This 1977 Royal Copenhagen jubilee plate marks the Bicentennial of the birth of Hans Christian Ørsted, the Dane who discovered electromagnetism. Hans Christian Ørsted was born in 1777, on the island of Langeland in southern Denmark. Hans Christian Orsted received an untraditional education for a scientist. There was no faculty for chemistry or physics at the University of Copenhagen, so he studied pharmacy, which was his father's profession. Entirely through his own efforts, he learned enough in Germany and France to establish himself as an expert in the Natural Sciences, and in 1806 he was appointed Professor of Physics at Copenhagen University. It was here, in July 1820, that Hans Christian Orsted published a pamphlet announcing the dramatic results of his experiments on the effect of the electric current on the magnetic needle. This appeared simultaneously in scientific journals in London, Paris, Pavia and Leipzig. Widespread recognition followed and Hans Christian Ørsted was elected an honorary member of many leading international, scientific societies. Hans Christian Ørsted's discovery was one of the most important scientific breakthroughs in the 19th century and a necessary condition for the development of the electro-technical industry. Hans Christian Ørsted occupies an honourable place among his famous compatriots: Tycho Brahe the astonomer, Ole Rømer - who measured the velocity of light, and atomic physicist Niels Bohr. The low-relief motif on the plate is hand-cut and finished in Royal Copenhagen's distinctive blue colouring by the hand of skilled craftsmen. Again, this is a limited issue. The molds were destroyed on August 14th 1977, Hans Christian Ørsted's birthday.