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200th anniversary of the death of Wolfgang Kempelen

200 Sk commemorative silver coin

Banknotes and coins, 200th anniversary of the death of Wolfgang Kempelen
Banknotes and coins, 200th anniversary of the death of Wolfgang Kempelen

Wolfgang Kempelen (23. 1. 1734 – 24. 3. 1804) – inventor, engineer, technician and pioneer in the area of phonetics – was one of the leading scholars of his time. He held various important official posts in Austria-Hungary, becoming the secretary and later also the councillor of the Royal Hungarian Chamber in Bratislava.

He used his extraordinary scientific and technical abilities to create complex machines and equipment. He constructed a fountain in the park of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, created a system for drawing water for Bratislava Castle, built irrigation facilities in the area of Žitný Ostrov near Bratislava, modernized the technical equipment of salt mines and made a writing machine for the blind. He was especially famous for the automatic chess machine of 1770 and later also an automatic speaking machine, which attracted the general public and became world famous attractions. He also published a pioneering scientific work about the mechanism of human speech, in which he dealt with the origin of speech, and the anatomy and physiology of the speech organs.

  • Coin description

    Obverse:
    Kempelen’s most famous invention – the chess machine, complemented with illustrations from his scientific works, is located in the center of the obverse of the coin. The state shield is on the right margin and the nominal value is on the left margin of the coin. The name of the state SLOVENSKÁ REPUBLIKA in two lines and under it the year of issue – 2004 are found on the bottom.

    Reverse:
    The portrait of Wolfgang Kempelen above the skyline of Bratislava – the city where Kempelen was born and which is closely connected with his life and work, is depicted on the reverse. The years of his birth and death – 1734 and 1804 are located to the right of the portrait and his name WOLFGANG KEMPELEN is located to the left. The initials of the designer of the coin Miroslav Ronai MR and the mark of the Kremnica Mint MR are placed under the Bratislava skyline.

  • Coin details
    Designer:Miroslav Ronai
    Material:Ag 750, Cu 250
    Weight:20 g
    Diameter:34 mm
    Edge:inscription: “VYNÁLEZCA – TECHNIK – KONŠTRUKTÉR”
    (Inventor – Technician – Designer)
    Producer:Kremnica Mint (Slovak Republic)
    Engraver:Dalibor Schmidt
    Issuing volume:11,200
    of which 3,200 in proof quality
    Issuing date:15 March 2004