2016-09-07 Wed

One the greatest Mathematicians all-time, known for his game theory, differential geometry and the study of partial differential equations, John Forbes Nash Jr. was awarded Nobel Prize medal in 1994. The same medal would be offered at an auction in New York by Sotheby’s on 17th October. The original medal carries an estimated value of $2.5 million to $4 million.

The Nobel Prize medals from 1900 to 1980 were struck at Sweden and weighed almost 200 grams with a diameter of 66 millimeters, composed of 23-karat gold. 18-karat green gold plated with 24-karat gold medals were introduced post 1980. The new medals weigh 175 grams except for the Economic Sciences medal which weighs 185 grams.

The obverse features a portrait of Alfred Nobel, with the bank’s crossed horns. This design is the new addition to the Nobel Prize in Economic Science medal which are different from the other five prizes awarded. Other inscription includes SVERIGES RIKSBANK TILL ALFRED NOBELS MINNE 1968, translating to “The Sveriges Riksbank, in memory of Alfred Nobel, 1968”.

The reverse features the North Star emblem of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, dating from 1815, with the inscriptions KUNGLIGA VETENSKAPS AKADEMIEN translating to “The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences”.

Nash was Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science graduate from Carnegie Institute of Technology. He pursued his doctorate at Princeton University. He also taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1951 to 1959. Nash was unemployed and not very known when he received the award. His work was officially recognized all over the world after he got the award. Director Ron Howard’s 2001 Academy-Award-winning film, A Beautiful Mind, depicted his life story. Nash succumbed to mental illness on 23rd May 2015, at age 86.