main Page History/2020 July 10

Only pattern farthings were struck under Queen Anne. The coin was struck intermittently through much of the 18th century, but counterfeits became so prevalent the Royal Mint ceased striking them after 1775. The next farthings were the first ones struck by steam power, in 1799 by Matthew Boulton at his Soho Mint. The Royal Mint resumed production in 1821. The farthing was struck regularly under George IV, William IV and in most years of Queen Victoria's long reign. The coin continued to be issued in most years of the first half of the 20th century, and in 1937 it finally received its own design, a wren (pictured). By the 1950s, inflation had eroded its value. It ceased to be struck after 1956 and was demonetised in 1961. (Full article...)

• ... that "God Save the Queen" was twice played by mistake at the 1982 Commonwealth Games instead of "March On, Bahamaland" (featured), before officials realized they did not have a recording of the latter?
• ... that the 7th-century drama Bhagavadajjukam is the earliest-surviving satirical play in Sanskrit literature?
• ... that after early professional success as a snooker player, Patsy Fagan developed a psychological block when using the rest and never won another major tournament?
• ... that the British government funded Crossroads, the first Kazakhstani soap opera, to promote the country's transition to a free-market economy after the collapse of the Soviet Union?
• ... that Leo Pacheco, a member of the Texas House of Representatives, used to drive buses for VIA Metropolitan Transit?
• ... that the Jamai Palace in Fez was originally the residence of a grand vizier, but was later seized by the state, sold, and converted into a hotel?
• ... that during World War II, Polish-Jewish economist Ludwik Maurycy Landau conducted undercover research into the economic conditions in occupied Poland?
• ... that the Asian freshwater leech Barbronia weberi has invaded North Carolina?

Park Won-soon

• In Seoul, South Korea, incumbent mayor Park Won-soon (pictured) is found dead at the age of 64.
• Floods in Kyushu, Japan, kill more than 50 people.
• The Russian electorate votes to amend the Russian constitution.
• European police agencies infiltrate EncroChat, an alleged criminal chat system, leading to the arrests of more than 800 people.

July 10: Independence Day in The Bahamas (1973)

Zhengde Emperor

• 1519 – Zhu Chenhao declared Ming emperor Zhengde (portrait shown) to be a usurper, beginning the Prince of Ning rebellion.
• 1800 – Lord Wellesley, Governor-General of India, founded Fort William College in Fort William, India.
• 1921 – Irish War of Independence: One day after a truce between the Irish Republican Army and British forces was agreed, violence broke out between Catholics and Protestants in Belfast.
• 1940 – Second World War: The Battle of Britain, in which the Royal Air Force defended the UK from attacks by the German Luftwaffe, began.
• 1973 – John Paul Getty III, grandson of American oil magnate J. Paul Getty, was kidnapped in Rome.