488) Bukk National Park, Hungary: Fourth in the Hungarian National Park Series launched in 2010: Two coins, one of silver HUF 10,000 (Forints) and the other of Base metal/Non-Ferrous HUF 2,000 (Forints), both issued on 21.04.2017:

488) Bukk National Park, Hungary: Fourth in the Hungarian National Park Series launched in 2010: Two coins, one of silver HUF 10,000 (Forints) and the other of Base metal/Non-Ferrous HUF 2,000 (Forints), both issued on 21.04.2017:

The Magyar Nemzeti Bank has launched a series of coins in 2010, showcasing some of the most extraordinary Hungary’s National Parks and landmarks.

These coins have been issued as part of the series presenting Hungary’s National Parks and therefore their themes and topics closely follow those of the previous issues in the series – showcasing species of animal or plant characteristic of the individual National Parks on the Obverse and a detail of landscape or a vista-like representation of a building/landscape on the Reverse.

The special rectangular collector coins depicting Bukk National Park are the fourth issues in the Series following the coins showcasing the “Orseg”, the “Duna-Drava” and the “Duna-Ipoly” National Parks. These coins commemorate the 40^th Anniversary of the designation of the Bukk Mountains as a National Park.

The Magyar Nemzeti Bank has issued a silver coin having a face value of HUF 10,000 (Forints) and another having a non-ferrous/base metal composition with a face value of HUF 2,000 (Forints) on 21.04.2017.

Both these collector coins are Hungarian legal tender, although they have not been issued for circulation purposes.

The coins have the same design, except for their denominational values and the depictions of nature and cultural heritage.

The Obverse and Reverse of a Non-ferrous metal 2000 Forint  coin. Details given elsewhere in this post

About the Bukk National Park:

The Bukk National Park is situated in the Bukk Mountains, Hungary’s highest mountain range, in terms of average height.

On 01.01.1977, large parts of the Bukk Mountains were declared a National Park which accounted for around 97% of the heavily forested, protected area.

The most common forest types in the Bukk Mountains are Turkey Oak and Common Oak, giving way to Hornbeam Oak in the higher regions and Beech in areas above 600 metres (or about 2,000 feet).

One Forest Reserve in the Bukk National Park (BNP) is the Old Forest, which has Beech trees ranging from 180 to 200 years old.

BNP boasts of a rich plant and animal life, including a variety of rare butterflies and insects. Extremely rare plants and animals live here, including the stem-less Carline Thistle (Carlina acaulis), which is also the emblem of the National Park.

The Directorate of the BNP is responsible for managing the protected natural values and areas, along with the areas protected under the Hatura 2,000 Programme and International Nature Protection Conventions.

The overall responsibility includes, overseeing of one National Park, nine Protected Landscape Regions and 14 Nature Preserves of National significance, as well as, one World Heritage Site: the Old Village of Holloko and its surrounding areas. The Nature Conservation Area “Ipolytarnoc Fossils” is also included and was awarded a European Diploma of Protected Areas.

The world’s first cross-border geo-park, the Novohrad-Nograd Geo-park in Slovakia, includes several protected natural areas. The aim of the geo-park, which comprises 28 Slovak and 63 Hungarian settlements, is to preserve and present the geological, regional and cultural heritage of the area and its traditions.

Around 90 species of migratory birds visit the Park every year, among them several endangered species that only nest in the forest and cliff walls of the Bukk.

Some of the many hundreds of caves and hollows in the Range’s Karst System (at Szeleta and Istallos-ko and the Suba Hole and Balla Cave et al) are of great scientific interest as primitive archaeological remains. The forest extends as far as the eye can see (about 97% of the central part of the Range is wooded).

Some of the spots of particular interest are – the 400 metre Saint Istvan and Anna Cave (Lillafured) which is formed of freshwater limestone and its network of caves measures some 864 metres), Village Museum (99100 Kossuth ut, Holloko) which presents the history of the village and surrounding protected area- the folk culture of the Paloc and relics of small scale farming from over a century ago, Village Museum (Petofi utca 28, Boldogkovaralja) displaying the historical and cultural heritage of the Zemplen Protected Area , plant and animal life, traditional arts and crafts as well as an active blacksmith’s shop using the traditional centuries old tools, Arboretum (Erdotelek) which is a natural historian and forestry experts delight, Oszla Village Museum (Cserepfalu, Hor Valley), Szilvasvarad Kalapati Observation Tower (from where one gets a breathtaking “bird’s eye view” of the wooded surrounding areas) , Exhibition Centre of Fossils of the Ipolytarnoc National Park, Szarvasco Geological Study Trail (Szarvasco), Rajtek Study Trails (Rejteki Kutatohaz Repashuta) which provides a study of paleontological research and the discovery of the prehistoric man in the Balla Cave et al.

In addition, over 25 Nature, Study and hiking trails having plants, insects waterfalls, forested trees, geological elements, sinkholes, plateaus, beehive stones, limestone relief formations, forested meadows, ravines water springs lakes, grassy rock outcrops etc. provide for an exciting fun–filled and educational trip/holiday for visitors of all ages.

The Commemorative Coins issued by the Magyar Nemzeti Bank depicting the Bukk National Park:

The Obverse of the rectangular Silver 10,000 Forint collector coin depicting Bukk National Park

The Obverse of the Silver 10,000 Forint Coin depicts a representation of the stem-less Carline Thistle, the emblematic plant of the Bukk National Park, which also appears in the Park’s logo/emblem. On the upper periphery is mentioned the coin’s denomination – “10,000 Forint”. On the right periphery is mentioned the name of issuing country “MAGYARORSZAG”. The year of issue “2017” figures on the lower bottom of the coin along with the mint mark “BP” containing a micro-sized security feature.

The main motif on this face has been made using a special laser technology, which generates three different surface structures of certain parts of the plant, lending the motif a unique light effect.

The Reverse of the rectangular Silver 10,000  Forint collector coins depicting Bukk National Park

The Reverse of the Silver 10,000 Forint Coin features the Szeleta Cave, which is Hungary’s most well-known domestic archaeological site, pictured from the Cave’s inside. In this cave, relics of a primitive man have been found for the very first time in the history of Hungary, after the Ice-Age.

The caves in the Szelata Cave system were inhabited for tens of thousands of years by people of the Szelata culture, which left behind bay-leaf shaped spearheads and other implements.

On the left periphery is the inscription in Hungarian “SZELETA-KULTURA”, which has been named after the Cave, by virtue of the characteristics of the relics and the richness of evidence discovered for the first time. It denotes a Central European archaeological culture which is primarily characterised by laurel-leaf and willow-leaf shaped flint-knapped stone tools worked on both sides (scrapers and projectile points) and is associated with the Neanderthal man.

The left side of the picture shows a representation of a spear-head found in the Cave, from around 40,000 BC, separated from the central design element. The inscription “BUKKI NEMZETI PARK” is also placed on the upper half on the coin.

The collector coins have been designed by Gabor Kereszthury who wanted to present the unique natural and cultural values of the Park. His master mark is shown on the lower right corner on the Reverse.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 10,000 Forint; Metallic Composition: .925 Fine Silver; Weight: 31.46 grams; Shape: Horizontal Rectangle shape; Size: 26.4mm x 39.6 mm; Edge: Smooth; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 5,000 pieces. Year of issue: 2017.

 The Obverse of the rectangular nonferrous metal 2,000 Forint collector coins depicting Bukk National Park

The Obverse of the non-ferrous metal 2,000 Forint Coin depicts a representation of the stem-less Carline Thistle, the emblematic plant of the Bukk National Park, which also appears in the Park’s logo. On the upper periphery is mentioned the coin’s denomination – “2,000 Forint”. On the right periphery is mentioned the name of issuing country “MAGYARORSZAG”. The year of issue “2017” figures on the lower bottom of the coin along with the mint mark “BP” containing a micro-sized security feature.

 The Reverse of the rectangular nonferrous metal 2,000 Forint collector coins depicting Bukk National Park

The Reverse of the non-ferrous metal 2,000 Forint Coin features the Szeleta Cave, which is Hungary’s most well-known domestic archaeological site, pictured from the Cave’s inside. In this cave, relics of a primitive man have been found for the very first time in the history of Hungary, after the Ice-Age.

The caves in the Szelata Cave system were inhabited for tens of thousands of years by people of the Szelata culture, which left behind bay-leaf shaped spearheads and other implements.

On the left periphery is the inscription in Hungarian “SZELETA-KULTURA”, which has been named after the Cave, by virtue of the characteristics of the relics and the richness of evidence discovered for the first time. It denotes a Central European archaeological culture which is primarily characterised by laurel-leaf and willow-leaf shaped flint-knapped stone tools worked on both sides (scrapers and projectile points) and is associated with the Neanderthal man.

The left side of the picture shows a representation of a spear-head found in the Cave, from around 40,000 BC, separated from the central design element. The inscription “BUKKI NEMZETI PARK” is also placed on the upper half on the coin.

The collector coins have been designed by Gabor Kereszthury who wanted to present the unique natural and cultural values of the Park. His master mark is shown on the lower right corner on the Reverse.

The specifications of this coin are:

Denomination: 2,000 Forint; Metallic Composition: Copper: 75%, Nickel: 25%; Weight: 27.00 grams; Shape: Horizontal Rectangle shape; Size: 26.4mm x 39.6 mm; Edge: Smooth; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU); Mintage: 5,000 pieces. Year of issue: 2017.

Links to posts on Hungarian coins & currency this Blog:

1) Currency and Coinage of Hungary: Forints & Fillers: Forint "Papirpenz" (Banknotes) and Forint "Ermek" (Coins) in Hungarian

2) Janos Arany:Commemorating the Bicentenary of his birth with a set of 3 coins: 5000 Forint, 10000 Forint Silver coin and 2000 Forint Base Metal Coin by Magyar Nemzeti Bank on 03.03.2017

3) Bukk National Park, Hungary" Fourth in the Hungarian National Park Series launched in 2010: Two coins Silver HUF 10000 (Forints) and Base Metal HUF 2000 (Forints) issued on 21.04.2017

4) Janos Iriniyi: Inventor of the noiseless & non-explosive match: 200th Birth anniversary commemorated on 2000 Forint (cupro-nickel) rectangular coin ; Issue date: 18.05.2017