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>
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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>
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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>
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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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