The Draped Bust dollar is a United States dollar coin minted from 1795 to 1803, and again throughout the 19th century. The designer is unknown, though the distinction is usually credited to artist Gilbert Stuart. The model is also unknown, though Ann Willing Bingham has been suggested. In October 1795, newly appointed Mint Director Elias Boudinot ordered that the legal fineness of .892 (89.2%) silver be used for the dollar rather than the unauthorized fineness of .900 (90%) silver that had been used since the denomination was first minted in 1794. Due largely to a decrease in the amount of silver deposited at the Philadelphia Mint, coinage of silver dollars declined throughout the end of the 18th century. In 1804, coinage of silver dollars was halted, and officially ended in 1806 by order of Secretary of State James Madison. In 1834, silver dollar production was temporarily restarted to supply a diplomatic mission to Asia with a special set of proof coins. Officials mistakenly believed that dollars had last been minted with the date 1804, prompting them to use that date rather than the date in which the coins were actually struck. A limited number of 1804 dollars were struck by the Mint in later years, and they remain rare and valuable.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

946:

King Edmund I of England was murdered by a thief whom he personally attacked while celebrating St Augustine's Mass Day. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_I

1637:

Pequot War: An allied Puritan and Mohegan force attacked a fortified Pequot village in the Connecticut Colony, killing 500. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystic_massacre

1822:

The deadliest fire in Norwegian history took place at a church in Grue, Norway, with at least 113 deaths. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grue_Church_fire

1828:

Kaspar Hauser (pictured), a foundling with suspected ties to the Royal House of Baden, first appeared in the streets of Nuremberg, Germany. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaspar_Hauser

2008:

Severe flooding began in eastern and southern China that ultimately caused 148 deaths and forced the evacuation of 1.3 million people. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_South_China_floods

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

eyrie: 1. A bird of prey's nest. 2. Any high and remote but commanding place. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/eyrie

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Why is it the Mongols of this world always tell us they're defending us against the Mongols? --Edward Whittemore https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Edward_Whittemore