1973 Copernicus 8¢ Stamps

In 1973 to celebrate the 500th birth anniversary of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus who proved the sun was at the center of our solar system. The design is based on an 18th century engraving. Copernicus (1473-1543) was a born in the Kingdom of Poland. His theory that the sun - not the Earth - was the central position in the solar system replaced a theory that had been accepted for several hundred years. Issued on April 23, 1973 in Washington, DC at a quantity of 159,475,000.