Wikipedia:Main Page history/2016 July 4

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From today's featured article

Half dollar (top) and quarter eagle (bottom)

The United States Sesquicentennial coins, a commemorative half dollar and quarter eagle (gold $2.50 piece) for the 150th anniversary of American independence, were struck in 1926 at the Philadelphia Mint. The half dollar depicts George Washington and then-president Calvin Coolidge, making Coolidge the only president to appear on a U.S. coin while living. The National Sesquicentennial Exhibition Commission was chartered by Congress in 1925, and was allowed to purchase and resell for profit 1,000,000 specially designed half dollars and 200,000 quarter eagles. The Commission had trouble agreeing on designs with Mint Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock, and asked artist John Frederick Lewis to submit sketches. These were adapted by Sinnock for the half dollar, without giving credit to Lewis, whose involvement would not be generally known for forty years. The maximum number of each coin was struck, with many melted when they failed to sell at a premium. The Liberty Bell reverse for the half dollar was reused by Sinnock, again without giving Lewis credit, on his Franklin half dollar, first minted in 1948. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

Flag of the United States

... that this was the flag of the United States (pictured) in 1815?
... that James "Bungy" Watson's nickname was the word used at The King's School, Canterbury, for a rubber?
... that the lyrics of Girls' Generation's song "Party" mention drinking lemon soju, mojito and tequila?
... that The Imitation Game producer Nora Grossman persuaded Andrew Hodges to let her turn his book into a film even though she had no producing experience?
... that 2016 has seen widespread rioting and unrest across Sweden?
... that Tropical Storm Colin was the earliest third tropical storm ever recorded in an Atlantic hurricane season?
... that starting in 1991, former test pilot Neil Armstrong hosted an aviation television series, First Flights with Neil Armstrong?

In the news

Alexander Van der Bellen (left) and Norbert Hofer (right)

Two bombings in Baghdad kill at least 165 people.
At least 20 people are killed in an armed attack on a bakery in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The Constitutional Court of Austria annuls the second round of voting in the 2016 presidential election, requiring the round to be re-held (candidates Alexander Van der Bellen and Norbert Hofer pictured).
An armed attack at Istanbul Atatürk Airport leaves at least 42 people dead and 230 others injured.
The conservative People's Party, led by Mariano Rajoy, gains the most seats in the Spanish repeat election but remains short of a majority.

On this day...

July 4: Aphelion of Earth (16:24 UTC, 2016); Feast day of Ulrich of Augsburg (Roman Catholicism); Republic Day in the Philippines (1946); Independence Day in the United States (1776)

Crab Nebula

1054 – Chinese astronomers recorded the sudden appearance of a "guest star", which was in actuality the supernova that created the Crab Nebula (pictured).
1610 – Polish–Muscovite War: The outnumbered forces of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth defeated the Tsardom of Russia at the Battle of Klushino.
1855 – The first edition of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass was published, and it went on to become one of the most important collections of American poetry.
1941 – German AB-Aktion operation in Poland: After capturing Lwów, the Nazis executed approximately 45 professors of the University of Lwów.
1976 – Israel Defense Forces raided Uganda's Entebbe International Airport to free hostages taken by hijackers on Air France Flight 139.

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From today's featured list

State Arms of the Union title page

Historical coats of arms of the U.S. states date back to the admission of the first states to the Union. Despite the widely accepted practice of determining early statehood from the date of ratification of the United States Constitution, many of the original colonies referred to themselves as states shortly after the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. Committees of political leaders and intellectuals were established by state legislatures to research and propose a seal and coat of arms. Many of these members were signers of the Articles of Confederation, Declaration of Independence, and United States Constitution. Several of the earliest adopted state coats of arms and seals were similar or identical to their colonial counterparts. State Arms of the Union, illustrated by Henry Mitchell and published by Louis Prang, offers historically accurate renderings of the state's coats of arms as they existed in 1876. An accomplished engraver with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for 40 years, Mitchell was responsible for engraving several coats of arms for official state use as well as arms for well-known educational and philanthropic organizations. (Full list...)

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Today's featured picture

Liberty Island is a federally owned island in Upper New York Bay in the United States, best known as the location of the Statue of Liberty. Though surrounded by the waters of Jersey City, New Jersey, the island is an exclave of the New York City borough of Manhattan. Long known as Bedloe's Island, Liberty Island was renamed by an act of the United States Congress in 1956. In 1937 it became part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and in 1966 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of Statue of Liberty National Monument, Ellis Island and Liberty Island.

Photograph: D Ramey Logan

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