From today's featured articleThe Maine Centennial half dollar is a commemorative coin struck in 1920 by the United States Bureau of the Mint. It was sculpted by Anthony de Francisci, following sketches by an unknown artist from the U.S. state of Maine. Officials in Maine wanted a commemorative half dollar to circulate as an advertisement for the centennial of the state's admission to the Union, and of the planned celebrations. Congress passed authorizing legislation without opposition. The Commission of Fine Arts urged changes in the design, but Maine officials insisted. The state decided to sell the coins at $1, double face value. Fifty thousand pieces, half the authorized mintage, were struck for release to the public, though they were issued too late to be sold at the centennial celebrations in Portland. The coins sold out, but this took at least until 1929. They list for hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on condition. (Full article...)
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John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore (1730–1809), generally known as Lord Dunmore, was a Scottish peer and colonial governor in the American colonies and The Bahamas. He was the last British colonial governor of Virginia, from 1771 to 1775. This picture is an oil-on-canvas portrait of Dunmore by the English painter Sir Joshua Reynolds, dated 1765. He is depicted in the Highland dress of the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards. The painting is now in the collection of the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh. Painting credit: Joshua Reynolds
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