30 April 2020

To pay tribute to firefighters’ self-sacrificing work, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank will issue a new 50-forint circulation coin, as well as a silver and a non-ferrous metal collector version with a face value of HUF 10,000 and HUF 2,000 respectively, on 4 May 2020, on the feast day of Saint Florian, the patron saint of firefighters. With these issues, the Bank commemorates the foundation of organised fire departments in Hungary 150 years ago and honours firefighters’ great courage and fortitude. Two million special 50-forint circulation coins will be issued, with 12,000 available as first-day mint coins in decorative packaging. The number of commemorative coins is limited at 5,000 for each version.

Count Ödön Széchenyi laid the foundations for organised fire departments in Hungary, with the recruitment of the first volunteers and creation of professional associations and finally the nation-wide collaboration of different associations across Hungary. As a result of his efforts, the Hungarian Firefighters’ Federation, the legal predecessor of today’s Hungarian Firefighter Association, was established in 1870. In Hungary, Firefighters’ Day has been officially celebrated on 4 May since 1991, in commemoration of Saint Florian, the patron saint of firefighters. On Firefighters’ Day in 2020, the Bank will issue a commemorative version of the 50-forint circulation coin, as well as silver and non-ferrous metal commemorative versions with face values of HUF 10,000 and HUF 2,000 respectively, marking the 150th anniversary of the beginnings of organised fire departments in Hungary and paying homage to firefighters’ self-sacrificing work.

The face value side of the commemorative 50-forint circulation coins is identical to the standard 50-forint coin currently in circulation. However, instead of the usual saker falcon, the thematic side features a composition of a richly decorated firefighter helmet above two crossed fire axes in the centre, surrounded by the outlines of a lifeline with a laurel wreath running around it in the background. Between the carabiners at both ends of the lifeline, the mint year 2020 is shown. On the edge of the coin, decorated with a string of pearls, the lettering MAGYARORSZÁG is featured, with the lower legend 150 ÉVES A SZERVEZETT MAGYAR TŰZOLTÓSÁG (150 Years of Organised Fire Departments in Hungary). The two legends are separated by a flame on each side.

Commemorative version of the 50-forint circulation coin honouring 150 years of organised fire departments in Hungary


face value side
thematic side

The thematic side of the coin was designed by István Kósa. The technical parameters of the coin are identical to those of the 50-forint coins in circulation: it is produced from an alloy of copper (75%) and nickel (25%), has a weight of 7.7 grams and a diameter of 27.4 mm, with an edge height of 1.8 mm and a smooth edge.

Two million commemorative 50-forint circulation coins will be issued. The public will be able to familiarise themselves with the new coin in circulation in cash transactions while making everyday purchases. Of the total number of 2 million, 12,000 first-day mint versions (in BU finish) will be available in numbered decorative packaging from the day of issuance, 4 May 2020, exclusively online in the webshop of the Hungarian Mint Ltd., (https://www.penzvero.hu/) due to the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The MNB will also make the coins available in limited quantities (10 pieces per person) by way of exchange at its retail cash office located at 1 Kiss Ernő utca, distr. V, Budapest for three months after issuance. If you wish to use our denomination exchange option, please be sure to keep the appropriate distance between persons in the retail cash office and to follow the enhanced personal hygiene regulations.

In consideration of the significance of this anniversary, simultaneously with the issuance of the new commemorative circulation coin, the MNB will also release a silver commemorative coin with a face value of HUF 10,000 and a non-ferrous metal coin of HUF 2,000 also entitled ‘150 Years of Organised Fire Departments in Hungary’. These commemorative coins are legal tender in Hungary, but do not serve circulation purposes. Their primary role is to raise awareness and to recognise the selfless work of firefighters.

The collector coin ‘150 Years of Organised Fire Departments in Hungary’ was designed by the artist István Holló. The coins have an identical graphic design, with the denomination as the only difference.

The central motif the front of the collector coins is a composition of a decorated helmet above two crossed fire axes, with an arch-shaped inscription of the fire department motto ‘DICSŐ MÚLTBÓL A MÉLTÓ JÖVŐBE!’ (From a glorious past to a worthy future!) above and MAGYARORSZÁG (Hungary) below. The top and bottom legends are separated by the mint mark BP. on the left and the designer mark of István Holló on the right. The compulsory design elements of collector coins are found on the obverse: the denominations 10,000 or 2,000, the legend FORINT and the mint year 2020 below the central motif, aligned centre in three lines.

Obverse of ‘150 Years of Organised Fire Departments in Hungary’ collector coins


Silver collector coin
Non-ferrous metal collector coin

On the reverse, positioned in the centre is a representation of Saint Florian, the patron saint of firefighters, under an arch-shaped legend ‘150 ÉVES A SZERVEZETT MAGYAR TŰZOLTÓSÁG’ (150 Years of Organised Fire Departments in Hungary), with the horizontal legend SZENT FLÓRIÁN (Saint Florian) in the foreground below. Saint Florian was a Christian martyr and is the patron saint of firefighters. The cult of Saint Florian became popular in Central Europe in the late Middle Ages. According to the legend, he is believed to have saved a house from complete destruction by a dreadful fire when he was a child. The collector coin features a typical representation of Saint Florian standing in the uniform of a Roman officer, holding a flag in one hand and a bucket of water in the other, extinguishing a small house on fire.

Reverse of ‘150 Years of Organised Fire Departments in Hungary’ collector coins


Silver collector coin
Non-ferrous metal collector coin

Both collector coins are 38.61 mm in diameter. Their edge is fine-reeded with the repeated lettering ‘ISTENNEK DICSŐSÉG, EMBERNEK SEGÍTSÉG! •’ (Glory to God, help to men!). The coin with a face value of HUF 10,000 is struck in 925‰ silver, while the non-ferrous metal coin has a face value of HUF 2,000 and is made from an alloy of copper (75%) and nickel (25%). The silver coin weighing 31.46 grams is produced in proof finish and the non-ferrous coin weighing 30.8 grams has BU finish. 5,000 of each of these collector coins will be issued.

In order to promote the commemorative and educational role of these collector coins as widely as possible, the silver coin ‘150 Years of Organised Fire Departments in Hungary’ will be available for purchase for three months, while stocks last, and the non-ferrous version for one year from the date of issuance, at face value, via the online distribution channel of Hungarian Mint Ltd., the producer and the distributor of the coins, starting from 4 May 2019. Due to the emergency situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the coins cannot be purchased in person at the coin shop of Hungarian Mint Ltd., but distribution continues at the webshop on the company’s website (https://www.penzvero.hu/).