1368) Celebrating 150th Anniversary milestone of organised Fire Departments in Hungary (1870-2020): Three Coins - Circulation (50 Forint), Silver (10,000 Forint) and Non-ferrous metal (2,000 Forint) issued by Magyar Nemzeti Bank on 04.05.2020:

1368) Celebrating 150th Anniversary milestone of organised Fire Departments in Hungary (1870-2020): Three Coins - Circulation (50 Forint), Silver (10,000 Forint) and Non-ferrous metal (2,000 Forint) issued by Magyar Nemzeti Bank on 04.05.2020:

To pay a tribute to firefighter's self-sacrificing work, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank has issued three coins - Circulation Coin (HUF 50) Silver (HUF 10,000) and a non-ferrous Metal Collector Coin (HUF 2000) on 04.05.2020 - on the Feast of St. Florian, the patron saint of firefighters. 

Saint Florian was a Christian martyr. The cult of Saint Florian became popular in Central Europe in the late Middle ages.

According to the legend, he is believed to have saved a house from complete destruction by a dreadful fire when he was a child. 

With these issues, the Bank also commemorates the founding of organised fire departments in Hungary 150 years ago and honours the firefighter's phenomenal courage and fortitude.

Brief history of the Firefighters in Hungary:

Count Odon Szechenyi laid the foundations for organised fire departments in Hungary, with the recruitment of the first volunteers and creation of professional associations and finally the nation-wide collaboration of different associations across Hungary.

As a result of his efforts, the Hungarian Firefighter's  Federation - the legal predecessor of present day Hungarian Firefighter Association - was established in 1870.

In Hungary, Firefighter's Day is celebrated in 4th May every year in commemoration of St. Florian.

The Commemorative Coins:

On 04.05.2020, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank has issued three commemorative coins, commemorating the 150th Anniversary milestone of the establishment of organised fire departments in Hungary and paying a tribute to the firefighter's self-sacrificing work.

Circulation Coin:

On the Reverse of the HUF 50 (Forint) Circulation Coin, which is identical to the standard 50-Forint Coin currently in circulation, the Saker Falcon image has been replaced with a design of a richly decorated firefighter's helmet, placed above two crossed fire-axes in the centre, surrounded by the outlines of a lifeline with a laurel wreath running around it in the background.

Between the carabiners at both ends of the lifeline, the mint year "2020" is engraved. 

On the periphery of the coin, decorated with astring of pearls, the lettering - "MAGYARORSZAG" is depicted, with the legend "150 EVES A SZERVEZETT MAGYAR TUZOLTOSAG"(meaning "150 Years of Organised Fire Departments in Hungary"). The two inscriptions are separated by a flame on each side.

On the Obverse of the HUF 50 (Forint) Circulation Coin is depicted the denomination of the coin -"50 FORINT".

The Mint Mark "BP" is seen below the denomination standing for "Budapest Mint".

The specifications of this Circulation Coin are:

Denomination: 50 Forint; Metal Composition: Copper - 75%, Nickel- 25 %; Weight:  7.7 grams; Diameter/Size: 27.4 mm; Edge Height: 1.8 mm; Edge: Smooth; Minted by: Budapest Mint on behalf of the Magyar Nemzeti Bank; Mintage: 2.0 million pieces; Designer: Istavan Kosa; Year: 2020.

A Silver Collector Coin variant of HUF 10,000 (Forint):

The Obverse of the HUF 10,000 (Forint) Silver Coin variant shows a decorated helmet above two crossed fire axes, with an arch-shaped inscription of the Fire Department motto - "DISCO MULTBOL A MELTO JOVOBE!" (meaning "From a glorious past to a worthy future" - on the upper periphery) and "MAGYARORSZAG" ("Hungary" - on the lower periphery).

The top and bottom legends are separated by the Budapest Mint Mark - "BP" (on the left) and the designer mark of Istvan Hollo (on the right).

Also, on this face, the compulsory design elements of Collector Coins are seen - the denomination "10,000 Forint", the year of issue - "2020", below the central motif, aligned centre in three lines.

The Reverse of the HUF 10,000 (Forint) Silver Coin variant shows a representation of Saint Florian in the centre - the patron saint of firefighters - under an arch-shaped legend "150 EVES A SZERVEZETT MAGYAR TUZOLTOSAG" (meaning "150 Years of Organised Fire Departments in Hungary") with the horizontal legend "SZENT FLORIAN" ("Saint Florian") in the foreground below.

The collector coin features a typical representation of Saint Florian standing in the uniform of a Roman officer, holding a flag in one hand and a bucket of water in the other, extinguishing a small house on fire.

The specifications of the Silver Coin are:

Denomination : HUF 10,000 (Forint); Metal Composition: .925 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 31.46 grams; Diameter/Size: 38.61 mm; Coin Quality: Proof; Mintage: 5,000 pieces; Edge Inscription: "ISTENNEK DISCOSEG, EMBERNEK SEGITSEG!" ("Glory to God, Help to Men!"); Mint: Budapest Mint on behalf of Magyar Nemzeti Bank; Year: 2020.

A Non-Ferrous Metal Collector Coin variant of HUF 2,000 (Forint):

The Obverse and Reverse of the HUF 2,000 (Forint) Non-ferrous Collector Coin variant is identical to the designs on the Silver Coin variant, except for the denomination.

The specifications of the Non-ferrous Coin variant are:

Denomination: HUF 2,000 (Forint); Metal Composition: Copper - 75%, Nickel - 25%; Weight: 30.8 grams; Diameter/Size: 38.61 mm; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU); Edge Inscription: "ISTENNEK DICSOSEG, EMBERNEK SEGITSEG!" ("Glory to God, Help to Men!"); Minted by: Budapest Mint on behalf of Magyar Nemzeti Bank; Year: 2020.

Links to posts on Hungarian Coins, Currency & Stamps on 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  

5) Jules Verne's Captain Nemo of the submarine Nautilus: Four postage stamps brought out in the denominations of HUF 480 + 150 under its series titled "About the Youth 2019": Stamps issue date: 05.04.2019

6) The World of Bakony Dinosaurs, Magyar Posta (Hungary Post): A set of six stamps of 120 Forint each: Stamp issue date: 03.09.2018

7) Working Dogs: Magyar Posta (Hungary Post) has issued a set of four Postage Stamps of 215 HUF each, highlighting the contributions of well-known Working Dogs in the service of humanity: Stamp set issue date: 08.07.2019:

8) Hungarian Viszla Dog Breed, Hungary: "Hungarian Sheep and Hunting Dogs Breeds Coin Series": First Coin in the Series issued by the National Bank of Hungary: Coin issue date: 09.09.2019

9) "The Wonderful World of Bakony Dinosaurs - Site II", Hungary: A second set of six stamps of 200 Forint each issued by Magyar Posta (Hungarian Post): Date of stamp set issue: 04.03.2020

10) About Easter, Hungary: A postage stamp of Domestic Value issued by Magyar Posta (Hungary Post): Stamp issue date: 04.03.2020

11) "Ancient Postal Routes during the time of Louis the Great - 14th century", Hungary: A set of two postage stamps issued by Magyar Posta of 650 HUF each: Date of Stamp set issue: 04.05.2020

12) Postal History, Hungary: "Magyar Posta" (Hungarian Post) has issued its Fourth Series of Definitive Stamps on Postal History: Date of Stamps set release: 04.05.2020

13) 150 Years of The Hungarian Meteorological Service, Hungary: A Postage Stampissued by "Magyar Posta" (Hungarian Post) commemorating the milestone: Date of Stamp issue: 04.05.2020

14) Celebrating 150th Anniversary milestone of organised Fire Departments in Hungary (1870-2020): Three coins - Circulation (50 Forint), Silver (10,000 Forint) and Non-ferrous metal (2,000 Forint) issued by Magyar Nemzeti Bank on 04.05.2020