This Day in History: April 2

Here’s a brief look back in time for this day, April 2.

In 1792, the U.S. Mint is established, creating the nation’s first federal currency system. Before this, trade was done either through foreign currency or by bartering goods. 1st U.S. President George Washington appointed David Rittenhouse to be its first director. The first coins circulated were made of copper.

In 1992, the FBI got John Gotti after years of pursuing the famed mob boss from New York. He was convicted on 13 counts ranging from murder to extortion. This followed multiple acquittals, which were largely believed to have been sourced from bribing and intimidating jurors. The judge who presided over this trial decided to ensure the anonymity of each juror to prevent such actions from happening again. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole at FCI Marion in Illinois. He’d pass away from throat cancer on June 10, 2002.