LEON LEDERMAN 1988 NOBEL PRIZE MEDAL SOLD

The eastern Idaho resident who wasn’t sure anyone would even bid on his 1988 Nobel Prize medal has seen his prize sell for $765,000.

Driggs resident Leon Lederman and his wife put the medal up for auction after being contacted by a Los Angeles-based company that sells rare prizes and trophies. The minimum bid was $325,000. When the auction ended Thursday night, the winning bid was for $633,335. NBC reports a buyer’s premium will push the final price even higher.

Lederman is a renowned physicist. He moved to eastern Idaho full time after retiring from a lab near Chicago. His wife, Ellen, told KBSX this week the couple opted sell the medal to pay for her husband’s future medical care. Leon Lederman is 92 and has dementia.

To read the complete article, see:
Eastern Idaho Scientist Sells His 1988 Nobel Prize Medal Sell For $765,000 (http://boisestatepublicradio.org/post/eastern-idaho-scientist-sells-his-1988-nobel-prize-medal-sell-765000)

The 1988 Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded to particle physicist Leon Lederman for his discovery of the muon neutrino, a particle 200 times the size of an electron. Lederman, along with colleagues Melvin Schwartz and Jack Steinberger, found the muon neutrino in 1962 while using a high energy particle accelerator. They discovered that in some cases a muon (rather than an electron) was produced, illuminating the existence of a new atomic particle.

Lederman was also instrumental in the discovery of the bottom quark in 1977, and was the champion of the Superconducting Super Collider. His popular 1993 book ''The God Particle: If the Universe is The Answer, What is The Question'' was released to critical acclaim.

This Nobel Prize is made of 18kt gold, plated in 24k gold, as were all Nobel Prize medals awarded after 1980. Medal features the relief portrait of Alfred Nobel to front, with his name and the years of his birth and death. Verso features a relief of the Goddess Isis, whose veil is held up by a woman who represents the genius of science. Encircling the medal are the words ''Inventas vitam juvat excoluisse per artes'', translating to ''And they who bettered life on earth by their newly found mastery''. Lederman's name and 1988 in Roman numerals are engraved on a plaque below the relief of the two women, with ''Reg. Acad. Scient. Suec.'' also written, an abbreviation for The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Etched upon the medal is the name of Erik Lindberg, designer of the Nobel medal.

Housed in the original red leather case with Leon Lederman's name gilt stamped. Medal weighs 173 grams or just over 6 oz. and measures 2.5'' in diameter, consistent with the original Nobel Prize awarded in 1988. Case measures 5.5'' x 5.5'' x 1''. Presented in near fine condition, and with an LOA from Leon Lederman.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Lot #1: Nobel Prize Awarded to Physicist Leon Lederman in 1988 (http://natedsanders.com/LotDetail.aspx?inventoryid=36383)

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