --Douglas MacArthur https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Douglas_MacArthur