Skip to main content
The Postal Store®

The Nobel Prize

First Day of Issue Date: March 22, 2001

First Day of Issue Location: Washington, DC

About This Stamp

In partnership with Sweden Post, the U.S. Postal Service honors the centennial of the distinguished Nobel Prize. Since 1901 the Nobel Foundation has awarded five annual prizes for outstanding achievement in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace. In 1968 an annual prize in economic sciences was established in memory of Alfred Nobel. More than 250 Americans have received Nobel Prizes.

The prizes — established in the will of Swedish-born inventor and industrialist Alfred Bernhard Nobel (1833–1896) — are presented each year on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death. A Nobel Prize winner receives a gold medal, a diploma, and a check for the amount of the prize.

The Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway. The peace medal was designed by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. 

The prizes for physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, and literature are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden. Erik Lindberg, a Swedish sculptor and engraver, designed these four medals. They are identical in design on the front. However, each one has a different design on the reverse side—with the exception of the physics and chemistry medals, each of which has the same design on the reverse side.

Stamp Artist

Czeslaw Slania

First Day of Issue Ceremony

First Day of Issue Date: March 22, 2001
First Day of Issue Location: Washington, DC

Order the Putting a Stamp on the American Experience Prestige Booklet!

Highlighting the popular series and subjects that give the U.S. stamp program its remarkable range and depth, this 32-page prestige booklet is only the fourth ever issued by the Postal Service.