October 15, 2015 – The Magyar Nemzeti Bank has released a commemorative version of the HUF 50 circulation coin of the National and Memorial Historcial Sites series. It attempts to draw general attention to the importance of national and historical memorial sites, their purpose as well as to the role played by the various sites in history. Two million pieces of the special metal coin will be put into circulation.
Hungary / HUF 50 / Cupro-Nickel / 27.4 mm / 7.7 g / Design: Istvan Kosa / Mintage: 2 million.
The common symbol of the national and historical memorials was inspired by the Royal Hungarian Sceptre, a motif with multi-faceted significance. The motif of the double knot simultaneously expresses the bonds that hold the Hungarian people together, and remind them that they are bound to protect the memorials and past values, preserving the important role they play in the country’s identity. As part of this mission, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank has released a 50 Forint circulation coin, with the traditional saker falcon replaced by the symbol of the memorials, as depicted by the coin’s designer, Istvan Kosa, chief engraver of the Hungarian Mint Ltd.
The memory of the Hungarian past plays an increasingly important role in the society’s self-understanding as a nation and coherent group. Memorial sites form a spatial bond between this past and general remembrance, accompanying Hungary’s history from its foundation all the way to the second half of the 20th century.
The Act on the Protection of Cultural Heritage governs national and historical memorial sites in Hungary. National memorial sites are locations of outstanding significance in the history of the Hungarian nation and serve as the backdrop for commemoration services by the entire nation. Historical memorials are generally sites which play a narrower role in a local community’s identity and as such represent important parts of Hungary’s national heritage. There are currently 14 national memorials and 46 historical memorials in Hungary.
More detailed information on this coin is available here.
Please find the website of the Magyar Nemzeti Bank here.
This is the website of the Hungarian Mint.
And here you can find a list of Hungarian sites which UNESCO classified as World Heritage.