PHOTO: New forint coin with truly unique motif coming today!

The Hungarian National Bank will issue a commemorative non-ferrous metal coin with a face value of HUF 3000 (EUR 7.7), called “Transylvanian Hound”, on World Animal Day, 4 October 2023. The commemorative coin depicting the characteristics of the Transylvanian hound will be the fifth in a series of coins with Hungarian shepherd and hunting dog breeds. The coin was designed by the artist András Szilos.

The Transylvanian hound

Pénzcentrum reported that the National Assembly declared all domestic dog breeds, including the Transylvanian hound, a national treasure. In 2017, this hunting dog was added to the Hungarikum Collection along with eight other indigenous dog breeds. The Transylvanian hound may have arrived in the Carpathian Basin with the Hungarians‘ conquering ancestors. The hardy, intelligent and extremely well-oriented breed has been shaped by environmental factors and hunting needs.

The breed’s history

The breed’s heyday dates back to the Middle Ages, when they were a popular aid to royal and aristocratic hunts, alongside greyhounds. The Transylvanian hound was used mainly for hunting. Social, economic and political changes after the Second World War led to the breed becoming neglected and the number of purebreds steadily declining. From 1968 onwards, more and more people began to breed the Transylvanian hound. Nowadays, the breed has stabilised but is still endangered.

The coin

The commemorative coin of the Transylvanian hound follows the motif choice that characterises the series. The dog is depicted on the front as a single figure. Meanwhile, on the back, it is placed in a scene typical of the breed. The picture on the front reflects the breed’s character, its clever and courageous disposition. The back also bears the obligatory elements of commemorative coins: the inscription “HUNGARY” at the top of the half-circle, indicating the issuer, the inscription “3000 FORINT” in the lines to the right of the dog, the year of issue “2023”, the “BP” mintmark that refers to the place of issue.

The back of the coin shows a hunting scene of two Transylvanian hounds chasing a wild boar in a thickly vegetated field. The inscription “ERDÉLYI KOPÓ” (“TRANSYLVANIAN HOUND”) appears in the upper half-circle of the back. In addition, the design bears the artist’s, András Szilos’, mark on the lower right-hand side of the back.