The 1804 dollar is one of the rarest and most valuable American coins. Proof coin sets, including the dollar, were created for use as diplomatic gifts carried by envoy Edmund Roberts on his trips to Siam and Muscat. Though the dollars are dated 1804, none were struck until the 1830s; the earlier date was a mistake based on misunderstood U.S. Mint records from 1804. Later, Mint officials struck some of the coins to trade with collectors in exchange for rare coins needed for the Mint's coin cabinet. In response to numismatic demand, Mint officials surreptitiously produced several coins, one of which lacked the correct edge lettering. The coins produced for the diplomatic mission, the dollar struck without edge lettering and the later examples with lettering are known as "Class I", "Class II" and "Class III" dollars, respectively. Altogether, only fifteen specimens are known to exist, and in 1999, one sold for $4.14 million, the highest price paid for any coin up to that time. These coins have been frequent targets of counterfeiting and other deceptions. (Full article...)
... that smokebushes get their name from the resemblance of their flowers to smoke arising from the plant?
... that Fanny Knight excavated a Roman villa, repaired a castle, wrote a book, and was an accomplished botanist and artist?
... that the Museum of Goa in India does not host a permanent collection, instead operating as a gallery temporarily exhibiting works from around the world?
... that the Bulgarian idiom "Ideal Petrov", denoting something of excellent quality, derives from the name of an actor?
There were 94 Padma Bhushan recipients from 1954 to 1959. The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service of a high order", without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex. The recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President of India and a circular-shaped medallion with no monetary grant associated with the award. The Padma Bhushan award recipients are announced every year on Republic Day and registered in The Gazette of India. When instituted in 1954, the Padma Bhushan was classified as "Dusra Warg" (Class II) under the three-tier Padma Vibhushan awards. On 15 January 1955, the Padma Vibhushan was reclassified into three different awards; the Padma Vibhushan, the highest of the three, followed by the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri. A total of 23 awards were conferred in 1954 followed by 12 in 1955; 13 in 1956; 16 in 1957; 16 again in 1958, and 14 in 1959. Individuals from nine different fields were awarded. (Full list...)
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