The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 50, December 10, 2006, Article 21

DECEMBER 10: NOBEL PRIZE DAY

Today is the day a number of heroes of a different sort stand to
receive their medals:

"In the Swedish capital of Stockholm December 10 means Nobel Day.
For the prizewinners this is the high point of a stressful but glorious
week of speeches, conferences and receptions. Years of hard work are
rewarded with a medal from the Swedish king, followed by a gala banquet
– for 1,300 people.

"They have rehearsed the ceremony the day before, so they know exactly
how many steps they should move back after having shaken hands with the
king and received their medal and diploma. They receive a generous
prize amount, too. In the first several years of the 21st century,
each prize totaled SEK 10 million (USD 1.47 million)."

"The stories about participants' frantic search for white tie and tails
are numerous and hilarious. Some foreign guests ask a theater in their
hometown to dig up such attire from their inventory of props. Others
contact the Swedish Embassy for help."

[Below is some information about the medals themselves.  Do any exist
in numismatic circles?  Or have the all remained in museums or the
families of the recipients?  -Editor]

"According to the Statutes of the Nobel Foundation, given by the King
in Council on June 29, 1900, "the prize-awarding bodies shall present
to each prize-winner an assignment for the amount of the prize, a
diploma, and a gold medal bearing the image of the testator and an
appropriate inscription."

The medals for Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine and
Literature were modeled by the Swedish sculptor and engraver Erik
Lindberg and the Peace medal by the Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland.
The medal for The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in
Memory of Alfred Nobel (established in 1968 in connection with the
300th anniversary of the Sveriges Riksbank), was designed by Gunvor
Svensson-Lundqvist.

For images and more information on the Nobel medals, see:
More Info

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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