Another addition to the Hungarian Nobel Prize winners collector coin series in honour of Georg von Békésy

3June 2022

The Magyar Nemzeti Bank will issue silver coins of 7,500 forints and the non-ferrous metal version thereof with a face value of 2,000 forints on the biophysicist’s birthday. The special oval-shaped collector coins will augment the series presenting Hungarian Nobel prize winners. With this coin, the Bank aims to pay homage to his work and the scientist himself who died half a century ago. In 1961, Georg von Békésy received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries of the physical mechanism of stimulation within the cochlea. The obverse was designed by applied artist Zoltán Endrődy while the reverse by sculptor Zoltán Kovács.

Biophysicist Georg von Békésy (1899 – 1972) lived in the United States and received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1961 for his research in the operation of the human auditory organ and his discoveries related to the physical mechanisms of the stimulation of the inner ear, the cochlea. Georg von Békésy died as a Hungarian citizen in Honolulu in 1972.

Békésy’s research results have a long-lasting effect, even today. He was the first to establish that waves are created in the ear passing through the organ, and he also measured the travelling speed of the waves. During his studies, Békésy found that the basilar membrane in the cochlea of the inner ear passes vibrations on as a flexible surface in the same manner as the eardrum surrounding the middle ear. As a result, the pitch of the sound cannot be perceived on the basis of echoes off the basilar membrane. He demonstrated that non-linear waves pass through the cochlea, reaching its maximum in different parts of the duct of some 30 mm in length depending on the frequency of the sound wave. Additionally, he also showed that the resulting sound wave only serves as the source in the operation of the nerve cells transmitting sound sensation for which the energy is provided by electrochemical sources in the cochlea.

Based on his research, the method of hearing was revealed. The nowadays used devices to examine hearing operate on the basis of the operating principle of the audiometer developed by him.

The Magyar Nemzeti Bank will issue a silver collector coin with a face value of 7,500 forints named Békésy György and its non-ferrous metal version of 2,000 forints to mark the 50th anniversary of the scientist’s death. The special, oval-shaped collector coins are added as the sixth piece in the series presenting Hungarian Nobel Prize winners launched in 2012 after the Albert Szent-Györgyi, the Jenő Wigner, the Róbert Bárány, the Richárd Zsigmondy and György Hevesy coins.

The primary role of the coins to honour Georg von Békésy, is to raise awareness and educate with no role in cash circulation. The silver and non-ferrous metal coins have the same design, the only difference being their denominations.

On the obverse, one of the major results of Georg von Békésy’s research is featured: travelling sound waves within the cochlea in the inner ear, that arrive from the surroundings. Inserted into the representation of the cochlea, in small print the lettering “BÉKÉSY GYÖRGY A BELSŐ FÜL CSIGÁJÁBAN LÉTREJÖVŐ INGERÜLETEK FIZIKAI MECHANIZMUSÁNAK FELFEDEZÉSÉÉRT KAPOTT FIZIOLÓGIAI ÉS ORVOSTUDOMÁNYI NOBEL-DÍJAT 1961-BEN” (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) is seen inside, while outside the indications of sound wavelength: “200 Hz 400 Hz 600 Hz 800 Hz 1000 Hz 1500 Hz 2000 Hz 3000 Hz 4000 Hz 5000 Hz 7000 Hz 20000 Hz” are placed. On the obverse, the compulsory design elements of collector coins are found: the denominations “7500” and “2000 FORINT”, the mint mark “BP.” and at the bottom, following the bend of the edge the lettering “MAGYARORSZÁG” (Hungary) and the mint year “2022”. On the right edge, in the middle the master mark of applied artist, Zoltán Endrődy, designer of the obverse, is shown.

The obverse of the “Békésy György” collector coins

On the reverse, the portrait of the Noble Prize winner scientist is seen complemented by the inscriptions “BÉKÉSY GYÖRGY” “NOBEL-DÍJ ? 1961 ?” (Georg von Békésy Noble Prize 1961) to the left of the portrait in three lines. On the right edge of the reverse, the master mark of sculptor Zoltán Kovács, designer of this side, is found. 

The reverse of the “Békésy György” collector coins

Similarly to the other pieces in the series, both collector coins are oval-shaped with centrelines of 30x25 mm, their edges are smooth. The coin with a face value of 7500 forints was struck in 925‰ silver and the non-ferrous metal coin with a face value of 2,000 forints is made from an alloy of copper (75%) and nickel (25%). The silver coin weighing 12.5 grams was made in proof finish and the non-ferrous metal coin weighing 10.3 grams is made in BU finish. The collector coins are issued in limited edition: 4-4000 pieces can be made of each.

In order to promote the role of these collector coins to transfer value and raise awareness as widely as possible, the silver coin “Békésy György” will be available for purchase for three months, while stocks last, and the non-ferrous version for one year from the date of issuance, at face value in the webshop (https://www.penzvero.hu/) and coin shop of Hungarian Mint Ltd. (Budapest, distr. V, 7 Báthory street), the producer and the distributor of the coins, starting from 3 June 2022.