Hungary issues medieval gold florin coin series
National Bank of Hungary issues first in a series of medieval gold florin commemorative coins; both normal and piedfort versions available.
Author: Central Banking Newsdesk
Source: Central Banking | 16 May 2012
The National Bank of Hungary on May 15 announced the issuance of a gold collector coin called the ‘Gold Florin of Charles I'. The coin will have a face value of HUF10,000 ($43) and will be minted in both normal and piedfort versions. The piedfort coin is exactly four times the weight of the normal weight coin. The coin is the first of a medieval gold florin series.
The obverse of the coin features the standard design elements: the upper legend ‘MAGYARORSZÁG' (Hungary) on the rim, the value numeral '10 000' and the inscription ‘FORINT', separated from each other by a dot. The mint year and the mint mark are positioned on the left and right sides of the coin. A representation of the obverse of the original gold florin of Charles I is depicted in the centre, with the Florentine lily appearing in the legend KAROLV∙REX (King Charles).
On the rim of the reverse, the upper and lower legends read ‘I. KÁROLY' (Charles I) and the period of the King's rule ‘1301-1342', respectively. Ornamental motifs depicting an Anjou lily feature on the left and right sides, between the upper and lower legends. The initials of the coin's designer, Tamás Soltra, are positioned below the motif on the right. A representation of the reverse of the gold florin of Charles I is featured in the centre, with a picture of the patron saint of Florence circumscribed with the inscription S IOHANNES B (St John the Baptist). A small crown is placed at the end of the legend on the reverse, which some believe is the mint mark of the medieval city of Buda. However, the central bank said that because this mark features on all known pieces, it is more likely that it refers to the Kingdom of Hungary, the issuer of the coin, distinguishing them markedly from Florentine florins.
The inscription on the edge of the piedfort coin reads ‘KAROLUS • REX • FLORENUS • 1325', concluding with the ornamental motif depicting the Anjou lily. The standard size coins are struck in .986 fine gold. Their weight is 3.491 grams, their diameter is 20 mm and they have a smooth edge. The piedfort coins with an edge inscription weigh 13.964 grams. Other technical parameters of the piedforts are the same as those of the standard size coins.
The mintage limit of the standard size collector coin is 5,000 and that of the piedfort coin is 1,500.
The collector coin can be purchased at the coin shop of the Hungarian Mint in National Bank of Hungary's Visitor Centre and on the Mint's website.
Source:
Central Banking
