Collector coin to honour the 75th anniversary of the Hungarian National Ambulance Service

9 May 2023

The Magyar Nemzeti Bank (MNB) is issuing a new 50-forint commemorative circulation coin and a silver collector coin of 15,000 forints along with a non-ferrous metal coin of 3,000 forints on 10 May, the Day of the Rescuers to mark the 75th anniversary of the National Ambulance Service. These special coins focus attention on the exceptional nature of the National Ambulance Service and pay tribute to the sacrifice of the comrades. There will be 1 million pieces made of the new commemorative circulation coins, while 5,000 pieces will be struck from the silver and the non-ferrous metal versions each. The renewed thematic side of the 50-forint coin was designed by sculptor Zoltán Kovács and the composition of the collector coins were created by sculptor Mercédesz Molnár. 

The National Ambulance Service is the largest ambulance and medical institution in Hungary, and has been in operation for 75 years. The origins of organised emergency lifesaving date back to the second half of the 19th century in Hungary, where in 1887 organised lifesaving was one of the first to be launched in Europe. The Voluntary Ambulance Association was founded in Budapest at the initiative of Géza Kresz, a doctor in the district. A nationwide network of ambulance stations was established after the First World War in 1926. After the establishment of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) on 10 May 1948, the ambulance service became unified and controlled by the state. Up from 76, established in 1926, there are now 256 ambulance stations in the country to provide effective patient care. The Hungarian system has distinctive features. Paramedic training is offered in colleges only in Hungary. The National Ambulance Service considers it’s a priority to provide on-site care: paramedics make every effort to stabilise the patient on the spot, which requires state-of-the-art equipment and high level of expertise.

To mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the NAS, the MNB is issuing a 50-forint commemorative circulation coin, a silver collector coin of 15,000 forints and a non-ferrous metal version of 3,000 forints, observing the Day of the Rescuers, celebrated on 10 May, the day of the founding of the NAS.

The face value side of the new 50-forint coin is identical to the face value side of the 50-forint coins in circulation, but the thematic side features the international symbol of life-saving, the Cross of Constantine, replacing the usual Saker Falcon, which is complemented by the rod of Asclepius, depicting a snake coiled on a stick, which symbolises the healing aspect of medical arts. The arms of the Cross of Constantine, the star of life, represent the steps in the process of life-saving: recognition, emergency call, first aid, paramedic care, control during transport and hospital care. Beneath the central motif, the lettering ‘75 ÉVES AZ ORSZÁGOS MENTŐSZOLGÁLAT’ (75 years of the Hungarian National Ambulance Service) and the minting year ‘2023’ are seen. Inside the beaded border on the edge of the obverse, in the upper legend separated by a line the inscription ‘MAGYARORSZÁG’ (Hungary) is read. 

The thematic side of the new 50-forint circulation coin was designed by sculptor Zoltán Kovács. The technical parameters of the coin are identical to the 50-forint coins in circulation. The coin is made from an alloy of copper (75%) and nickel (25%). It weighs 7.7 grams with a diameter of 27.4 mm. The rim is 1.8 mm thick and its edge is smooth.

There will be 1 million pieces made of the 50-forint commemorative circulation coins issued to mark the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the NAS. The public will be able to familiarise themselves with the new coin in circulation in cash transactions while making everyday purchases. The MNB will not exchange denominations in its retail cash office. From 10 May 2023 onwards, 12,000 pieces of the 1 million pieces in total will be available for purchase in a serial numbered decorative packaging as first-day mint (in BU finish) through the sales channels of the Hungarian Mint Zrt. As a collector's item, the new collector version of the 50-forint circulation coins will also be available in a roll of 50 coins at the same place.

The MNB pays tribute to the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the NAS by issuing a silver collector coin with a face value of 15,000 forints and its non-ferrous metal version of 3,000 forints. The coin designs of the coins are identical with their denominations being the only difference.

 In a slightly asymmetrical composition on the obverse, a part of the Cross of Constantine, the worldwide symbol of rescuers and life-saving, appears, thereby lending an international aspect to the theme. In the lower legend, the motto of the National Ambulance Service ‘HIVATÁS AZ ÉLETÉRT’ (Mission for Life) is inscribed. The design is complemented by the compulsory elements, placed to the right of the Cross of Constantine in two lines: the inscription ‘MAGYARORSZÁG’ and the denominations ‘15000’ and ‘3000’ FORINT, and below the representation also in two lines the mint mark ‘BP.’ and the minting year ‘2023.

The motifs on the reverse emphasise NAS's unique feature in international comparison, namely that its area of operation spans across the whole country. In the centre of the reverse, the map of Hungary is shown in a modern, crystal-like design, featuring the national network of ambulance stations, with the points on the map representing the location of each station. The lower right part of the map is covered by the NAS logo. In a legend at the top, the inscriptions ‘ORSZÁGOS MENTŐSZOLGÁLAT’ (National Ambulance Service) is seen with the lettering ‘ALAPÍTVA 1948’ (founded in 1948) at the bottom. The designer’s mark of sculptor Mercédesz Molnár is positioned below the map on the right. 

The reverse of the ‘Országos Mentőszolgálat’ collector coins

Both collector coins have a diameter of 38.61 mm with a reeded edge. The silver coin with a face value of 15,000 forints is struck in .925 fine silver and weighs 31.46 grams. The non-ferrous metal coin with a face value of 3,000 forints is produced from an alloy of copper (75%) and nickel (25%) and weighs 30.80 grams. 5,000 pieces can be made of the silver collector coin in proof finish and 5,000 pieces of the non-ferrous version in BU finish.

In order to promote the role of these collector coins to raise awareness as widely as possible, the silver coin ‘Országos Mentőszolgálat’ 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 in the webshop (https://www.penzvero.hu/) and coin shop of Hungarian Mint Ltd. (Budapest, distr. V, 7 Báthory street), the producer and the distributor of the coins, starting from 10 May 2023.