Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 June 18

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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...) Recently featured: Vidkun Quisling – Nashville Sounds – Caroline of Ansbach Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the mineral diaboleite (pictured) was so named out of desperation? ... that Stichting Oud Politieke Delinquenten, a Dutch organization of convicted WW2 collaborators, included 1951 founders NSB "judge" Jan Wolthuis and Waffen-SS volunteer Jan Hartman, and Paul van Tienen who turned it into a political party? ... that the name of the 1983 Bollywood film Log Kya Kahenge (What Will People Think?) refers to a social yardstick in India and the expectations surrounding women and marriage? ... that Estonian Paralympian Marge Kõrkjas was awarded 100,000 krooni (about 6,400 euros) from the government following the 2004 Summer Paralympics? ... that the U.S. Supreme Court heard six criminal appeals from convicted Mormon polygamists during the tenure of Chief Justice Morrison Waite (1874–1888)? ... that the A968 in Shetland is Britain's northernmost A road? ... that Fritz Blanding retired from baseball due to "excessive weight" and because he could have "a heap more fun" on his farm? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Antonis Samaras New Democracy, led by Antonis Samaras (pictured), gains a plurality in the second Greek legislative election of 2012. Marcel Fässler, Benoît Tréluyer, and André Lotterer win the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the race's first victory in a hybrid car. Saudi Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud dies in Geneva. Nik Wallenda becomes the first person to successfully tightrope walk over Niagara Falls. Liu Yang becomes the first Chinese woman in space, following the launch of Shenzhou 9. NASA announces that Voyager 1 has reached the edge of the heliosphere, the boundary of the Solar System. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
June 18 618 – Li Yuan became Emperor Gaozu of Tang (pictured), initiating three centuries of the Tang Dynasty in China. 1815 – War of the Seventh Coalition: Napoleon Bonaparte fought and lost his final battle, the Battle of Waterloo in present-day Belgium. 1858 – Charles Darwin received a manuscript by fellow naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace on natural selection, which prompted Darwin to publish his theory of evolution. 1908 – The University of the Philippines, the national university of the Philippines, was established. 1972 – British European Airways Flight 548 crashed near the town of Staines less than three minutes after departing from London Heathrow Airport, killing all 118 people aboard, at the time the worst air disaster in the UK. 1983 – Aboard Space Shuttle Challenger, astronaut Sally Ride became the first American woman in space. More anniversaries: June 17 – June 18 – June 19 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now June 18, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

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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...)

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The culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus, aka Andean fox/wolf) is the second-largest native canid in South America. It has grey and reddish fur, a white chin, reddish legs, and a stripe on its back that may be barely visible. The mean weight for males is 11.4 kg (25 lb), while females average 8.4 kg (19 lb).

Photo: Christian Mehlführer

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