United Kingdom - 1 pound
United Kingdom - 1 pound - 1978-1984 - P377
The back of this 1 pound note from the United Kingdom shows one of the most famous scientists of all time: Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727). He was a physicist and mathematician and a key figure in the scientific revolution. His book Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica ("Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy"), first published in 1687, laid the foundations for most of classical mechanics. Newton's Principia formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation that dominated scientists' view of the physical universe for the next three centuries. It also demonstrated that the motion of objects on the Earth and that of celestial bodies could be described by the same principles. By deriving Kepler's laws of planetary motion from his mathematical description of gravity, Newton removed the last doubts about the validity of the heliocentric model of the cosmos. Newton built the first practical reflecting telescope. Besides his scientific career he also served the British government as Warden and Master of the Royal Mint.
The back of this fine note shows Newton next to an image of a heliocentric solar system. We can also see his telescope.
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