Hungary: New “Nation-Building Sovereigns of the Árpád Dynasty” series debuts, featuring St. Stephen

The Magyar Nemzeti Bank has issued (11th January) the first coins which are part of a new collector series entitled “Nation-Building Sovereigns of the Árpád Dynasty,” honouring the founding royal house of the Hungarian nation. The series begins by focusing on the founder of the Hungarian Kingdom itself, king, later Saint Stephen I. The series will also focus on 10 sovereigns of the Árpád Dynasty, with a new coin being issued every other year until completed. 

Hungary’s Árpád Dynasty gained prominence as the rulers of the Principality of Hungary during the ninth and 10th centuries after the creation of the Kingdom of Hungary from 1000 to 1301. The dynasty was named after Grand Prince Árpád (c. 845–c. 907) who was the head of the Hungarian Tribal Federation during the conquest of the Carpathian Basin, c. 895. In total, there were six princes of the Árpád dynasty between the years 895 and 1000 and 21 kings until the year 1301. 

The first coin in the series focuses on King St. Stephan (c. 975–1038), remembered in Hungary and surrounding countries for having unified the country and solidifying the Christian religion with the Hungarian people. Stephan, whose original pagan name was “Vajt,” was the only son of Grand Prince Géza and his wife, Sarolt. After unifying the Hungarian peoples and territories, he was crowned on the 25th December 1000 or 1st January 1001 with a golden crown sent to the new king by Pope Sylvester II. It is believed this crown survives today and is part of the Hungarian state crown jewels, still serving as the country’s national symbol. 

The coins are produced in gold, silver, and copper by the Mint of Hungary at their facilities in Budapest, on behalf of the National Bank of Hungary, and are designed by goldsmith Zoltán Tóth. On the lower edge of the coin, the lettering SZENT ISTVÁN KIRÁLY (“King Stephen I of Hungary”) is shown. To the left of the primary design are the years 1000 and 1038, in reference to the time when Stephen I of Hungary reigned.

The reverse side’s design is inspired by the reverse of Stephen I of Hungary’s silver denar coins bearing the lettering “Lancea Regis,” or “the king’s spear.” The crown featured is surrounded by 10 crosses, which can be interpreted as a church and referring to the tasks that Stephen I of Hungary assumed as the founder of Hungary and the church, amidst his activities as a coin issuer. Above the design is the lettering MAGYARORSZÁG (“Hungary”), the denominations 500000 (gold), 15000 (silver), or 3000 (copper) FORINT are placed below the motif. The mint year 2021 is found on the left, and the mint mark BP. is featured on the right.

A special security feature is also included in the mint mark: Micro-lettering placed on the mintmark displaying identical letters as the ones in the mint mark, which is only visible when magnified a minimum of 10 times. 

Denom.	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Quality	Maximum Mintage
3,000 forint	Copper	23.4 g	34 mm	Oxidised	5,000
15,000 forint	.999 Silver	31.1 g	34 mm	Proof	5,000
500,000 forint	.999 Gold	31.1 g	34 mm	Proof	500

The first coin in the new series focusing on St. Stephen I of Hungary will be available for purchase at face value for three months or while stocks last. The non-ferrous metal version of 3,000 forints will be available for one year in the coin shop of Hungarian Mint Ltd. located at 7 Báthory street — Budapest, distr. V and its website, starting from the 11th January 2021. Due to the over-subscription of the gold coins, their purchase has been coordinated through a draw before a notary public, by the Hungarian Mint Ltd.

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