Hungary has unveiled its latest forint coin, whose obverse is both elegant and engaging, but it is the reverse that truly sets it apart. Not only does it bear the names of four settlements, it also features a tactile relief map of the entire Carpathian Basin. Notably, however, a small strip of the Szeklerland is absent.
Astonishing new forint coins
The Hungarian National Bank has released another commemorative coin, once again available through the Hungarian Mint Ltd’s coin shop. As ever, the mintage is strictly limited: those wishing to secure one of the mere 6,000 pieces will need to act swiftly, with a considerable portion already in the hands of collectors.
According to the central bank, the obverse displays Hungary’s official coat of arms, encircled by the inscription “Magyarország”, alongside the face value, the year of issue, and the mint mark.
The reverse offers the most remarkable feature: a raised topographical depiction spanning the Carpathian Basin, as well as parts of the northern Balkans, southern Poland, the Czech lands, and much of Austria. Of the territory of the former Kingdom of Hungary, only a small section of the Szeklerland is missing.
Budapest is Pest-Buda on the coin
Within the Carpathian Basin, eleven historic chamber founding cities are marked with dots, including Pozsony (Bratislava), Eszék (Osijek), Brassó (Brașov), and Temesvár (Timișoara). Three cities are named explicitly due to their prominence: moving west to east, Sopron, Pest-Buda, and Debrecen are all inscribed. The commemorative issue marks the anniversary of the founding of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, reflected in the surrounding legend, which also bears the date 1850.
Pest-Buda is the name of the Hungarian capital before Pest, Buda and Óbuda joined in 1873 and formed the modern Budapest.
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The coin measures 38.61 mm in diameter and has a reeded edge, the MNB noted. It is struck from a non-ferrous alloy comprising 75 per cent copper and 25 per cent nickel, with a weight of 30.80 grams.
The creation of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry had already been proposed under Hungary’s first representative government, the Batthyány administration, with the aim of uniting relevant bodies within a civil system of interest representation. The outbreak of the War of Independence, however, prevented its realisation. The subsequent neo-absolutist regime nonetheless recognised the importance of establishing such an organisation—both as a centrally directed, empire-loyal institution and as a means of supporting economic development through structured representation. The chamber was ultimately founded on 18 March 1850 by imperial patent, serving as an intermediary between government and the business community.
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Featured image: depositphotos.com
