metric names

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. Fifteen (15) of the names appear on one or more stamps, with the exception being Newton, which appears on a large number of items. Four (4) 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. (Note about capitalization: unit names when spelled-out are not capitalized [Celsius being the exception], the first letter of the unit symbols are capitalized, and when the person and not the unit is meant, the names are capitalized.) 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
ampere (A)Andre-Marie Ampere (1775 - 1836)
Afars and IsaasC921975(200th anniv. birth)
Albania2205bOne of strip of 4 (2205 (a-d))1986(150th anniv. death)
Albania2206Imperforate SS1
Congo (People's Republic)3581975(200th anniv. birth)
France3061936(100th anniv. death)
France6261949
FranceB339 (Mi1293)1960'Ampere' cable-laying ship3
Germany (East)16291975(200th anniv. birth)
MaliC2581975(200th anniv. birth)
Monaco10011975(200th anniv. birth)
Kelvin
kelvin (K)Lord Kelvin (William Thomson) (1824 - 1907)
Guinea-Bissau5401983
Serbia3942007(100th anniv. death)
Celsius
degree Celsius (°C)Anders Celsius (1701 - 1744)
Nevis1185kOne of MS17 (1185 (a-q + label)); also detail in (left) margin2000
Sweden1402One of booklet pane of 6 (1402a (6x 1402)), also inside cover1982
Sweden1401-1402 fdcStamp and cachet on FDC
Hertz
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
Czechoslovakia9531959
Gabon3501975Hertzian wave transmitter network
Germany (East)3541957(100th anniv. birth)
Germany (West)7621957(100th anniv. birth)
Germany (West)13931983
Germany18221994(100th anniv. death)
Guinea-Bissau5391983
Malagasy Republic3391963Hertzian cable
MexicoC3321967
Monaco873197375th anniv. Hertzian vave transmission
Portugal12041974Hertzian waves
San Marino12631992
Newton
newton (N)Sir Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727)2
AjmanMi9941971
AjmanMi994 dsImperforate deluxe sheet
Ajman StateNone
None (imperf.)
Label from MS8 + 8 labels, also imperforate MS8 + 8 labels1972
Ascension1421971
Ascension142aBooklet pane of 4 (4x 142)1971
Ascension3851986Newton's reflector telescope
BeninC2761977250th anniv. death
Benin12261999Newton's locomotive
Bulgaria37931993(350th anniv. birth)
Burundi759SS12000
Central Africa Republic780 (Mi1188)1985Newton's telescope
Central Africa Republic780a (BL359)SS1 (780)
Central Africa Republic781 (Mi1189)1985
Central Africa Republic781a (BL360)SS1 (781)
Chad440B (BL151)Gold foil SS11983
Chad806gOne of MS9 (806 (a-i))1999
Congo (People's Republic)C2381977(250th anniv. death)
Congo RepublicUnknown2000
DjiboutiUnknown d (new issue)
Unknown d (imperf.)
One of MS4, also imperforate MS42006
DubaiC571971
Fiji5511986Newton's telescope
France8611957
Germany17711993(350th anniv. birth)
Germany1771 blackprintBlackprint
Germany1771 hologramHologram
Germany1771 cancelCancel from FDC1993350th anniv. birth
Ghana1031
i1031
1987Wedgewood memorial to Newton
Ghana11301031 overprinted1989Wedgewood memorial to Newton
Ghana1130a
i1130a
1031 overprinted with comet logo
Great Britain11721987
Great Britain11731987
Great Britain11741987
Great Britain11751987
Great Britain13371990(Newton's telescope ?)
Great Britain18701999
Great Britain1870aMS4 (4x 1870)1999
Grenada15351987
GrenadaB141989Newton's Principia
Grenada21961993(350th anniv. birth), also (Newton's telescope ?)
Grenada2932dFrom MS17 (2932 (a-q + label))2000
Grenada2932p
Grenada Grenadines9091987
Grenada Grenadines15391993(350th anniv. birth), also (Newton's telescope ?)
Guinea Republic987a (BL216)In (upper-right) margin of SS1 (987)1986Newton's telescope
Guinea Republic988 (Mi1110A)
i988 (Mi1110B)
1986
Guinea Republic988a (BL217)SS1 (988)
Guinea Republic989b (Mi1106-1111)One of MS6 (984-989)1986
Guinea Republic990 (BL212)In (left) margin of SS11986(Newton ?)
Guinea Republic1262cOne of strip of 3 (1262 (a-c))1994
Guinea-BissauUnknown2003
Guinea-BissauUnknown
Unknown (imperf.)
SS1 (stamp)2003
Hungary2485Single + label, from MS4 (2485a (4x 2485 + 4 labels))1977(250th anniv. death)
India7671977Newton (in text)
Korea (North)2134Stamp-on-stamp: France 8611981
Korea (North)32651993(350th anniv. birth)
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))1999
Korea (North)3878 red missingIn (lower-middle) margin of MS3, red missing
Laos5811984
Lesotho5781987
Malagasy Republic1100bOne of MS16 (1100 (a-p))1992(350th anniv. birth)
MalawiUnknown a (new issue)One of MS2 (a-b)2008
Maldive Islands12681988
MaliC3011977(250th anniv. death)
MaliC301 dsImperforate deluxe sheet
MaliUnknown a (new issue)
Unknown ia (imperf.)
One of MS2 (a-b)2006
Mauritius6261986Newton's telescope
MexicoC3771971
Monaco16011987Newton's theory of gravity
Mongolia951aFrom MS9 (951 (a-i))1977(250th anniv. death)
Mongolia951b
Mongolia951c
Mongolia951d
Mongolia951e
Mongolia951f
Mongolia951g
Mongolia951h
Mongolia951i
Mongolia2504hOne of MS20 (2504 (a-t))2001
MozambiqueUnknown aOne of MS6 (a-f), also imperforate MS6 (a-f)2001
Nagaland (India)Local1972Newton's telescope
Netherlands7311988Newton's prism
Nevis1185oOne of MS17 (1185 (a-q + label)); also detail in (left) margin2000
Nicaragua878
878 back
1971Newton's law (of gravity)
Nicaragua14891985Newton's telescope design
Nicaragua1985dOne of MS16 (1985 (a-p))1994
NigerC1241970
NigerC124 proofDie proof
NigerC141C124 overprinted1970
Paraguay871
i871
Changed colors on imperforate1965
Paraguay874
i874
Changed colors on imperforate1965
Poland8841959
Redonda (Antigua)87371987
RomaniaNoneCachet on cover2003
Russia5601Single + label1987
RwandaUnknown1999
St. Pierre and MiquelonC561974
St. Vincent9201986(Newton's telescope ?)
St. Vincent26991999
San Marino10231982
Sierra Leone2254hOne of MS17 (2254 (a-q + label))2000
Staffa (Scotland)Local19??(Newton's telescope ?)
South Africa995a
955e
In (surrounding) margin of MS10 (955 (a-j))1996
Togo1365SS1 (stamp)1986
Togo1409SS1, 1365 overprinted in silver1986
Uganda5661987
Umm Al QiwainNone1973(Newton's locomotive ?)
Umm Al QiwainNoneDeluxe sheet
Uruguay16291996
Viet Nam16001986
Yemen Arab RepublicMi909
iMi909
1969
Yemen Arab RepublicMi916Mi909 imperforate with changed colors1969
Yemen Arab RepublicMi916_ims12Imperforate MS12 (12x Mi916)1969
Yemen Mutawakelite KingdomMi8631969
Yemen Mutawakelite KingdomiMi863 opImperforate Mi863 overprinted in red1972
Yugoslavia2502cOne of MS7 (2502 (a-g + 2 labels))2000(Newton's telescope ?)
Pascal
pascal (Pa)Blaise Pascal (1623 - 1662)
Cambodia20572001Pascal (picture only, in upper right corner)
Central Africa Republic1359 (Mi2573)2000
Central Africa Republic1359a (BL649)SS1 (1359)
FranceB1811944
France10381962(300th anniv. death)
France1038 fdc1Stamp and cancel on FDC
France1038 fdc2Stamp and cancel (different) and cachet on FDC
France1038 maxiMaxicard
Monaco8751973350th anniv. birth
Monaco875 fdcStamp and cachet on FDC
Monaco875 maxiMaxicard
Joule
joule (J)James Prescott Joule (1818 - 1889)
No postal items found
Watt
watt (W)James Watt (1736 - 1819)
Albania2205cOne of strip of 4 (2205 (a-d))1986(250th anniv. birth)
Albania2206Imperforate SS1
Cuba37181996
Grenada15381987
Lesotho1213aOne of MS6 (1213 (a-f))1999ship: James Watt (in text)
Maldive Islands2421dOne of MS17 (2421 (a-q + label))2000
Mali5381986(250th anniv. birth)
Mali538 dsDeluxe sheet
Mali581538 overprinted1992(250th anniv. birth)
Monaco10011975wattmeter
Sierra Leone2296bOne of MS2 (2296 (a-b))2000
Sierra Leone2517eOne of MS6 (2517 (a-f))2002
Wallis and Futuna Islands341
i341
1986(250th anniv. birth)
Coulomb
coulomb (C)Charles Coulomb (1736 - 1806)
FranceB3521961
Volta
volt (V)Alessandro Volta (1745 - 1827)
Afars and IsaasC1051977(150th anniv. death)
Cyrenaica25Italy 188 overprinted1927100th anniv. death
Cyrenaica26Italy 189 overprinted
Cyrenaica27Italy 191 overprinted
DjiboutiC107Afars and Isaas C105 overprinted1977(150th anniv. death)
Eritrea102Italy 188 overprinted1927100th anniv. death
Eritrea103Italy 189 overprinted
Eritrea104Italy 191 overprinted
Italy1881927100th anniv. death
Italy189
Italy190
Italy191
Italy5261949Voltaic pile
Italy5271949
Italy18731992
Italy23091999
San Marino10421983
Somalia97Italy 188 overprinted1927100th anniv. death
Somalia98Italy 189 overprinted
Somalia99Italy 191 overprinted
Trieste (Italy)53Italy 526 overprinted1949Voltaic pile
Trieste (Italy)54Italy 527 overprinted1949
Tripolitania25Italy 188 overprinted1927100th anniv. death
Tripolitania26Italy 189 overprinted
Tripolitania27Italy 191 overprinted
Faraday
farad (F)Michael Faraday (1791 - 1867)
British Antarctic Territory188Like 184 inscribed in blue1991200th anniv. birth
British Antarctic Territory189Like 185 inscribed in blue
British Antarctic Territory190Like 186 inscribed in blue
British Antarctic Territory191Like 187 inscribed in blue
British Antarctic Territory1981992Faraday (Station)
British Antarctic Territory344On one of pair2004Faraday Station
Cambodia20532001
Cuba35801994
DjiboutiUnknown a (new issue)
Unknown a (imperf.)
One of MS4, also imperforate MS42006
DjiboutiUnknown fdc (new issue)
Unknown fdc (imperf.)
MS4 and cachet on FDC, also imperforate
Great Britain6581971Faraday Building (University of Manchester)
Great Britain13601991(200th anniv. birth)
Great Britain18691999
Malagasy Republic1100eOne of MS16 (1100 (a-p))1992
MalawiUnknown b (new issue)One of MS2 (a-b)2008
Palau538jOne of MS17 (538 (a-q + label))2000
Ohm
ohm (Ω)George Simon Ohm (1787 - 1854)
Germany18291994Ohm's Law
Siemens
siemens (S)Werner von Siemens (1816 - 1892)
Central Africa Republic841SS11986
Germany (Berlin)9N901952
Germany (West)9661966
Germany (West)9681966(150th anniv. birth)
Germany17681992(100th anniv. death)
Weber
weber (Wb)Wilhelm Eduard Weber (1804 - 1891)
No postal items found
Tesla
tesla (T)Nikola Tesla (1856 - 1943)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (Croat Administration)1632006(150th anniv. birth)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (Serb Administration)2832006(150th anniv. birth)
Croatia147199350th anniv. death
Croatia6262006(150th anniv. birth)
Czechoslovakia9491959
Georgia4052006(150th anniv. birth)
Ghana2062cFrom MS8 (2062 (a-h))1998
Ghana2062d
Macedonia3732006(150th anniv. birth)
Palau557sOne of MS20 (557 (a-t))2000
Republika Srpska-KrajinaUnknown (Mi58)One of strip of 2 + label; also on selvedge1996(140th anniv. birth)
SerbiaNoneCancel2006(150th anniv. birth)
Serbian RepublicUnknown (new issue)2006150th anniv. birth
Serbia-Montenegro3422006(150th anniv. birth)
Serbia-Montenegro343
Serbia-Montenegro344MS22006150th anniv. birth
Trieste (Yugoslavia)66Yugoslavia 373 overprinted1953(10th anniv. death)
Trieste (Yugoslavia)67Yugoslavia 374 overprinted
United States2057One of block of 4 (2058a (2055-2058))1983
Yugoslavia1361936(80th anniv. birth)
Yugoslavia137
Yugoslavia3731953(10th anniv. death)
Yugoslavia374
Yugoslavia4481956(100th anniv. birth)
Yugoslavia449
Yugoslavia450
Yugoslavia451
Yugoslavia13081976(120th anniv. birth)
Yugoslavia22011993(50th anniv. death)
Yugoslavia2502eOne of MS7 (2502 (a-g + 2 labels))2000
Yugoslavia25202001
Henry
henry (H)Joseph Henry (1797 - 1878)
United States943Also detail1946Henry statue (miniscule) in front of Smithsonian Institution headquarters "Castle"
Becquerel
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
FranceB2021946
Guinea Republic2132SS12002
Guyana3007aOne of MS9 (3007 (a-i))1995Nobel Prize, 1903: Becquerel
Maldive Islands2117dOne of MS9 (2117 (a-i))1995Nobel Prize, 1903: Becquerel
RomaniaNoneCancel on cover2003
RomaniaNoneCachet on postal card2003
Sweden6381963Nobel Prize, 1903: Becquerel
Sweden637-638 fdcStamp and cachet on FDC
Sweden638aCoil strip of 5, perforated vertical
Sweden639bBooklet of 20 (20x 638)
Gray
gray (Gy)Louis Harold Gray (1905 - 1965)
No postal items found
Sievert
sievert (Sv)Rolf Sievert (1898 - 1966)
No postal 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 Cesar 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
ohmΩG.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)
SerbiaP41_2003100 dinara (banknote)2003Nikola Tesla
SerbiaP41_2004100 dinara (banknote)2004Nikola Tesla
SerbiaP49100 dinara (banknote)2006Nikola Tesla
SerbiaKM4220 dinara (coin)2006(150th anniv. birth Nikola Tesla)
SerbiaKM431000 dinara (coin)2006(150th anniv. birth Nikola Tesla)
SerbiaKM445000 dinara (coin)2006(150th anniv. birth Nikola Tesla)
SerbiaKM4510,000 dinara (coin)2006(150th anniv. birth Nikola Tesla)
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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