The Mercury dime is a ten-cent coin struck by the United States Mint from 1916 to 1945. Designed by Adolph Weinman, it gained its common name as the obverse depiction of a young Liberty, identifiable by her winged Phrygian cap, was confused with the Roman god Mercury. The coin's reverse depicts a fasces, symbolizing unity and strength, and an olive branch, signifying peace. By 1916, the dime, quarter, and half dollar designed by Mint Chief Engraver Charles E. Barber had been struck for 25 years, and could be replaced by the Treasury, of which the Mint is a part, without Congressional authorization. Mint officials were under the misapprehension that the designs had to be changed, and held a competition among three sculptors, in which Barber, who had been in his position for 36 years, also took part. Weinman's designs for the dime and half dollar were selected. Although the new coin's design was admired for its beauty, the Mint made modifications to it upon learning that vending machine manufacturers were having difficulties making the new dime work in their devices. The coin continued to be minted until 1945, when the Treasury ordered that a new design, featuring recently deceased president Franklin Roosevelt, take its place.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_dime
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1931:
American gangster Al Capone was convicted on five counts of income tax evasion. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Capone
1943:
The Holocaust: Three days after a successful revolt by inmates, Sobibor extermination camp in eastern Poland was closed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sobibor_extermination_camp
1956:
Queen Elizabeth II opened the world's first commercial nuclear power plant at Calder Hall in Cumbria, England. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sellafield#Calder_Hall_nuclear_power_station
1964:
Prime Minister of Australia Robert Menzies opened the artificial Lake Burley Griffin in the middle of the capital Canberra. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Burley_Griffin
1989:
The 6.9 Mw Loma Prieta earthquake struck California's San Francisco Bay Area, killing 63 people, injuring 3,757, and leaving at least 8,000 homeless. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_Loma_Prieta_earthquake
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
sine qua non: An essential or indispensable element, condition, or ingredient. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sine_qua_non
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
By whatever means it is accomplished, the prime business of a play is to arouse the passions of its audience so that by the route of passion may be opened up new relationships between a man and men, and between men and Man. Drama is akin to the other inventions of man in that it ought to help us to know more, and not merely to spend our feelings. --Arthur Miller https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Arthur_Miller
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