[WATSON, James Dewey]. Nobel Prize Medal in Medicine or Physiology for his work on the discovery of DNA's structure. 23 carat gold, 66 mm diameter(approx. 2 5/8 in.). Profile bust of Alfred Nobel facing left on obverse, with "ALFR. NOBEL" at left and his dates in Roman numerals at right, signedalong lower left edge (incuse) "E. LINDBERG 1902", reverse with allegorical vignette showing the figure of Science unveiling Nature, signed at right"E. LINDBERG", legend "INVENTAS VITAM IUVAT EX COLUISSE PER ARTES" around edge, "J. D. WATSON / MCMLXII" engraved below on plaque, with caption "REGUNIVERSITAS - MED CHIR CAROL" on either side of the plaque; rim marked "GULD 1950" (Kungliga Mynt och Justeringsverket [Swedish Royal Mint]); housedin original red morocco gilt case, interior lined in tan suede and satin.

Prior to 1980 the Nobel Prize medal was made from 23 carat gold, but since then Nobel Prize medals are made of 18 carat green gold plated with 24carat gold. The diameter of the Nobel Prize medal is 66 mm but the weight and thickness varies with the price of gold. The average Nobel Prize medalis 175 g with a thickness ranging from 2.4-5.2 mm. Both sides of most of the categories of Nobel medals are the same, showing the image of AlfredNobel and the years of his birth and death. However, the verso of the Physiology or Medicine medal is different (as here), depicting the goddess ofmedicine quenching the thirst of a sick girl. The medals for Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine and Literature were modeled by the Swedishsculptor and engraver Erik Lindberg (1873-1966).

In 1962, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly to Francis Harry Compton Crick, James Dewey Watson and Maurice HughFrederick Wilkins "for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in livingmaterial." Maurice Wilkins's colleague Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958), whose data and research using X-ray diffraction images of DNA were essential toCrick and Watson's determining its structure and formulating their double-helical model, died of cancer at the age of 37, and was therefore not sohonored because the Nobel Prize cannot be shared by more than three scientists, nor can it be awarded posthumously.

To read the complete lot description, see:
[WATSON, JAMES DEWEY].NOBEL PRIZE MEDAL IN MEDICINE OR PHYSIOLOGY(www.christies.com/lotfinder/books-manuscripts/watson-james-dewey-nobel-prize-medal-in-5857953-details.aspx)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
FRANCIS CRICK'S 1962 GOLD NOBEL PRIZE MEDAL TO BE AUCTIONED(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n09a34.html)
MORE ON NOBEL PRIZE MEDALS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n10a10.html)
WHAT'S A GOLD NOBEL PRIZE MEDAL WORTH? (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n16a12.html)