The five Panama–Pacific commemorative coins ($50 piece pictured) were produced in connection with the 1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. Struck at that city's mint, the issue included round and octagonal $50 pieces. Excepting modern bullion coins, these two gold pieces are the highest denomination ever issued and the largest coins ever struck by the United States Mint. The octagonal $50 piece is the only non-round U.S. coin ever issued. In January 1915, Congress passed legislation for a silver half dollar, as well as a gold dollar, a quarter eagle ($2.50 piece), and the two $50 pieces. The Mint had already consulted artists, but Treasury Secretary William G. McAdoo initially rejected all their designs. Two of them persevered, Robert I. Aitken for the $50 pieces and Charles Keck for the gold dollar, and their submissions were used. The half dollar and quarter eagle were designed by Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber, possibly with the participation of his longtime assistant, George T. Morgan. The coins did not sell well, and many of each denomination were returned for melting. Only a few hundred of each of the $50 pieces were distributed, making them the lowest-mintage commemorative coins. They catalog for up to $200,000, depending on condition.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama%E2%80%93Pacific_commemorative_coins

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

763 BC:

The Eclipse of Bur-Sagale was observed in Assyria, the earliest solar eclipse mentioned in historical sources that has been successfully identified. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse

1815:

The Duchess of Richmond held a ball in Brussels, Belgium, that was described as "the most famous ball in history". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchess_of_Richmond%27s_ball

1859:

The shooting of a pig in the San Juan Islands led to the so- called Pig War over the border between the United States and British North America. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig_War

1978:

King Hussein of Jordan married American Lisa Halaby, who became known as Queen Noor of Jordan (pictured). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Noor_of_Jordan

1991:

The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines deposited large amounts of particulate into the atmosphere, enough to lower global temperatures by about 0.5 °C (0.9 °F). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Pinatubo

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

encapsulate: 1. To cover something as if in a capsule. 2. To epitomize something by expressing it as a brief summary. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/encapsulate

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

It is our will, and we firmly enjoin, that the English Church be free, and that the men in our kingdom have and hold all the aforesaid liberties, rights, and concessions, well and peaceably, freely and quietly, fully and wholly, for themselves and their heirs, of us and our heirs, in all respects and in all places for ever, as is aforesaid. An oath, moreover, has been taken, as well on our part as on the part of the barons, that all these conditions aforesaid shall be kept in good faith and without evil intent. Given under our hand — the abovenamed and many others being witnesses — in the meadow which is called Runnymede, between Windsor and Staines, on the fifteenth day of June, in the seventeenth year of our reign.   --Magna Carta https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Magna_Carta