Hungary: A ballpoint pen in Cu-Ni

[chrisild]

This week the Hungarian central bank issued a 1000 forint collector coin honoring László Bíró, the man who invented the ballpoint pen. Bíró, who died 25 years ago, was a journalist who found that the ink his newspaper used for printing dried much better than the ink he used when writing with his regular fountain pen.

In WW2 he emigrated to Argentina (Bíró was from a Jewish family) and continued his work there. Bíró's birthday, 29 September, not only became the Argentine "Inventor's Day" but is also this coin's date of issue. Some background info:

http://english.mnb.hu/Sajtoszoba/online/mnben_pressreleases/mnben_pressreleases_2010/mnben_kozlemeny_20100929
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/László_Bíró
http://www.budpocketguide.com/TouristInfo/famous/Famous_Hungarians17.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballpoint_pen#History

The 1000 HUF coin is a square Cu-Ni piece (28.43 x 28.43 mm) and has a weight of 14 g. The obverse shows the tip of a ballpoint pen (based on a technical drawing), the face value and the country name. On the reverse, a portrait of Bíró with "A GOLYÓSTOLL SZABADALMAZTATÓJA" ("Inventor of the Ballpoint Pen") above. On the left, his full name, with the family name first which is normal in Hungarian.

The coin was designed by György Szabó. Mintage is 20,000 - half of these are BU coins, the remaining 10,000 are proof pieces.

Christian

[Figleaf]

This is one of those small, underestimated inventions that changed the world. I was a child when BIC ballpoint pens became popular. Teachers fought a rearguard action against the ballpoint pen, arguing that it would ruin handwriting (right, mine is atrocious ) and spell the end of calligraphy. Why couldn't they issue a real coin for the occasion?

Peter

[andyg]

Why couldn't they issue a real coin for the occasion?

I think they missed a trick here, it should have had a refillable cartridge that would have actually turned it into a pen.

[chrisild]

Hungary used to issue commemorative coins until a few years ago (usually 50 forint pieces) but does apparently not do that any more. Now they have collector coins only, it seems. The face value (1000 forint) is about €3.60, and you pay €12 for the BU version or €14 for the proof version.

This piece is part of a series honoring Hungarian science pioneers. Four coins have been issued so far:
2007: János Adorján http://www.modelflight.regheath.com/earlybirds/1910frameset.htm and the "Libelle".
2008: Tivadar Puskás http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tivadar_Puskás and his telephone newspaper.
2009: Donát Bánki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donát_Bánki and his water turbine.
And now, in 2010, the László Bíró coin ...

Christian

[Bimat]

Happened to win this nice coin eBay recently. Another good deal for €1.5 only (proof version)

The quality of the coin, is not so nice though; may be perhaps because we are used to seeing silver proofs but not copper nickel! Good addition to the collection none the less. I don't have many squarish coins...

Aditya

[Thulium]

That's quite a nice piece...even as a proof, great deal for just €1.5! I don't often like facing portraits on modern, low relief coin--but this one of Biro works well.

[Bimat]

That's quite a nice piece...even as a proof, great deal for just €1.5! I don't often like facing portraits on modern, low relief coin--but this one of Biro works well.

Thanks! I decided to bid on this coin only because of the theme but wasn't really expecting to win it as I thought my highest bid of €1.5 is too less.. Anyway, eBay does throw up some surprises at times and it's one of those occasions!

Aditya