The Norse-American medal was struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1925, pursuant to an act of the United States Congress. It was issued for the 100th anniversary of the voyage that brought early Norwegian immigrants to the United States on the ship Restauration. Minnesota Congressman Ole Juulson Kvale, a Norse-American, wanted a commemorative for the centennial celebrations. Rebuffed by the Treasury Department when he sought the issuance of a special coin, he instead settled for a medal. Sculpted by Buffalo nickel designer James Earle Fraser, the medals recognize those immigrants' Viking heritage, depicting a warrior on the obverse and a vessel on the reverse. They also recall the early Viking explorations of North America. Once they were authorized by Congress, they were produced in various metals and sizes, for the most part prior to the celebrations near Minneapolis in June 1925. Only 53 were issued in gold, and these are rare and valuable today; those struck in silver or bronze trade for much less. The medals are sometimes collected as part of the commemorative coin series.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse-American_medal
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1644:
English Civil War: The combined armies of Parliament inflicted a tactical defeat on the Royalists, but failed to gain any strategic advantage in the Second Battle of Newbury. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Newbury
1810:
The United States annexed West Florida, the western portion of the Spanish colony of Florida. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Florida
1904:
The first underground segment of the New York City Subway (City Hall station pictured), today one of the most extensive public transportation systems in the world, opened, connecting New York City Hall with Harlem. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Subway
1944:
World War II: German forces captured Banská Bystrica, the center of anti-Nazi opposition in Slovakia, bringing the Slovak National Uprising to an end. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bansk%C3%A1_Bystrica
1999:
Armed men led by Nairi Hunanyan attacked the National Assembly of Armenia, killing Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, Speaker of Parliament Karen Demirchyan, and six others. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_parliament_shooting
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
Wonder Woman: (by extension of the proper noun) A woman of extraordinary powers; a superwoman. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Wonder_Woman
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
An attitude of moderation is apt to be misunderstood when passions are greatly excited and when victory is apt to rest with the extremists on one side or the other; yet I think it is in the long run the only wise attitude... --Theodore Roosevelt https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt
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