Ampere

SI-Metric Unit Names
(the scientists behind the units)


Below is a checklist of SI-metric system unit names on postal items (stamps, souvenir sheets, aerogrammes, postal cards, etc.). Currently nineteen (19) SI units are named after prominent scientists who were involved in some aspect of physics relating to the unit named after them. Some of the names appear on only one stamp, or on very few stamps; others (such as Newton) appear on a large number of items. Four of the names have never appeared on a stamp. The unit names are listed in order of complexity, starting with SI base units, followed by simpler and then more complex derived units. Catalog numbers, years of issue, and notes on the items featured are given when available. If readers know of additional information or images, please contact the author using the e-mail address at the bottom of this page.

Farther below is a checklist of SI-metric system unit names on banknotes and coins.


Nineteen (19) SI-metric unit names covered on this page:


CountryCatalog Number*Type of Item**Year of IssueNotes on Content***
ampere (A): Andre-Marie Ampere (1775-1836)
Afars and IsaasC921975200th anniv. birth Ampere, 1775
Albania2205bOne of strip of 4 (2205 (a-d))1986(150th annv. death Ampere, 1836)
Albania2206Imperforate SS11986150th annv. death Ampere, 1836
Congo (People's Republic)3581975200th anniv. birth Ampere, 1775
France3061936100th anniv. death Ampere, 1836
France6261949Ampere
FranceB339 (Mi1293)1960'Ampere' cable-laying ship3
Germany (East)16291975200th anniv. birth Ampere, 1775
MaliC2581975200th anniv. birth Ampere, 1775
Monaco10011975200th anniv. birth Ampere, 1775
kelvin (K): Lord Kelvin (William Thomson) (1824-1907)
Guinea-Bissau5401983Kelvin
SerbiaUnknown (new issue)2007100th anniv. death Kelvin, 1907
degree Celsius (°C): Anders Celsius (1701-1744)
Nevis1185kOne of MS17 (1185 (a-q + label)); also detail in (left) margin2000Celsius
Sweden1402One of booklet pane of 6 (1402a (6x 1402)), also inside cover1982Celsius
Sweden1401-1402 fdcStamp and cachet on FDC
hertz (Hz): Heinrich Rudolf Hertz (1857-1894)1
Algeria3311964Hertzian cable telephone line
Congo (People's Republic)5741980Hertzian wave communication
Congo (People's Republic)6621982Hertzian wave communication network
Congo (People's Republic)6631982Hertzian wave communication network
Congo (People's Republic)6641982Hertzian wave communication network
Czechoslovakia9531959Hertz
Gabon3501975Hertzian wave transmitter network
Germany (East)3541957100th anniv. birth Hertz, 1857
Germany (West)7621957100th anniv. birth Hertz, 1857
Germany (West)13931983Hertz
Germany18221994100th anniv. death Hertz, 1894
Guinea-Bissau5391983Hertz
Malagasy Republic3391963Hertzian cable
MexicoC3321967Hertz
Monaco873197375th anniv. Hertzian vave transmission
Portugal12041974Hertzian waves
San Marino12631992Hertz
newton (N): Sir Isaac Newton (16422-1727)
AjmanMi9941971Newton
AjmanMi994 dsImperforate deluxe sheet
Ajman StateNone
None (imperf.)
Label from MS8 + 8 labels, also imperforate MS8 + 8 labels1972Newton
Ascension1421971Newton
Ascension142aBooklet pane of 4 (4x 142)1971Newton
Ascension3851986Newton's reflector telescope
BeninC2761977250th anniv. death Newton, 1727
Benin12261999Newton's locomotive
Bulgaria37931993(350th anniv. birth Newton, 1642/3)
Burundi759SS12000Newton
Central Africa Republic780 (Mi1188)1985Newton's telescope
Central Africa Republic780a (BL359)SS1 (780)
Central Africa Republic781 (Mi1189)1985Newton
Central Africa Republic781a (BL360)SS1 (781)
Chad440B (BL151)Gold foil SS11983Newton
Chad806gOne of MS9 (806 (a-i))1999Newton
Congo (People's Republic)C2381977(250th anniv. death Newton, 1727)
Congo RepublicUnknown2000Newton
DjiboutiUnknown d (new issue)
Unknown d (imperf.)
One of MS4, also imperforate MS42006Newton
DubaiC571971Newton
Fiji5511986Newton's telescope
France8611957Newton
Germany17711993(350th anniv. birth Newton, 1642/3)
Germany1771 blackprintBlackprint
Germany1771 hologramHologram
Germany1771 cancelCancel from FDC1993350th anniv. birth Newton, 1642/3
Ghana1031
i1031
1987Wedgewood memorial to Newton
Ghana11301031 overprinted1989Wedgewood memorial to Newton
Ghana1130a
i1130a
1031 overprinted with comet logo
Great Britain11721987Newton
Great Britain11731987Newton
Great Britain11741987Newton
Great Britain11751987Newton
Great Britain13371990(Newton's telescope ?)
Great Britain18701999Newton
Great Britain1870aMS4 (4x 1870)1999Newton
Grenada15351987Newton
GrenadaB141989Newton's Principia
Grenada21961993 (350th anniv. birth, 1642/3), also (Newton's telescope ?)
Grenada2932dFrom MS17 (2932 (a-q + label))2000Newton
Grenada2932pNewton
Grenada Grenadines9091987Newton
Grenada Grenadines15391993Newton's telescope
Guinea Republic987a (BL216)In (upper-right) margin of SS1 (987)1986Newton's telescope
Guinea Republic988 (Mi1110A)
i988 (Mi1110B)
1986Newton
Guinea Republic988a (BL217)SS1 (988)
Guinea Republic989b (Mi1106-1111)One of MS6 (984-989)1986Newton
Guinea Republic990 (BL212)In (left) margin of SS11986(Newton ?)
Guinea Republic1262cOne of strip of 3 (1262 (a-c))1994Newton
Guinea-BissauUnknown2003Newton
Guinea-BissauUnknown
Unknown (imperf.)
SS1 (stamp)2003Newton
Hungary2485Single + label, from MS4 (2485a (4x 2485 + 4 labels))1977(250th anniv. death Newton, 1727)
India7671977Newton (in text)
Korea (North)2134Stamp-on-stamp: France 8611981Newton
Korea (North)32651993(350th anniv. birth Newton, 1642/3)
Korea (North)3266
Korea (North)3267
Korea (North)3268
Korea (North)3269
Korea (North)3265-3269 proofsDeluxe proofs
Korea (North)3265aMS3 (3265-3266, 3269)
Korea (North)3265bMS3 (3265, 3267-3268)
Korea (North)3878In (lower-middle) margin of MS3 (3878 (a-c))1999Newton
Korea (North)3878 red missingIn (lower-middle) margin of MS3, red missing
Laos5811984Newton
Lesotho5781987Newton
Malagasy Republic1100bOne of MS16 (1100 (a-p))1992(350th anniv. birth, 1642/3)
Maldive Islands12681988Newton
MaliC3011977(250th anniv. death Newton, 1727)
MaliC301 dsImperforate deluxe sheet
Mauritius6261986Newton's telescope
MexicoC3771971Newton
Monaco16011987Newton's theory of gravity
Mongolia951aFrom MS9 (951 (a-i))1977(250th anniv. death Newton, 1727)
Mongolia951b
Mongolia951c
Mongolia951d
Mongolia951e
Mongolia951f
Mongolia951g
Mongolia951h
Mongolia951i
Mongolia2504hOne of MS20 (2504 (a-t))2001Newton
MozambiqueUnknown2001Newton
Nagaland (India)Local1972Newton's telescope
Netherlands7311988Newton's prism
Nevis1185oOne of MS17 (1185 (a-q + label)); also detail in (left) margin2000Newton
Nicaragua878
878 back
1971Newton's law (of gravity)
Nicaragua14891985Newton's telescope design
Nicaragua1985dOne of MS16 (1985 (a-p))1994Newton
NigerC1241970Newton
NigerC124 proofDie proof
NigerC141C124 overprinted1970Newton
Paraguay871
i871
Changed colors on imperforate1965Newton
Paraguay874
i874
Changed colors on imperforate1965Newton
Poland8841959Newton
Redonda (Antigua)87371987Newton
RomaniaNoneCachet on cover2003Newton
Russia5601Single + label1987Newton
RwandaUnknown1999Newton
St. Pierre and MiquelonC561974Newton
St. Vincent9201986(Newton's telescope ?)
St. Vincent26991999Newton
San Marino10231982Newton
Sierra Leone2254hOne of MS17 (2254 (a-q + label))2000Newton
Staffa (Scotland)Local19??(Newton's telescope ?)
South Africa995a
955e
In (surrounding) margin of MS10 (955 (a-j))1996Newton
Togo1365SS1 (stamp)1986Newton
Togo1409SS1, 1365 overprinted in silver1986Newton
Uganda5661987Newton
Umm Al QiwainNone1973(Newton's locomotive ?)
Umm Al QiwainNoneDeluxe sheet
Uruguay16291996Newton
Viet Nam16001986Newton
Yemen Arab RepublicMi909
iMi909
1969Newton
Yemen Arab RepublicMi916Mi909 imperforate with changed colors1969Newton
Yemen Arab RepublicMi916_ims12Imperforate MS12 (12x Mi916)1969Newton
Yemen Mutawakelite KingdomMi8631969Newton
Yemen Mutawakelite KingdomiMi863 opImperforate Mi863 overprinted in red1972Newton
Yugoslavia2502cOne of MS7 (2502 (a-g + 2 labels))2000(Newton's telescope ?)
pascal (Pa): Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)
Cambodia20572001Pascal (picture only, in upper right corner)
Central Africa Republic1359 (Mi2573)2000Pascal
Central Africa Republic1359a (BL649)SS1 (1359)
FranceB1811944Pascal
France10381962(300th anniv. death Pascal, 1662)
France1038 fdc1Stamp and cancel on FDC
France1038 fdc2Stamp and cancel (different) and cachet on FDC
France1038 maxiMaxicard
Monaco8751973350th anniv. birth Pascal, 1623
Monaco875 fdcStamp and cachet on FDC
Monaco875 maxiMaxicard
joule (J): James Prescott Joule (1818-1889)
No items found
watt (W): James Watt (1736-1819)
Albania2205cOne of strip of 4 (2205 (a-d))1986(250th anniv. birth Watt, 1736)
Albania2206Imperforate SS1
Cuba37181996Watt
Grenada15381987Watt
Lesotho1213aOne of MS6 (1213 (a-f))1999ship: James Watt (in text)
Maldive Islands2421dOne of MS17 (2421 (a-q + label))2000Watt
Mali5381986250th anniv. birth Watt, 1736
Mali581538 overprinted1992250th anniv. birth Watt, 1736
Monaco10011975wattmeter
Sierra Leone2296bOne of MS2 (2296 (a-b))2000Watt
Sierra Leone2517eOne of MS6 (2517 (a-f))2002Watt
Wallis and Futuna Islands3411986250th anniv. birth Watt, 1736
coulomb (C): Charles Coulomb (1736-1806)
FranceB3521961Coulomb
volt (V): Alessandro Volta (1745-1827)
Afars and IsaasC105197750th anniv. death Volta, 1827
Cyrenaica25Italy 188 overprinted1927100th anniv. death Volta, 1827
Cyrenaica26Italy 189 overprinted
Cyrenaica27Italy 191 overprinted
DjiboutiC107Afars and Isaas C105 overprinted1977150th anniv. death Volta, 1827
Eritrea102Italy 188 overprinted1927100th anniv. death Volta, 1827
Eritrea103Italy 189 overprinted
Eritrea104Italy 191 overprinted
Italy1881927100th anniv. death Volta, 1827
Italy189
Italy190
Italy191
Italy5261949Voltaic pile
Italy5271949Volta
Italy18731992Volta
Italy23091999Volta
San Marino10421983Volta
Somalia97Italy 188 overprinted1927100th anniv. death Volta, 1827
Somalia98Italy 189 overprinted
Somalia99Italy 191 overprinted
Trieste (Italy)53Italy 526 overprinted1949Voltaic pile
Trieste (Italy)54Italy 527 overprinted1949Volta
Tripolitania25Italy 188 overprinted1927100th anniv. death Volta, 1827
Tripolitania26Italy 189 overprinted
Tripolitania27Italy 191 overprinted
farad (F): Michael Faraday (1791-1867)
British Antarctic Territory188Like 184 inscribed in blue1991200th anniv. birth Faraday, 1791
British Antarctic Territory189Like 185 inscribed in blue
British Antarctic Territory190Like 186 inscribed in blue
British Antarctic Territory191Like 187 inscribed in blue
British Antarctic Territory1981992Lower atmospheric phenomena: sun pillar at Faraday (Station)
British Antarctic Territory344On one of pair2004Mean summer air temperature at Faraday Station
Cambodia20532001Faraday
Cuba35801994Faraday
DjiboutiUnknown a (new issue)
Unknown a (imperf.)
One of MS4, also imperforate MS42006Faraday
DjiboutiUnknown fdc (new issue)
Unknown fdc (imperf.)
MS4 and cachet on FDC, also imperforate
Great Britain6581971Faraday Building (University of Manchester)
Great Britain13601991200th anniv. birth Faraday, 1791
Great Britain18691999Faraday
Malagasy Republic1100eOne of MS16 (1100 (a-p))1992Faraday
Palau538jOne of MS17 (538 (a-q + label))2000Faraday
ohm ([Omega]): George Simon Ohm (1787-1854)
Germany18291994Ohm's Law
siemens (S): Werner von Siemens (1816-1892)
Central Africa Republic841SS11986Siemens
Germany (Berlin)9N901952Siemens
Germany (West)9661966Siemens
Germany (West)9681966150th anniv. birth Siemens, 1816
Germany17681992100th anniv. death Siemens, 1892
weber (Wb): Wilhelm Eduard Weber (1804-1891)
No items found
tesla (T): Nikola Tesla (1856-1943)
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croat Admin.Unknown2006(150th anniv. birth Tesla, 1856)
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serb Admin.2832006(150th anniv. birth Tesla, 1856)
Croatia147199350th anniv. death Tesla, 1943
Croatia6262006(150th anniv. birth Tesla, 1856)
Czechoslovakia9491959Tesla
Georgia4052006(150th anniv. birth Tesla, 1856)
Ghana2062cFrom MS8 (2062 (a-h))1998Tesla
Ghana2062dTesla
MacedoniaUnknown (new issue)2006(150th anniv. birth Tesla, 1856)
Palau557sOne of MS20 (557 (a-t))2000Tesla
Republika Srpska-KrajinaUnknown (Mi58)One of strip of 2 + label; also on selvedge1996(140th anniv. birth Tesla, 1856)
SerbiaNoneCancel2006(150th anniv. birth Tesla, 1856)
Serbian RepublicUnknown (new issue)2006150th anniv. birth Tesla, 1856
Serbia-Montenegro3422006(150th anniv. birth Tesla, 1856)
Serbia-Montenegro343
Serbia-Montenegro344MS22006150th anniv. birth Tesla, 1856
Trieste (Yugoslavia)66Yugoslavia 373 overprinted1953(10th anniv. death Tesla, 1943)
Trieste (Yugoslavia)67Yugoslavia 374 overprinted
United States2057One of block of 4 (2058a (2055-2058))1983Tesla
Yugoslavia1361936(80th anniv. birth Tesla, 1856)
Yugoslavia137
Yugoslavia3731953(10th anniv. death Tesla, 1943)
Yugoslavia374
Yugoslavia4481956(100th anniv. birth Tesla, 1856)
Yugoslavia449
Yugoslavia450
Yugoslavia451
Yugoslavia13081976(120th anniv. birth Tesla, 1856)
Yugoslavia22011993(50th anniv. death Tesla, 1943)
Yugoslavia2502eOne of MS7 (2502 (a-g + 2 labels))2000Tesla
Yugoslavia25202001Tesla
henry (H): Joseph Henry (1797-1878)
United States9431946Henry statue (miniscule) in front of Smithsonian Institution headquarters castle
becquerel (Bq): Antoine-Henri Becquerel (1852-1908)4
Comoro Islands2571977Nobel Prize, 1903: Becquerel (second from left), incorrectly spelled Beckerel
Comoro Islands257a (BL94)SS1 (257)
Comoro IslandsMi594257 overprinted1979Nobel Prize, 1903: Becquerel (second from left), incorrectly spelled Beckerel
FranceB2021946Becquerel
Guinea Republic2132SS12002Becquerel
Guyana3007aOne of MS9 (3007 (a-i))1995Nobel Prize, 1903: Becquerel
Maldive Islands2117dOne of MS9 (2117 (a-i))1995Nobel Prize, 1903: Becquerel
RomaniaNoneCancel on cover2003Becquerel
RomaniaNoneCachet on postal card2003Becquerel
Sweden6381963Nobel Prize, 1903: Becquerel
Sweden637-638 fdcStamp and cachet on FDC
Sweden638aCoil strip of 5, perforated vertical
Sweden639bBooklet of 20 (20x 638)
gray (Gy): Louis Harold Gray (1905-1965)
No items found
sievert (Sv): Rolf Sievert (1898-1966)
No items found

*Scott catalog number, unless prefixed with Mi or BL for Michel.
**FDC = first day cover; SS# = souvenir sheet, MS# = miniature sheet, where # = number of stamps in sheet, and the numbers in parentheses are the catalog numbers of the stamps in the sheet.
***Descriptions, such as anniversaries, when given in parentheses are not directly indicated on postal items, but are otherwise implied by the year of issue for these items.

1The hertz unit was not named after Heinrich Hertz' nephew Gustav Ludwig Hertz (1887-1975), a 1925 Nobel Prize winner in physics, who has also been honored on many stamps.
2Isaac Newton was born on 25 December 1642 on the Julian Calendar. On the Gregorian Calendar, Newton's birth occurred 4 January 1643. Note also the X-ray Multi-mirror Mission / Newton satellite (launched 1999-12-10).
3'Ampere' name for cable-laying ship is noted in description in Michel catalog.
4The becquerel unit was not named after Antoine-Henri's grandrather, Antoine César Becquerel (1788 - 1878), who has also been honored on at least one stamp.


The following table summarizes, by count, the metric system unit name postal items from the table immediately above.

SI-metric UnitSymbolNameNumber of CountriesNumber of Items
ampereAA.-M. Ampere710
kelvinKLord Kelvin11
degree Celsius°CA. Celsius22
hertzHzH.R. Hertz1116
newtonNSir I. Newton55110
pascalPB. Pascal34
jouleJJ.P. Joule00
wattWJ. Watt811
coulombCC. Coulomb11
voltVA. Volta925
faradFM. Faraday612
ohm[Omega]G.S. Ohm11
siemensSW. von Siemens35
weberWbW.E. Weber00
teslaTN. Tesla820
henryHJ. Henry11
becquerelBqA.-H. Becquerel66
grayGyL.H. Gray00
sievertSvR. Sievert00
Total: 15 out of 19 namesTotal: 224 items


SI-Metric Unit Names on Banknotes and Coins

Below is a checklist of SI-metric system unit names on banknotes and coins.

CountryCatalog Number*DenominationYear of IssueNotes on Content**
Great BritainP137a1 pound (banknote)1978-1982Isaac Newton
Great BritainP137b1 pound (banknote)1982-1984Isaac Newton
Great BritainP384a20 pounds (banknote)1990-1991Michael Faraday
Great BritainP384b20 pounds (banknote)1991Michael Faraday
Great BritainP387 (like no.384)20 pounds (banknote)1993Michael Faraday
ItalyP8610,000 lire (banknote)1984Alessandro Volta
MongoliaKM182500 tugrik (coin)1999Isaac Newton
ScotlandP20820 pounds (banknote)1972-1981Lord Kelvin (William Thomson)
ScotlandP215 (like P208)20 pounds (banknote)1982-1990Lord Kelvin (William Thomson)
ScotlandP217 (like P215)100 pounds (banknote)1985, 1991Lord Kelvin (William Thomson)
ScotlandP223 (face like P217)100 pounds (banknote)1996Lord Kelvin (William Thomson)
ScotlandP229D (like P223)100 pounds (banknote)2001Lord Kelvin (William Thomson)
SerbiaP41100 dinara (banknote)2003Nikola Tesla
SerbiaP-unknown100 dinara (banknote)2004Nikola Tesla
SerbiaP49100 dinara (banknote)2006Nikola Tesla
SerbiaKM4220 dinara (coin)2006(150th anniv. birth Nikola Tesla, 1856)
SerbiaKM431000 dinara (coin)2006(150th anniv. birth Nikola Tesla, 1856)
SerbiaKM445000 dinara (coin)2006(150th anniv. birth Nikola Tesla, 1856)
SerbiaKM4510,000 dinara (coin)2006(150th anniv. birth Nikola Tesla, 1856)
YugoslaviaP84a (no security thread)500 dinara (banknote)1970Nikola Tesla
YugoslaviaP84b (security thread)500 dinara (banknote)1970Nikola Tesla
YugoslaviaP91a (like no.84)500 dinara (banknote)1978Nikola Tesla
YugoslaviaP91b (like no.84)500 dinara (banknote)1981Nikola Tesla
YugoslaviaP91c (like no.84)500 dinara (banknote)1986Nikola Tesla
YugoslaviaP1071000 dinara (banknote)1990Nikola Tesla
YugoslaviaP110 (like no.107)1000 dinara (banknote)1991Nikola Tesla
YugoslaviaP114 (like no.107)1000 dinara (banknote)1992Nikola Tesla
YugoslaviaP121 (face like no.114)5,000,000 dinara (banknote)1993Nikola Tesla
YugoslaviaP127 (face like no.121, back like no.114)10,000,000,000 dinara (banknote)1993Nikola Tesla
YugoslaviaP128 (face like no.110)5000 dinara (banknote)1993Nikola Tesla
YugoslaviaP139100 dinara (banknote)1994Nikola Tesla
YugoslaviaP146 (like no.139)5 novih din (banknote)1994Nikola Tesla
YugoslaviaP148 (back like no.146)5 novih din (banknote)1994Nikola Tesla
YugoslaviaKM16920 novi dinara (coin)1996Nikola Tesla
YugoslaviaP156100 dinara (banknote)2000Nikola Tesla

*P = Pick banknote catalog number; KM = Krause and Mishler coin catalog number.
**Descriptions, such as anniversaries, when given in parentheses are not directly indicated on postal items, but are otherwise implied by the year of issue for these items.


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