The Isabella quarter was a United States commemorative coin struck in 1893, and is the only U.S. commemorative quarter that was not intended for circulation. It was authorized by Congress at the request of the Board of Lady Managers of the World's Columbian Exposition. The Board wanted a woman to design it, but the sculptor Caroline Peddle left the project after disagreements with Bureau of the Mint officials, who then decided to have the Mint's Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber do the work. The coin depicts Queen Isabella of Spain, who sponsored Columbus's voyages to the New World. The reverse, showing a kneeling woman winding flax, symbolizes women's industry. The quarter's design was deprecated in the numismatic press. The coins did not sell well at the Exposition; its price of $1 was the same as for the Columbian half dollar and the quarter was seen as the worse deal. Nearly half of the authorized issue was returned to the Mint to be melted; thousands more were purchased at face value by the Lady Managers and entered the coin market in the early 20th century. Today, they are popular with collectors and valued in the hundreds to thousands of dollars.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1525:

Martin Luther married Katharina von Bora, against the celibacy discipline decreed by the Roman Catholic Church for priests. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katharina_von_Bora

1805:

The Lewis and Clark Expedition became the first European Americans to sight the Great Falls of the Missouri River. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Falls_(Missouri_River)

1970:

"The Long and Winding Road" became The Beatles' twentieth and final number one single in the United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_and_Winding_Road

1983:

Pioneer 10 (Pioneer plaque pictured) passed the orbit of Neptune, becoming the first man-made object to travel beyond the known planets of the Solar System. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_10

2007:

Former Iraqi government official Haitham al-Badri orchestrated a second bombing of the al-Askari Mosque, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_al-Askari_Mosque_bombing

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

soundly: In a thorough manner; in manner free of defect or deficiency. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/soundly

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Man can embody truth but he cannot know it.   --William Butler Yeats https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_Butler_Yeats