Collector coin issuance to mark Hungary’s forthcoming presidency of the European Council

28 June 2024

The Magyar Nemzeti Bank will issue a silver collector coin with a face value of 7,500 forints and a non-ferrous metal coin with a face value of 3,000 forints on 1 July 2024, the first day of the Hungarian Presidency, to commemorate Hungary’s second term as Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Hungary will succeed Belgium in this position until the end of the year. The collector coins, entitled ‘Az Európai Unió Tanácsának magyar elnöksége – 2024’ (Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union – 2024), were designed by applied artist Zoltán Endrődy.

The Council of the European Union is one of the supreme decision-making bodies of the European Union, representing the governments of the Member States. Informally known as the Council, the Council of the European Union brings together ministers from the 27 EU Member States. The Council is in charge of negotiating and adopting EU laws, concluding international agreements on behalf of the European Union, adopting the European Union budget, shaping the European Union’s foreign and security policy and coordinating Member States’ policies in specific areas. The Council meets in ten different configurations according to the different policy areas.

The rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union is held by the Member States in a pre-determined order. Three successive presidencies of the Council of the European Union form a so-called presidency trio. Hungary held the presidency for the first time from 1 January 2011 to 30 June 2011, in a presidency trio with Spain and Belgium.

From 1 July to 31 December 2024, Hungary will hold the rotating presidency for the second time – again in a Spanish-Belgian-Hungarian trio. The motto of the Hungarian Presidency is ‘Make Europe Great Again’.

On the occasion of the rotating presidency, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank will issue silver and non-ferrous metal collector coins with a face value of 7,500 forints and 3,000 forints, respectively, entitled ‘Az Európai Unió Tanácsának magyar elnöksége – 2024’ (The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union – 2024), on 1 July 2024. The primary role of the collector coins is to transfer value and to raise awareness. They are not to be used in everyday payments. The face value displayed on the collector coins is meant to preserve their value to collectors. Both versions are issued with the same design, differing only in their denomination.

The obverse of the coin features a representation of the silhouettes of three iconic buildings, which with their intangible content not only aim to present Hungary but also to convey a deeper message: in overlapping layers, the Tihany Abbey’s silhouette embodies the moral, religious background; in the middle, that of the Parliament embodies political solidity and the democratic system; and in the foreground, that of the Millenium Monument embodies cultural competitiveness laced with tradition. The composition is completed by the abstract, dotted representation of an assembly hall, radiating diplomatic openness. The upper side of the obverse bears, in two lines, one below the other, the denomination ‘7500’ or ‘3000’, the inscription ‘FORINT’, as well as the lower semi-circular inscription ‘MAGYARORSZÁG’ (‘Hungary’). The mint mark ’BP.’ can be seen on the left side of the design, inside the representation of the Parliament. The designer’s mark of applied artist Zoltán Endrődy, the designer of the coin, occupies the place of one of the points representing the rows of the assembly hall.

Obverse of the ’Az Európai Unió Tanácsának magyar elnöksége – 2024’ coins

The reverse of the coin features as its central motif the national coat of arms bisecting the year 2024, surrounded by the lettering ‘AZ EURÓPAI UNIÓ TANÁCSÁNAK MAGYAR ELNÖKSÉGE •’ (Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union). The year refers to the time of holding the presidency as well as the mint year. The central motif, displayed like a seal, is surrounded by a stylised network of interlocking semi-circles which also emblemise diplomatic relations. In it, the 12 stars symbolising the European Union can be seen.

Reverse of the ’Az Európai Unió Tanácsának magyar elnöksége – 2024’ collector coins

Both coins have a diameter of 30 mm; their edges are reeded. The coins with a face value of 7,500 forints were struck in 925‰ fine silver and weigh 12.50 grams. The non-ferrous metal coins with a face value of 3,000 forints are made from an alloy of copper (75%) and nickel (25%) and weigh 12.50 grams. 5000-5000 pieces can be made of the silver coins made in proof finish and the non-ferrous metal coins made in BU finish.

In order to promote the role of these collector coins to transfer value and raise awareness as widely as possible, the ‘Az Európai Unió Tanácsának magyar elnöksége – 2024’ silver coins 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 the coin shop of Hungarian Mint Ltd. (Budapest, distr. V, 7 Báthory street), the producer and the distributor of the coins, starting from 1 July 2024.