Numismatics and Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology involves science and applications on the scale of a nanometer, which is one-billionth of a meter. To give you some idea of size, a cube measuring one nanometer on a side would hold 176 hydrogen atoms. It might be easier to visualize the scale in human terms if you consider that something the size of a cubic nanometer would be comparable to a marble on the sidewalk next to the Empire State Building in New York City (with the building representing an adult human).

Scientists have been researching nanotechnology for decades. The term nanotechnology was coins by Norio Taniguchi in 1974, a professor at the Tokyo University of Science.

In 1978, German physicist Gerd Binnig accepted an offer from IBM to join the company’s Zurich research group. Along with Heinrich Rohrer and other colleagues, they developed the scanning tunneling microscope, an instrument for imaging surfaces at the atomic level. Although the physical principles were already understood, this team was the first to create this technology. In 1985, Binnig also invented the atomic force microscope. Using this new technology, the researchers succeeded in positioning individual atoms to spell out “IBM.” This was the first instance of the controlled manipulation of individual atoms.

In 1986 Binning and Rohrer shared the Nobel Prize in physics. IBM’s Zurich research facility is now named the Binnig and Rohrer Nanotechnology Center.

In the late 1970s, MIT graduate student K. Eric Drexler began to develop ideas about molecular nanotechnology while earning his Master’s degree in Astro/Aerospace Engineering. In late 1980, I engaged in a lengthy telephone call with Drexler on the potential of using nanotechnology for molecular biology applications such as cryonics. In September 1981, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published an 80-plus-page paper by Drexler titled “Molecular Engineering: An Approach to the Development of General Capabilities for Molecular Manipulation (abstract posted here).

In 1986, Drexler released a book Engines of Creation, discussing the potential for molecular nanotechnology. In the acknowledgement section of this book, the author credited several people to whom I directed Drexler in our 1980 phone call, one of whom had allowed me to read his copy of Drexler’s unpublished manuscript in 1985.

Nanotechnology has grown great lengths over the past 40 years, but it is still in its relative infancy compared to what may eventually be possible to achieve. Just about every possible field, from biology and medicine, to manufacturing processes, to art is already incorporating elements of nanotechnology.

So, what effect might nanotechnology have on numismatics?

Today, it still costs a relative fortune to be able to manipulate individual atoms. With more research, the cost of this technology is certain to come down by many orders of magnitude (just consider what has happened to the cost of computer memory and processing power over the past 70 years).

I predict that, at some point in the future, the use of nanotechnology will make it possible to perfectly replicate any object right down to the scale of individual atoms. That will likely make it possible to copy anything (including forms of life) so precisely that it will no longer be possible to distinguish between the original and the reproduction. At that time, will the rarity of today’s great numismatic treasures become an obsolete concept? What will happen to their value?

It would probably also be possible to even take lower-quality numismatic specimens as a template to create perfect condition replicas.

I don’t foresee this level of molecular engineering to be available at a low-cost basis for several decades. But it’s a question that the numismatic hobby and industry probably will have to consider someday.

Patrick A. Heller was honored as a 2019 FUN Numismatic Ambassador. He is also the recipient of the American Numismatic Association 2018 Glenn Smedley Memorial Service Award, 2017 Exemplary Service Award, 2012 Harry Forman National Dealer of the Year Award, and 2008 Presidential Award. Over the years, he has also been honored by the Numismatic Literary Guild (including in 2021 for Best Investment Newsletter), Professional Numismatists Guild, Industry Council for Tangible Assets, and the Michigan State Numismatic Society. He is the communications officer of Liberty Coin Service in Lansing, Michigan and writes Liberty’s Outlook, a monthly newsletter on rare coins and precious metals subjects. Past newsletter issues can be viewed at http://www.libertycoinservice.com. Some of his radio commentaries titled “Things You ‘Know’ That Just Aren’t So, And Important News You Need To Know” can be heard at 8:45 AM Wednesday and Friday mornings on 1320-AM WILS in Lansing (which streams live and becomes part of the audio archives posted at http://www.1320wils.com).