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Memorabilia

Few mathematicians have graced their country’s stamps, banknotes and coins as often as Niels Henrik Abel. Memorials to Abel have also been raised throughout Norway.

Here is a small sample of the best known honours conferred upon Abel.

This material was collected by
Nils Voje Johansen and Yngvar Reichelt
and has been published with their permission.

The Abel Monument Stamps 1929 Stamps 2002 Collectibles 500 kroner banknotes Commemorative coin Medals Miscellaneous

Medals

2002 Proofsett Eksklusiv

Proof Coins of Norway Exclusive 2002

In addition to the 20 kroner Abel commemorative coin, Norges Bank’s prestige set Proof Coins of Norway Exclusive also includes a gold medal celebrating the bicentenary of Abel’s birth. The coins and medals come in a handsome wooden box with a numbered silver plate.

Grade: Proof
Number minted: 1,500 sets

Gold medal:
Grade: Proof
Artist: Ingrid Austlid Rise
Diameter: 22.00 mm
Weight: 7.70 g
Metal: 585AU (14 kt)

Proofsett Eksklusiv

Agder Academy of Sciences and Letters

The Agder Academy was founded on 27 October 1962. At the annual meeting in 1965 it was decided to strike an award medal in gold for outstanding scientific or scholarly achievement. H. Rui was contacted to create the medal and he suggested using the portrait of Abel that he had used previously for the commemorative medal for the Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters.

Agder Akademi Agde Akademi

Obverse: • NIELS HENRIK ABEL • 1802 – 1829 • ★. Portrait of Niels Henrik Abel facing left.
Reverse: • HENRIK WERGELAND 1808 – 1845 • / AGDER AKADEMI. Gustav Vigeland’s monument to Wergeland. At bottom right, H. Rui.
Artist: Tone Thiis (portrait), H. Rui (everything else).
Engraver: H. Rui.
Size: 35 mm.
Metal and number struck: Gold, 3 medals. Struck in silver, bronze and tombac.

In 2002 the Agder Academy was re-established as the Agder Academy of Sciences and Letters. The medal was given out in silver to everyone present at the 40th anniversary.

Medalje Medalje

Obverse: • NIELS HENRIK ABEL • 1802 – 1829 • ★. Portrait of Niels Henrik Abel facing left.
Reverse: • HENRIK WERGELAND 1808 – 1845 • / AGDER AKADEMI. Gustav Vigeland’s monument to Wergeland. Engraved 27.X.02. At bottom right, H. Rui.
Artist: Tone Thiis (portrait), H. Rui (everything else).
Engraver: H. Rui.
Size: 35 mm.
Metal and number struck: Silver.

Royal Norwegian Society of Sciences and Letters

Since 1927 the Society has had a tradition of having a commemorative medal struck to be handed out at its annual festivities. The commemorative medal should if possible have a new obverse for each Festivities Day depicting one of the Society’s members or a person particularly deserving of this, as determined by the Board. The lesser seal of the Society is to appear on the reverse.

The commemorative medals were initially struck in two different alloys. One in silver that was presented to persons who have performed service to the “Society of Sciences and Letters” or the “Museum”. The version in silver was also given to those who gave the memorial address and Festivities Day lecture. In 1935 it was decided that all Board members in attendance on Festivities Day would be given the commemorative medal in silver.

The base metal version (tombac, gold-plated tombac, zinc or bronze) was given to all members and guests in attendance at the banquet.

Niels Henrik Abel is currently the only one to have graced the commemorative medal twice.

DKNVS DKNVS

1952 Niels Henrik Abel

Obverse: ★ NIELS HENRIK ABEL 1802 – 1829 ★ / SOCIUS NOSTER. Portrait of Niels Henrik Abel facing left. At the bottom of the portrait the initials TT. Below right. H. Rui 1952.
Reverse: ★ DET KGL. NORSKE VIDENSKABERS SELSKAB ★ / 1760. In the centre the society’s lesser seal, a crowned recumbent lion with a halberd and a tree in the background. Motto: ÆMULA LAURI.
Artist: Tone Thiis (portrait), H. Rui (everything else).
Engraver: H. Rui.
Size: 27 mm.
Metal and number struck: Silver 15, tombac 65.

DKNVS DKNVS

2002 Niels Henrik Abel

Obverse: • NIELS HENRIK ABEL • 1802 • 1829 • / SOCIUS NOSTER. Portrait of Niels Henrik Abel facing left. At the bottom of the portrait the initials IAR.
Reverse: ★ DET KGL. NORSKE VIDENSKABERS SELSKAB ★ / 1760. In the centre the society’s lesser seal, a crowned recumbent lion with a halberd and a tree in the background. Motto: ÆMULA LAURI.
Artist: Ingrid Austlid Rise.
Size: 35 mm.
Metal: Gold-plated silver, silver and bronze.

Øyvind Heggtveit

On the centenary of Abel’s death in 1929 the sculptor Øyvind Heggtveit created a medal in cast bronze. The medal is 70 mm in diameter. We are aware of only four specimens.

Medalje