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Italian physicist and radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi succeeds in sending the first radio transmission across the Atlantic Ocean, disproving detractors who told him that the curvature of the earth would limit transmission to 200 miles or less. The message–simply the Morse-code signal for the letter “s”–traveled more than 2,000 miles from Poldhu in Cornwall, England, to Newfoundland, Canada. Marconi’s greatest achievement came on December 12, 1901. In fact, Marconi’s transatlantic radio signal had been headed into space when it was reflected off the ionosphere and bounced back down toward Canada. Much remained to be learned about the laws of the radio wave and the role of the atmosphere in radio transmissions, and Marconi would continue to play a leading role in radio discoveries and innovations during the next three decades.
Obverse
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Fourth crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara. ELIZABETH·II·DEI·GRA·REG·FID·DEF · |
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Reverse
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Radio waves decorating centre and outer border while a spark of electricity linking the zeros of the date represents the generation of the signal. A radiating series of three dots is the Morse-code signal for the letter “s”. 20/01 |
Edge |
WIRELESS BRIDGES THE ATLANTIC ··· MARCONI 1901 ··· |
Characteristics
Type | Commemorative Issue (Circulating) |
Material | Bi-Metallic |
Ring | Nickel Brass |
Center | Cupronickel |
Weight | 12 g |
Diameter | 28.4 mm |
Thickness | 2.5 mm |
Shape | round |
Alignment | Medal |
Mint |
Royal Mint
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