What the Nobel Laureates Receive
Updated: 2011-10-02 07:02
(China Daily)
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The Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway, while the other prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden. The highlight of the Nobel Prize award ceremony in Stockholm is when each Nobel laureate steps forward to receive the Nobel Prize from the hands of His Majesty the King of Sweden. In Oslo, the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee presents the Nobel Peace Prize in the presence of the King of Norway. Under the eyes of a watching world, the Nobel laureate receives three things: a medal, a diploma and a document confirming the prize amount.
Medals
The Nobel medals in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine and Literature are identical on the face: It shows the image of Alfred Nobel and the years of his birth and death (1833-1896). Nobel's portrait also appears on the Nobel Peace Prize Medal and the Medal for the Prize in Economic Sciences, but with a slightly different design. The image on the reverse varies according to the institution awarding the prize. All medals made before 1980 were struck in 23 carat gold. Today, they are made from 18 carat green gold plated with 24 carat gold.
Diplomas
Each Nobel Diploma is a unique work of art, created by foremost Swedish and Norwegian artists and calligraphers. The Literature diploma is written in parchment reminiscent of those used by medieval book illustrators. The other diplomas use specially ordered hand-made paper.
Money
The Nobel Prize for 2009 was more than $1 million for each full Nobel Prize. Until 1968, in principle more than three persons could share a Nobel Prize, but this never happened in practice. The previous wording in the Statutes governing the Nobel Prize was: "A prize may be equally divided between two works, each of which may be considered to merit a prize. If a work which is to be rewarded has been produced by two or more persons together, the prize shall be awarded to them jointly." In 1968 this section was changed to read: "In no case may a prize be divided between more than three persons".
China Daily
(China Daily 10/02/2011 page7)