Collector coin series presenting Hungarian national memorial sites continues: consecration of Pannonhalma Archabbey 800 years ago

27 August 2024

On 28 August 2024, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank will issue a non-ferrous metal collector coin in bronze-coated finish entitled ‘Pannonhalmi Bencés Főapátság’ (Benedictine Archabbey of Pannonhalma) to mark the 800th anniversary of the medieval reconstruction and consecration of the monastic church of the World Heritage Pannonhalma Archabbey and the 10th anniversary of the dedication of the Archabbey as a national memorial site. The collector coin, with a face value of 3,000 forints, is the eleventh in a series of thematic collector coins presenting national memorial sites in Hungary, launched in 2014 at the initiative of the National Heritage Institute. The collector coin was designed by applied artist Balázs Bitó.

The Benedictine Archabbey of Pannonhalma is the cradle of Hungarian Christianity and an important spiritual workshop of the country. Its famous school has a thousand-year history, and one of the world’s largest monastic libraries is located here. The monastery was founded in 996 by Prince Géza in honour of St. Martin of Tours. Consecrated around 1003, the church burnt down several times during the first centuries, and the church had to be rebuilt three times due to the historical events. According to written sources, the church was restored and consecrated 800 years ago, in 1224. Apart from brief historical interruptions, the monastery has been the home of the Benedictine monastic community for more than a millennium. The 800-year-old medieval church, which has survived intact, is still a place of worship for the monks. The Archabbey became national memorial site ten years ago, in 2014.

On the occasion of the double anniversary, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank is issuing a bronze-coated non-ferrous metal collector coin called ‘Pannonhalmi Bencés Főapátság’ as part of the collector coin series presenting national memorial sites. The collector coin, with a face value of 3,000 forints, is the 11th item in the series celebrating national memorial sites in Hungary. The series was launched in 2014 at the initiative of the National Heritage Institute and each piece has identical technical specifications. Regarding their content, they follow the principle that one side of the coin features an image representing the entire site, with the other focusing on a characteristic detail.

The obverse of the coin shows a detail of the founding letter of the Benedictine Archabbey of Pannonhalma, in the central field bordered by a ring. On the right-hand side of the obverse, interrupting the ring, is a statue by Géza Stremeny depicting St. Maurus of Pannonhalma, which emerges from a supporting pillar of the Basilica of St. Martin of Pannonhalma. The ring on the edge of the obverse bears the inscription ‘MAGYARORSZÁG’ (HUNGARY) at the top, the mint year ‘2024’ and the mint mark ‘BP.’ at the bottom, and the denomination ‘3000’ and the inscription ‘FORINT’ on the left.

The reverse of the coin depicts the building complex of the Benedictine Archabbey of Pannonhalma and its surroundings in the central field, bordered by a ring. At the bottom of the reverse, in the lower centre, partially overhanging the ring, is the coat of arms of the Hungarian Benedictines, and on the right-hand side is the designer’s mark of applied artist Balázs Bitó. The ring on the edge of the reverse bears the inscriptions ‘PANNONHALMI BENCÉS FŐAPÁTSÁG’ (BENEDICTINE ARCHABBEY OF PANNONHALMA) and ‘NEMZETI EMLÉKHELY’ (NATIONAL MEMORIAL SITE), separated by the emblem of the national memorials.

The ‘Pannonhalmi Bencés Főapátság’ collector coin

The collector coin is minted from an alloy of copper (90%) and zinc (10%). It weighs 18.4 grams and it is 37 mm in diameter and has a reeded edge. The commemorative coin will be issued also in a limited quantity of 10,000 bronze-coated pieces.

In order to promote the value transferring and educational role of these collector coins as widely as possible, the ‘Pannonhalmi Bencés Főapátság’ collector coin will be available for purchase at face value for one year from 28 August 2024, while stocks last, in the coin shop of the Hungarian Mint, the producer and the distributor of the coins (Budapest, distr. V, 7 Báthory street), and its webshop (https://www.penzvero.hu/).