Friday, 2 September 2022

2489) St. Stephen's Hall, Hungary: "National Hauszmann Programme Commemorative Coin Series I": First Coin out of seven Coins to be issued by the National Bank of Hungary features the restoration of St. Stephen’s Hall: Date /Year of Coin issue: 19.08.2022:

2489) St. Stephen's Hall, Hungary: "National Hauszmann Programme Commemorative Coin Series I": First Coin out of seven Coins to be issued by the National Bank of Hungary features the restoration of St. Stephen’s Hall: Date /Year of Coin issue: 19.08.2022:

The National Bank of Hungary has released on 19.08.2022 the first coin in a new series which focusses on the "National Hauszmann Programme", commenced in 2019 with a view to restoring the Buda Castle District

Hungary possesses an outstanding intellectual and cultural heritage, and many projects have been undertaken since the return of democracy to restore many landmarks and monuments to their original appearance, last seen at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, as envisioned by the architect Alajos Hauszmann.

St. Stephen's Hall in Buda Castle:

Within the framework of the National Hauszmann Programme, and the Buda Castle, the St. Stephen's Hall, has been highlighted. 

The ornate historical room was the pinnacle of "Hungarian Applied Art" at the turn of the century

The initiative of Vilmos Zsolnay was embraced by the architect responsible for the expansion of the Royal Palace - Alajos Hauszmann - who finally created three historical halls in honour of the great Hungarian rulers

The St. Stephen's Hall in the neo-Romanesque and Hungarian Art Nouveau style commemorates the Árpád House, and the most renowned artists and industrialists of the time took part in the construction of the hall.

 The specially crafted inlaid parquet and wood-panelled walls, unique curtains and furniture, wonderful Zsolnay ceramics can also be interpreted as an independent work of art.

 The Hall also received international recognition at the 1900 World's Fair in Paris

St. Stephen's Hall was completely destroyed in World War II, and in its place, offices and an engraving library were established from the 1950s onwards. 

The re-construction/restoration of St. Stephen's Hall:

In recent years, hundreds of professionals have been working on re-creating the room in a period-like and identical way to the original. 

The reconstructed Hall was opened to visitors on 20.08.2021 in the Buda Castle

The Commemorative Coin:

The Obverse and Reverse of the 3,000 Forint Base Metal Coin seen against a background representation of the intricate design, which depicts a section of the Zsolnay fireplace, the defining central element of St. Stephen's Hall with a bust of St. Stephen in the centre

The first Commemorative hexagonal-shaped golden-coloured Coin is part of the planned seven-piece series and was produced by the Mint of Hungary at their facilities in Budapest, on behalf of the National Bank. 

It is the first of a series under the "National Hauszmann Programme".

Another distinctive feature of the Coins issued under this Series is the hexagonal shape, as well as their base material - their hexagonal shape. Nordic gold (89% copper, 5% aluminum, 5% zinc and 1% tin alloy).

Designed to fit together as a larger illustration of the Buda Castle district, other collector coins in the series will feature buildings renovated or rebuilt under the National Hauszmann Programme, as well as other sites in the castle, on an annual basis

When combined and completed, the overall collection will form a honeycomb structure and illustrate a greater view of the Buda Castle district

On the Obverse of the first 3,000 Forint Commemorative Coin, depicting St. Stephen's Hall, a circular detail of the tapestry of the redecorated Hall is depicted, with the Apostolic Double Cross/Patriarchal Cross in its centre and other decorative elements of the tapestry around it. 

Also on this face, there are the obligatory elements of a Hungarian legal tender - interrupting the decorative motif, in a semi-circular arch above the primary design is the lettering "MAGYARORSZÁG" (“Hungary”) and at the bottom is the denomination "3000 FORINT". The year of minting "2022" is inscribed on the far left, and the mintmark "BP." on the centre right.

On the Reverse of the first 3,000 Forint Commemorative Coin, is seen an intricate design, which depicts a section of the Zsolnay fireplace, the defining central element of St. Stephen's Hall with a bust of St. Stephen in the centre. 

The motif appears at the edges with blueprint-like edited lines/structured lines in the form of a plan, which are replaced by increasingly higher and higher plasticis towards the centre, referring to the process of realisation and reconstruction of the plans. Under the central motif is the inscription "SZENT ISTVÁN-TEREM" ("St. Stephen's Hall").

The master mark of the designer Zoltán Endrődy, (who designed the commemorative coin), is found at bottom-right.

 The specifications of this Nordic Gold Coin are:

Country of issue: "MAGYARORSZÁG" (“Hungary"); Date/Year of Coin issue: 19.08.2022; Coin Series Theme: "National Hauszmann Programme - restoring the Buda Castle District"; Coin Theme: "St. Stephen's Hall"; Metal Composition: Nordic Gold (89% Copper, 5% Aluminum, 5% Zinc and 1% Tin Alloy); Shape: Hexagonal; Coin Quality: Proof-like; Denomination: 3,000 Forint; Diameter/Size: 37.18 mm; Weight: 20.0 grams; Minted By: Mint of Hungary; On behalf of: National Bank of Hungary; Mintage: 20,000 pieces; Designer: Endrődy Zoltán.

- The base metal "Szent István-terem" ("St. Stephen's Hall") coins are available for purchase while stocks last from the 19.08.2022 onwards. 












Links to posts on Hungarian Coins, Currency & Stamps on this Blog:

Posts on Hungarian Dogs:

























National Hauszmann Programme Commemorative Coin Series I:


10 comments:

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  2. Rajan Trikha has commented:
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