Denmark - 50 kroner
Denmark - 50 kroner - 1950-1970 - P45
Ole Christensen Rømer (1644 - 1710) was a Danish astronomer who is most famous for calculating the speed of light for the first time (299,792,458 metres per second). But apart from calculating this he was a very busy man. King Louis XIV of France employed him after his formal education as a tutor for his son. When he returned to Denmark he was appointed Professor of Astronomy at the University of Copenhagen, he introduced the first national system for weights and measures in Denmark, introduced the Gregorian calendar, developed one of the first temperature scales, established several naval schools throughout the country, invented the first street lights in Denmark, made rules for building new houses, got the city's water supply and sewers back in order, ensured that the city's fire department got new and better equipment and was the moving force behind the planning and making of new pavement in the streets and on the city squares. Finally he served as chief of the police until his death.
His portrait features the front of this 50 kroner note. The structure on the right side of the front is the Rundetårn, or Round Tower, the former observatory of the University of Copenhagen from which Rømer made many of his observations. Today it's still in use for amateur astronomers.
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