Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 June 18

The Washington quarter is the present quarter dollar or 25-cent piece issued by the United States Mint. The coin was first struck in 1932; the original version was designed by sculptor John Flanagan. The new silver quarters entered circulation on August 1, 1932; they were struck in that metal until the Mint transitioned to copper-nickel clad coinage in 1965. A special reverse commemorating the United States Bicentennial was used in 1975 and 1976, with all pieces bearing the double date 1776–1976; there are no 1975-dated quarters. Since 1999, the original eagle reverse has not been used; instead that side of the quarter has commemorated the 50 states, the nation's other jurisdictions, and National Park Service sites—the last as part of the ongoing America the Beautiful Quarters series, which will continue until 2021. The bust of Washington was made smaller beginning in 1999; in 2010 it was restored to bring out greater detail. (more...)

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June 18

More anniversaries: June 17 – June 18 – June 19

Monarchs of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty reigned over Egypt from 1805 to 1953. Their rule also extended to Sudan and the Levant throughout much of this period, as well as to Hejaz during the first half of the 19th century. The Muhammad Ali Dynasty was founded by Muhammad Ali Pasha (pictured), an Albanian commander in the expeditionary force sent by the Ottoman Empire in 1801 to dislodge the French occupation of Egypt led by Napoleon Bonaparte. Isma'il Pasha is a notable monarch of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty because of his inauguration of the Suez Canal and for his Haussmann-inspired rebuilding of Cairo. Farouk I was Egypt and Sudan's penultimate monarch. After his forced abdication following the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, his infant son, Fuad II, continued to reign as a nominal king-in-exile until the monarchy was formally abolished on 18 June 1953. (more...)