Benedetto Pistrucci (1783–1855) was an Italian gem-engraver, medallist and coin engraver, probably best known for his design of Saint George and the Dragon for the British sovereign coin. Born in Rome, he became prominent as a cameo carver. In 1815, he moved to Britain, where he would live for most of the rest of his life. His talent brought him to the attention of William Wellesley-Pole, Master of the Mint. Pole engaged Pistrucci to design new coinage, including the sovereign, which was first issued in 1817 to mixed reactions. In 1819 he was commissioned to create the Waterloo Medal, a huge piece some 5.3 inches (130 mm) in diameter that the British government planned to award to the generals and national leaders who had defeated Napoleon. He took thirty years to complete the design, but because of the coin's great size it could not be struck. After Pistrucci's death, the George and Dragon design was restored to the sovereign coin, and is still used today.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1835:

Richard Lawrence became the first person to attempt to assassinate a sitting US president when he failed to kill Andrew Jackson at the US Capitol (assassination attempt pictured) and was subdued by the crowd. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Lawrence_%28failed_assassin%29

1939:

In a speech to the Reichstag, German leader Adolf Hitler threatened the "annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler%27s_prophecy

1959:

On the return leg of her maiden voyage, the "unsinkable" Danish ocean liner Hans Hedtoft hit an iceberg and sank with the loss of all 95 passengers and crew. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Hans_Hedtoft

1972:

The Troubles: On Bloody Sunday, members of the British Parachute Regiment shot 26 civil-rights protesters in Derry, Northern Ireland, killing at least 13 people. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Sunday_%281972%29

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

dehort: (transitive, rare or obsolete) To dissuade. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dehort

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The moral consciousness of the world must recognize the importance of removing injustices and well-founded grievances; but at the same time it must be aroused to the cardinal necessity of honoring sanctity of treaties, of respecting the rightsand liberties of others, and of putting an end to acts of international aggression.   --Franklin D. Roosevelt https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt