Coin, Commemorative
Object number2013.52.3 a,b
Date1996
MediumMetal/plastic/paper
Credit LineGift of Leland Anderson
DescriptionCommemorative coin with black case.
Commemorative coin that is light gold in color and features the image of Tesla on the obverse along with the dates of his birth and death as well as the date of minting. The reverse features an image of Wardenclyffe Tower, the tower Tesla designed in New York to experiment with wireless power transfer. Text along the outside is written in Serbian. Below the image of the tower is commemorative text. The coin is in a protective clear plastic case.
Black case with coin secured in a red velvet like piece of plastic. The inside of the lid of the black case has white fabric with gold inscriptions of the same images and text found on the reverse of the coin. It also features the years of Tesla's life and commemorative text in gold. The reverse of the case has a white sticker with black text providing source information. Within the case in addition to the coin is a piece of white paper which describes the circumstances of the gift to Anderson and is signed by Momcilo Simic.Dimensionsa) Height: 0.25" / Diameter: 1.625" b) Height: 3.50" / Depth: 1.0" / Width: 3.25" / Height opened: 3.812"
c) Height: 3.0" / Width: 2.812"
Inscriptions(a)
Obverse has Tesla's birth and death dates "1856" and "1943".
The reverse has Serbian text along the outside and below the image of the tower is text "TESLA / III MELLENNIUM / BEOGRAD [Belgrade] '96".
(b)
The inside of the lid of the black case has white fabric with gold inscriptions of the same images and text found on the reverse of the coin. It also features the years of Tesla's life and more text in gold reading: "FONDACIJA "NIKOLA TESLA" / BEOGRAD".
The reverse of the case has a white sticker with black text reading: "From Momcilo Simic, Member, / Organizing Committee, Tesla III / Millennium Fifth Int'l Conference / Belgrade, Serbia / June 16, 1997".
Within the case is a piece of white paper which describes the circumstances of the gift: "TO: MR. LELAND ANDERSON / IN RECOGNITION OF HIS WORK / ON TESLA'S CONTRIBUTIONS / TO THE MANKIND / ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE / OF / THE FIFTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE / "TESLA III MILLENNIUM" BEOGRAD, 1996 / [Signature] / /MOMCILO SIMIC/".
Marks(a)
Obverse has the date of minting "1996".
Historical NotesCommemorative coin made in recognition of Nikola Tesla and given to donor Leland Anderson by the Organizing Committee of the Fifth International Conference in Belgrade. Donor Leland Anderson is a writer and researcher who is the author of a number of published works on the electrical engineer and inventor Nikola Tesla. Tesla, who worked for Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing company in 1888, was known for his work on the alternating current system, radio communication, and X-ray technology. Beginning in the 1940s and continuing over the next 50 years, Anderson compiled a large collection of research materials documenting the life and work of Tesla.
Related person
Nikola Tesla
(1856 - 1943)
Previous owner
Leland Anderson
Related institution
Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company
(1886 - 1945)
Related person
Momcilo Simic
On View
Not on view
1979
1979
1979
1979
1979
