PHOTOS: Multiple new forint coins have been issued – here is how they look and their value

The Hungarian National Bank is issuing new forint coins named ‘Szent László király’ (Ladislaus I of Hungary) with a face value of 500,000 forints, in one ounce of fine gold, 20,000 forints in one ounce of fine silver and a non-ferrous metal version with a face value of HUF 3,000 as part of the ‘Nation-Building Sovereigns from the Árpád Dynasty’ series. The collector coins, based on motifs of the historical period, were designed by goldsmith Zoltán Tóth.

Hungarian National Bank has issued new forint coins

The exceptionally low mintage of 500 gold coins is the most valuable in this year’s programme, the Hungarian National Bank wrote in a today statement. The coins commemorate Ladislaus I of Hungary (1077-1095), who, as a just ruler, strengthened the Christian state and enacted important laws to protect private property and the church organisation.

During his reign, he successfully defended the country from external attacks by the Pechenegs and the Cumans, thus fortifying the eastern borders of the country for a century and a half. He was canonised in 1192. His legacy is one of the pillars of medieval Hungarian statehood.

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Nation-Building Sovereigns from the Árpád Dynasty series

The issued collector coins are the third part of the ‘Nation-Building Sovereigns from the Árpád Dynasty’ series, alongside the Stephen I of Hungary (2021) and Andrew I of Hungary (2023). The primary role of the ‘Ladislaus I of Hungary’ commemorative coins is to disseminate knowledge; therefore, they are not to be used in everyday payments. Their face value serves to preserve the value of the coins represent to collectors. The gold, silver and non-ferrous metal versions feature the same coin design, differing only in their denomination.

Here’s how they look

The obverse of the coin depicts the obverse of one of the silver denarii issued by Ladislaus I of Hungary. The edge of the obverse displays, in circular lettering, at the top, the inscription ‘MAGYARORSZÁG’ (HUNGARY), at the bottom, the value markings ‘500000’, ‘20000’ and ‘3000’ and the inscription ‘FORINT’, horizontally, and on the left, the year of minting ‘2025’, and on the right, the ‘BP.’ mint mark.