2022-03-09 Wed

Messenger RNA (mRNA) played a key role in COVID-19 vaccines, which have been used to contain and overcome the global pandemic in parts of the world. Hungary celebrates the role of two Hungarian scientists in developing the messenger RNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines with two new coins.

The square coins with the denominations of 3,000-forint and 15,000 Hungarian forints are oriented like a diamond, with a stylized depiction of two modified mRNA spirals on the obverse, and the essence of the discovery, a modified nucleoside mRNA lipid nano-particle, containing the modified mRNA spirals, on the reverse.

A magnification of the mRNA spirals is featured next to the lipid nano-particle, the fat molecule in which the RNA is packaged. The legend translating to “modified nucleoside mRNA lipid nano-particle” is inscribed below them. Under the legend, is a stylized depiction of an mRNA spiral.

Around the edge are the names of several scientists instrumental in the research, Kariko Katalin, Drew Weissman, Pardi Norbert, and Ian Maclachlan, in a clockwise direction, separated by dots.

Image Courtesy: colnect.com