Collector coin to honour the 150 years of the Hungarian Chamber of Notaries

The Magyar Nemzeti Bank is issuing a silver collector with a face value of 15,000 forints and its non-ferrous metal version of 3,000 forints named ‘150 éves a magyar polgári közjegyzőség’ (150 Years of the Hungarian Chamber of Notaries) on 12 December 2024, to mark the anniversary of the establishment of the modern Chamber of Notaries in Hungary. The collector coin was designed by sculptor Balázs Pelcz.

Notaries had been appointed by the Pope or the Emperor in Hungary from the end of the 13th century, and they had only been authorised to take action in religious matters. However, the origins of the office of the modern notaries date back to 1874, when the Parliament adopted the Act XXXV of 1874 on royal notaries under the judicial reform following the Compromise. Since then, as the embodiment of non-litigation jurisdiction the Chamber of Notaries has been available to the public, seeking justice, in the spirit of the motto ‘jog vita nélkül’ (justice without debate). Nationalisation in 1949 transformed the civil notary's office into a state office, but after the political transition, notarisation, based on self-government by chambers, was also created. As a crucial actor in today’s economic and social life, it is tasked with the duties of public authentication (fides publica) and the impartial execution of non-litigation jurisdiction (justitia).

The Bank is issuing a silver collector coin named ‘150 éves a magyar polgári közjegyzőség’ with a face value of 15,000 forints and its non-ferrous metal version of 3,000 forints. 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.

The collector coins focus on the notarial coat of arms, the key symbol of the Chamber of Notaries, and pay tribute to Bálint Ökröss, who drafted the Act of 1874 on Notaries. As an outstanding figure in the profession of notaries in Hungary, Bálint Ökröss (1829-1889) was a corresponding member of the MTA (The Hungarian Academy of Sciences) and a President of the Budapest Chamber of Notaries. He established and published the Hungarian Gazette in 1866, which is still published today.

On the obverse of the ‘150 éves a magyar polgári közjegyzőség’ collector coins, the representation of the notarial coat of arms is featured as a central motif, which was inspired by a seal with a cord in an archaic style of expression and symbolising the act of authentication by notaries. Above the central motif, in a legend the inscription ‘150 ÉVES A MAGYAR POLGÁRI KÖZJEGYZŐSÉG’ (150 YEARS OF THE HUNGARIAN CHAMBER OF NOTARIES) is seen. The compulsory elements of collector coin design are also placed on the obverse: at the bottom in a legend the lettering ‘MAGYARORSZÁG’ (HUNGARY) is seen, referring to the place of issuance with the denominations ‘15000’ and ‘3000’, and the wording ‘FORINT’, which are separated by ‘•’ motifs. On the left, between the two pieces of the hanging string on the waxing seal, the mint mark, ‘BP.’ is featured, citing the place of issuance, with the minting year ‘2024’ appearing below the string on the seal, on the right.

Based on a photo, the portrait of Bálint Ökröss is found as a central motif on the reverse of the ‘150 éves a magyar polgári közjegyzőség’ collector coins, which is complemented by the signature of the legal academic, and in the upper legend the lettering ‘A KIRÁLYI KÖZJEGYZŐKRŐL SZÓLÓ 1874. ÉVI XXXV. TC. ELŐKÉSZÍTŐJE’ (WHO DRAFTED THE ACT XXXV OF 1874 ON ROYAL NOTARIES) is read, with two ‘•’ motifs visible at both ends of the inscription. The designer’s mark of sculptor Balázs Pelcz, the designer of the coin, is positioned to the left of the portrait.

Both collector coins are 38.61 mm in diameter, their edges are reeded. The silver coin with a face value of 15,000 forint is struck in 925‰ fine silver and weighs 31.46 grams. The non-ferrous metal coin with a face value of 3,000 forint 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 also 5,000 pieces of the non-ferrous version in BU finish.

In order to promote the role of these collector coins to transfer value and offer education as widely as possible, the silver collector coin will be available for purchase for three months, while stocks last, and the non-ferrous metal version for one year from the date of issuance, at their face value in the coin shop of the Hungarian Mint Ltd. (7 Báthory street, Budapest, Distr. 7) and its webshop (https://www.penzvero.hu/), starting from 12 December 2024.