2020-02-24 Mon

German inventor Johannes Gutenberg developed a method of movable type and used it to create one of the Western world's first major printed books, the “Forty-Two-Line” Bible. Johannes Gutenberg was born circa 1395, in Mainz, Germany. He started experimenting with printing by 1438. In 1450 Gutenberg obtained backing from the financier, Johann Fust.

Gutenberg's masterpiece, and the first book ever printed in Europe from movable type, is the “Forty-Two-Line” Bible, completed no later than 1455. Gutenberg died in Mainz in 1468. Known as the father of Printing in World, Gutenberg’s printing businesses were destroyed on 1462 when Mainz was sacked by Archbishop Adolph II.

He died on 3rd February 1468 and said to have been blinded in the last months of his life. His invention became a legendary innovation in his recent future. In his memory, 24th February is considered as the World Printing Day.

He has been featured on many coins of many nations. The Kingdom of Tonga, in the year, 1993 issued a silver commemorative coin with the denomination of 1 pa´anga on the 525th Anniversary of Johannes Gutenberg.

The coin, on the obverse, features the coat of arms in the center with the name of the country at the top and the year of issue at the bottom. The reverse, on the other hand, features the standing portrait of Johannes Gutenberg, the printing press and the Bible which was printed from the press. His name and years are inscribed on the top and the denomination value is at the bottom.

Image Courtesy: coinarchives.com