James B. Longacre (August 11, 1794 – January 1, 1869) was the Chief
Engraver of the United States Mint (1844–1869). He was born in
Delaware County, Pennsylvania, becoming an apprentice in an engraving
firm. He portrayed some of the leading men of his day in illustrations;
support from some, such as John C. Calhoun, led to his federal
appointment. In Longacre's first years, the Philadelphia Mint was
dominated by Director Robert M. Patterson and Chief Coiner Franklin
Peale, who resented Longacre's appointment. Peale and Patterson nearly
got Longacre fired, but the chief engraver convinced Treasury Secretary
William M. Meredith that he should be retained. In 1856, Longacre
designed the Flying Eagle cent, but the coin proved difficult to strike,
leading to the Indian Head cent three years later. He died in 1869,
succeeded by William Barber. Longacre's coins are generally well-
regarded today, though sometimes criticized for lack of artistic
advancement.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_B._Longacre>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1492:
The first papal conclave held in the Sistine Chapel elected
Roderic Borja as Pope Alexander VI to succeed Pope Innocent VIII.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_conclave,_1492>
1952:
King Talal of Jordan was forced to abdicate due to health
reasons and was succeeded by his eldest son Hussein.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hussein_of_Jordan>
1973:
At a party in the recreation room of a New York City apartment
building, DJ Kool Herc began rapping during an extended break, laying
the foundation for hip-hop music.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DJ_Kool_Herc>
2012:
At least 306 people were killed and 3,000 others injured in a
pair of earthquakes near Tabriz, Iran.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_East_Azerbaijan_earthquakes>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
whip-smart:
(Canada, US, informal) Very intelligent.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/whip-smart>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
The very serpents bite their tails; the bees forget to sting,
For a language so celestial setteth up a wondering. And the touch of
absent mindedness is more than any line, Since direction counts for
nothing when the gods set up a sign.
--Nathalia Crane
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Nathalia_Crane>
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