Description

Louis Pasteur (1822–1895) was a French chemist and microbiologist renowned for his discoveries of the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation and pasteurization. He is remembered for his remarkable breakthroughs in the causes and preventions of diseases, and his discoveries have saved countless lives ever since. He reduced mortality from puerperal fever, and created the first vaccines for rabies and anthrax. His medical discoveries provided direct support for the germ theory of disease and its application in clinical medicine. He is best known to the general public for his invention of the technique of treating milk and wine to stop bacterial contamination, a process now called pasteurization. He is regarded as one of the three main founders of bacteriology, together with Ferdinand Cohn and Robert Koch, and is popularly known as the "father of microbiology".

This coin was honored with the 40th Coin of the Year Award (COTY) for its exceptional historical significance. The COTY program, initiated and held annually by Krause Publications, is aimed at recognizing achievements within the coin-producing industry. Awards are bestowed upon coins that demonstrate outstanding numismatic design, artistic creativity, and exceptional craftsmanship. An international panel of judges selects these coins from those issued two years before the year of the award ceremony.