[Daily article] August 24: California Pacific International Exposition half dollar

The California Pacific International Exposition half dollar is a fifty-
cent piece that was struck by the United States Bureau of the Mint in
1935 and 1936 as a commemorative coin. Its obverse depicts Minerva and
other elements of the Seal of California; the reverse shows buildings
from the California Pacific International Exposition (held 1935–1936),
which the coin was issued to honor. Legislation for the half dollar
moved through Congress without opposition in early 1935, and Robert I.
Aitken was hired to design it. The San Francisco Mint produced 250,000
coins, but expected sales did not materialize. The Exposition
Commission, left with over 180,000 pieces they could not sell, sought
and obtained legislation authorizing new coins. Although there was a
spike in prices for many commemorative coins in 1936, the Exposition
Commission's new coins also sold poorly, and 150,000 pieces were
returned to the Mint.

Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Pacific_International_Exposition_half_dollar>

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Today's selected anniversaries:

1814:

War of 1812: British forces invaded Washington, D.C., setting
fire to various U.S. government buildings, including what is now the
White House (damage depicted).
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_of_Washington>

1889:

The predominantly Māori New Zealand Native football team
played the last match of their 107-game tour, the longest in rugby union
history.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1888%E2%80%9389_New_Zealand_Native_football_team>

2004:

About 90 people died after suicide bombers attacked two
airliners flying out of Moscow's Domodedovo International Airport.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Russian_aircraft_bombings>

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Wiktionary's word of the day:

bandura:
(music) A Ukrainian plucked stringed instrument with a tear-shaped body,
like an asymmetrical lute or a vertical zither, which is played with
both hands while held upright on the lap.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bandura>

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Wikiquote quote of the day:

  I am a Tory Anarchist. I should like every one to go about doing
just as he pleased — short of altering any of the things to which I
have grown accustomed.  
--Max Beerbohm
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Max_Beerbohm>

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