Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)
  • 1 Pound 2002, KM# 909, Egypt, 17th International Conference of the Ear, Nose and Throat World Union
  • 1 Pound 2002, KM# 909, Egypt, 17th International Conference of the Ear, Nose and Throat World Union
Description

The International Federation of Otorhinolaryngological Societies (IFOS) is the global organization which represents organized Otolaryngology. It was founded in 1965 during the Tokyo World Congress of Otolaryngology to provide continuity between World Congresses. It grew in response to the need for a single body to collate information about national ORL societies.

From the start the membership of IFOS was open to any national ORL society. This remains the case today as long as the country is recognized by the United Nations. Nations with more than 1 national society may have more than 1 member although each country has only 1 vote at the General Assembly. Membership is also open to international societies in otolaryngology and related fields.

IFOS is governed by a General Assembly which meets once every 4 years, during the world congress at which time it selects the site for the next meeting and elects an Executive Committee which deals with the business of IFOS between world congresses. The Executive Committee currently is composed of 18 members who are elected for a 4 year term, renewable once only, and of whom at least two must be from each of the following continents or regions: Africa and the Middle East, Central and South America, East Asia, North America, and South and West Asia, at least four from Europe and at least one from Oceania.

Obverse

Depicts the death mask of Tutankhamun (1332–1323 BC, now in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo), surrounded by the inscription "17th International Conference of the Ear, Nose and Throat World Union", abbreviate and date below.

The face represents the pharaoh's standard image, and the same image was found by excavators elsewhere in the tomb, in particular in the guardian statues. He wears a nemes headcloth, topped by the royal insignia of a cobra (Wadjet) and vulture (Nekhbet), symbolising Tutankhamun's rule of both Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt respectively. The ears are pierced to hold earrings, a feature that appears to have been reserved for queens and children in almost all surviving ancient Egyptian works of art.

The mask of Tutankhamun is one of the best-known works of art in the world. It is 54 centimetres (1.8 ft) tall, weighs over 10 kilograms (22 lb) or 321.5 Troy Ounces, and is decorated with semi-precious stones. An ancient spell from the Book of the Dead is inscribed in hieroglyphs on the mask's shoulders.

المؤتمر العالمي السابع عشر للإتحاد الدولي لجمعيات الأذن و الأنف و الحنجرة
IFOS
القاهرة ٢٠٠٢

Reverse

IFOS within the world planisphere between legend "Arab Republic of Egypt" above and denomination divide dates (Hegira and Gregorian) below.

جمهورية مصر العربية
IFOS
١٤٢٢ هـ ١ ٢٠٠٢م
جنيه

Edge

1 Pound

17th International Conference of the Ear, Nose and Throat World Union

KM# 909 Schön# 651
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.720
Weight 15 g
Diameter 35 mm
Thickness 2.2 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Cairo Mint

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