The Alabama Centennial half dollar is a commemorative fifty-cent coin struck by the United States Bureau of the Mint in 1921 as a belated acknowledgement of the 100th anniversary of Alabama's admission to the Union in 1819. The half dollar was created by Laura Gardin Fraser, who became the first woman designer of a coin. Alabama Congressman Lilius Bratton Rainey introduced authorizing at the request of the state's centennial commission. The bill moved quickly through the legislative process and became law on May 10, 1920. The sponsors of the issue chose to depict William Bibb, the State of Alabama's first governor, and Thomas Kilby, its governor at the time of the centennial, thus making Governor Kilby the first living person to appear on a U.S. coin. They were issued in October 1921, and to boost sales, a symbol, 2X2, was included in the design for a minority of the coins; these are generally more expensive today.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_Centennial_half_dollar

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1748:

The first Lutheran denomination in North America, the Pennsylvania Ministerium, was founded in Philadelphia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Ministerium

1914:

World War I: As the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and French Fifth Army began their retreat from Mons, the BEF delayed the pursuing Germans at the Battle of Le Cateau long enough for the main force to escape. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Le_Cateau

1955:

Pather Panchali, the first film in The Apu Trilogy by Satyajit Ray, was released and went on to win many Indian and international film awards. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pather_Panchali

2015:

Two American journalists were murdered on live television while conducting an interview in Moneta, Virginia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murders_of_Alison_Parker_and_Adam_Ward

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

doldrums: 1. Usually preceded by the: a state of apathy or lack of interest; a situation where one feels boredom, ennui, or tedium; a state of listlessness or malaise. 2. (nautical) Usually preceded by the: the state of a sailing ship when it is impeded by calms or light, baffling winds, and is unable to make progress. 3. (nautical, oceanography, by extension) Usually preceded by the: a part of the ocean near the equator where calms, squalls, and light, baffling winds are common. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/doldrums

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I see God in every human being. When I wash the leper's wounds, I feel I am nursing the Lord himself. Is it not a beautiful experience?   --Mother Teresa https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mother_Teresa