Wikipedia:Main Page history/2016 April 30

From today's featured article

The Franklin half dollar coin was struck by the United States Mint from 1948 to 1963. It pictures Founding Father Benjamin Franklin on the obverse, with the Liberty Bell and a small eagle on the reverse. Produced in 90 percent silver with a reeded edge, the coin was struck at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints. Mint director Nellie Tayloe Ross had long admired Franklin, and asked the Mint's chief engraver, John Sinnock, to design the coin; his initials appear on the obverse, but some mistook them for the initials of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. When Ross submitted the designs to the Commission of Fine Arts, they disliked the small eagle and felt that depicting the crack in the Liberty Bell would expose the coinage to jokes and ridicule; nevertheless, the Mint proceeded with Sinnock's designs. Beginning in 1964 the coin was replaced by the Kennedy half dollar, issued in honor of the assassinated President, John F. Kennedy. Though the coin is still legal tender, its face value is greatly exceeded by its value to collectors or as silver. (Full article...)

Australasian darter

... that the plumage of the Australasian darter (pictured) absorbs water to reduce the bird's buoyancy and allow it to swim submerged?
... that the current Bank of England £50 note is the first Bank of England banknote to feature two people on the reverse?
... that in 2014, the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment was assigned its first female commander?
... that a Hollyoaks insider believes that Joanne Cardsley has "become one of the most talked-about bunny boilers in soaps"?
... that forensic chemist Mary Louisa Willard was referred to as "Lady Sherlock" for assisting law enforcement officials?
... that "If I wanted you to understand it, I'd explain it better" is a favorite expression in Cruijffiaans, the idiolect of Dutch soccer coach Johan Cruyff?
... that the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 250 was the first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race held on a road course since 2000 and the first Truck road course race in Canada?
... that according to George Smathers, Harry Truman told him, "I want you to beat that son-of-a-bitch Claude Pepper." prior to the 1950 United States Senate election in Florida?

Hillsborough memorial

The National Museum of Natural History, in New Delhi, India, and its entire collection, are destroyed by fire.
In the UK, following a second inquest, the jury reaches a verdict of unlawful killing in respect of the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster (memorial pictured) in 1989.
Kenyans Eliud Kipchoge and Jemima Sumgong win the men's and women's London Marathon, respectively.
Scientists announce the discovery of an extensive reef system near the Amazon River, covering an estimated 3,600 square miles (9,300 km²).

April 30: Holy Saturday (Eastern Christianity, 2016); National Persian Gulf Day in Iran; Consumer Protection Day in Thailand

William McIntosh

1598 – King Henry IV of France issued the Edict of Nantes, granting freedom of religion to the Huguenots.
1825 - Creek chief William McIntosh (pictured) was executed by being stabbed in the heart for having signed a treaty ceding much of remaining Creek lands to the United States.
1943 – Second World War: The Royal Navy submarine HMS Seraph began Operation Mincemeat to deceive Germany about the upcoming invasion of Sicily.
1982 – Sixteen monks and a nun belonging to Ananda Marga in Calcutta, India, were dragged out of taxis by persons unknown in three different locations, beaten to death and then set on fire.
2009 – A gunman went on a shooting spree at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy, a public university in Baku, killing 12 people before committing suicide.

Stockholm Central Station, located in the district of Norrmalm at Vasagatan/Central Plan, is the largest railway station in Sweden. Designed by Adolf W. Edelsvärd and opened on 18 July 1871, it has over 200,000 visitors daily. Engineers use the heat generated by these visitors to help heat a nearby office building.

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