2394) "Georg von Békésy (03.06.1899 - 13.06.1972), Hungary: “Hungarian Nobel Prize Winners Coin Series": 123rd Birth and 50th Anniversary of his Death: Magyar Nemzeti Bank (Hungarian National Bank) has issued Oval-shaped 7,500 Forint (Silver) and 2.000 Forint (Cupro-nickel) Coins to commemorate the eminent Bio-physicist: Date of Coins issue: 03.06.2022:
The Magyar Nemzeti Bank has released on 03.06.2022, new commemorative coins which are part of the “Hungarian Nobel Prize Winners Coin Series” first launched in 2012.
The Header/Banner depicts the Silver 7,500 Coin against a background image of Georg von Békésy at the Nobel Prize Award ceremony (at top left) and his portrait, which has featured on the Coins
For 2022, the sixth coin in the series depicts the eminent Biophysicist Georg von Békésy (1899–1972).
These coins have been issued on the 123rd anniversary of his birth and also to mark the 50th anniversary of his death.
The Nobel Prize was awarded to him for his research on the actual method of hearing.
By using strobe photography and silver flakes as a marker, he was able to observe that the basilar membrane moves like a surface wave when stimulated by sound. Because of the structure of the cochlea and the basilar membrane, different frequencies of sound cause the maximum amplitudes of the waves to occur at different places on the basilar membrane along the coil of the cochlea.
High frequencies cause more vibration at the base of the cochlea while low frequencies create more vibration at the apex.
He concluded that his observations showed how different sound wave frequencies are locally dispersed before exciting different nerve fibers that lead from the cochlea to the brain.
In 1961, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his research on the function of the cochlea in the mammalian hearing organ.
Presently, the devices used to examine hearing operate on the basis of the operating principle of the audiometer developed by him.
Georg von Békésy passed away in Honolulu 10 days after his 73rd birthday while still a citizen of Hungary in 1972.
The Coins:
The Reverse and Obverse of the Silver Coins
The Reverse and Obverse of the Base Metal Coins
The oval-shaped collector coins have been minted by the Mint of Hungary at their facilities in Budapest on behalf of the Hungarian National Bank.
The Reverse features a front-facing portrait of the Noble Prize-winning scientist, which is based on an actual photograph believed to have been taken just before his receipt of the award.
The inscription "BÉKÉSY GYÖRGY NOBEL-DÍJ ● 1961 ●" (“Georg von Békésy Noble Prize 1961”) is placed to the left of the portrait arranged in three lines. On the right edge is the insignia of the sculptor Zoltán Kovács.
On the Obverse is a recreation of one of the major results of Georg von Békésy’s research which is the travelling sound waves within the cochlea in the inner ear, arriving from the surroundings.
Inserted into the representation of the cochlea, in micro-print is the lettering "BÉKÉSY GYÖRGY A BELSŐ FÜL CSIGÁJÁBAN LÉTREJÖVŐ INGERÜLETEK FIZIKAI MECHANIZMUSÁNAK FELFEDEZÉSÉÉRT KAPOTT FIZIOLÓGIAI ÉS ORVOSTUDOMÁNYI NOBEL-DÍJAT 1961-BEN" (meaning "Georg von Békésy received the Noble Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries of the physical mechanism of stimulation within the cochlea in 1961") seen on the inside swirl.
On the outside of the representation of the cochlea are the indications of sound wavelength as 200 Hz 400 Hz 600 Hz 800 Hz 1000 Hz 1500 Hz 2000 Hz 3000 Hz 4000 Hz 5000 Hz 7000 Hz 20000 Hz.
The denominations 7500 (silver) or 2000 (cupro-nickel) FORINT are placed to the left of the primary design with the mintmark "BP" (for the Budapest Mint) seen just under the denomination.
Along the lower edge is the text "MAGYARORSZÁG" (“Hungary”) and the year of issue, "2022". On the right edge is the insignia of the artist, Zoltán Endrődy.
The Coins has been issued in two Variants:
i)The specifications of the 7,500 Forint Silver Coin are:
Country of issue: Hungary; Date/Year: 03.06.2022; Coin Series Theme: “Hungarian Nobel Prize Winners Coin Series"; Coin Theme: "Georg von Békésy - eminent Bio-physicist"; Denomination/Face Value: 7,500 Forint; Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 12.5 grams; Diameter/Size: 30.00 mm x 25.00 mm; Coin Quality: Proof (P); Mint: Budapest Mint, Hungary; Mintage: 4,000 pieces; Designers: The Obverse was designed by applied artist Zoltán Endrődy while the Reverse by sculptor Zoltán Kovács.
Both the Silver Proof (P) and Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) Base Metal coins are specially encapsulated to accommodate the coin’s oblong shape and are accompanied by a Certificate Of Authenticity (COA).
ii) The specifications of the 2,000 Forint Cupro-nickel Coin are:
Country of issue: Hungary; Date/Year: 03.06.2022; Coin Series Theme: “Hungarian Nobel Prize Winners Coin Series"; Coin Theme: "Georg von Békésy - eminent Bio-physicist"; Denomination/Face Value: 2,000 Forint; Metal Composition: Cupro-nickel; Weight: 10.3 grams; Diameter/Size: 30.00 mm x 25.00 mm; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU); Mint: Budapest Mint, Hungary; Mintage: 4,000 pieces; Designers: The Obverse was designed by applied artist Zoltán Endrődy while the Reverse by sculptor Zoltán Kovács.
Both the Silver Proof (P) and Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) Base Metal coins are specially encapsulated to accommodate the coin’s oblong shape and are accompanied by a Certificate Of Authenticity (COA).
Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very informative post. Thanks for sharing."
Thank you Khanna sahab.
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