Auction Name: 2026 January 9 J. Robert Schrieffer 1972 Nobel Prize in Physics Books Showcase Auction

Lot Number: 70001

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/31179*70001

[J. Robert Schrieffer]. Nobel Prize Medal in Physics for his co-development of the BCS theory of superconductivity. 1972.

23 carat gold, 66 mm diameter. Profile bust of Alfred Nobel facing left on obverse, with "ALFR. NOBEL" at left and his dates in Roman numerals at right, signed along lower left edge (incuse) "E. LINDBERG 1902", reverse with allegorical vignette showing the figure of Science unveiling Nature, signed at right "ERIK. LINDBERG", legend "INVENTAS VITAM IUVAT EX COLUISSE PER ARTES" around edge, "J.R. SCHRIEFFER / MCMLXXII" engraved below on plaque, with caption "REG. ACAD. - SCIENT. SUEC." on either side of the plaque; rim marked "MJV GULD 1972."

J. Robert Schrieffer (1931-2019) was a leading figure in twentieth-century theoretical physics, best known for helping to explain the phenomenon of superconductivity: the ability of certain materials to conduct electricity with no resistance at very low temperatures. His work resolved a problem that had challenged physicists for decades and bridged the gap between abstract quantum theory and practical physical behavior.

While riding the New York City subway in the mid-1950s, he experienced a sudden realization about how electrons inside a superconductor could behave collectively rather than as independent particles. During that ride, he outlined the key elements of a new theoretical description, an inspired moment that later became emblematic of creative discovery in modern physics.

That insight led to the development of what became known as the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory, named for Schrieffer and his collaborators John Bardeen and Leon N. Cooper. Formulated in 1957, the theory provided the first successful microscopic explanation of superconductivity by showing that electrons form paired states and move together through a material without energy loss. This framework transformed condensed-matter physics and remains foundational to the field.

The significance of this achievement was recognized in 1972, when Schrieffer shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with Bardeen and Cooper. The award honored a theory whose clarity and explanatory power reshaped scientific understanding and influenced generations of physicists. Schrieffer was among the youngest recipients of the prize, reflecting the confidence and depth of his contribution.

Beyond its theoretical importance, Schrieffer's work has had enduring practical impact. Superconductivity is central to technologies such as MRI and NMR medical imaging, superconducting magnets, particle accelerators, and precision scientific instruments. Today, the ideas he helped establish continue to guide research into advanced materials and quantum technologies, securing his place as one of the key figures in modern physical science.
Universally recognized as the highest international honor, the Nobel Prize had been awarded for more than eighty years before any Laureate's gold medal ever reached the auction block. The first recorded public sale occurred in 1985, when the 1903 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to William Cremer was offered at auction. Over the next three decades, fewer than a dozen additional medals appeared for sale-including the first to exceed one million dollars, Francis Crick's 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, which realized $2,270,500 at Heritage Auctions in 2013. More recently, Heritage Auctions sold Robert S. Mulliken's 1966 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for $200,000 in December 2025.

Condition: A few minor surface scratches; else, medal fine.

Reference: "John Robert Schrieffer." NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach 2025.

Provenance: From the personal collection of the 1972 Nobel Prize Winner in Physics, John Robert Schrieffer; thence by descent.

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