Collector coin to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of András Fáy
The Magyar Nemzeti Bank is issuing silver and non-ferrous metal collector coins to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of András Fáy, author, politician and one of the most prolific members of the literary and social movements of the Hungarian reform era. Founded by Fáy, the First National Savings Association of Pest started business in 1840, and by 1848 it opened 32 branch offices in the countryside. Kálmán Mikszáth said: ‘had Széchenyi not lived, he would be titled the “Greatest of Hungarians”, and had Deák not lived, he would be called the “Wise Man of the Homeland” – after all, he is remembered as “The Servant of the Nation”.’
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The Magyar Nemzeti Bank is issuing silver and non-ferrous metal collector coins to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of András Fáy, author, politician and one of the most prolific members of the literary and social movements of the Hungarian reform era. Founded by Fáy, the First National Savings Association of Pest started business in 1840, and by 1848 it opened 32 branch offices in the countryside. Kálmán Mikszáth said: ‘had Széchenyi not lived, he would be titled the “Greatest of Hungarians”, and had Deák not lived, he would be called the “Wise Man of the Homeland” – after all, he is remembered as “The Servant of the Nation”.’
The obverse of the collector coin bears the emblem of the First National Savings Association of Pest founded by András Fáy. It depicts a bee collecting pollen, enclosed in a circle. The emblem resembles the decorative motif on the facade of the building at 12 Károlyi utca. The upper legend on the edge of the coin reads ‘MAGYARORSZÁG’. The value numeral ‘5000’ and the inscription ‘FORINT’ are placed below the representation of the emblem. The initials of designer Márta Csikai are on the edge of the coin. The mint year ‘2014’ and the mint mark ‘BP’ are positioned on the left, below the horizontal axis.
The reverse of the coin features a half-figure portrait of András Fáy, placed in the centre. Fáy’s signature is inscribed on the edge of the collector coin, above the horizontal axis and to the left of the portrait. The inscription to the right of the portrait, arranged in two horizontal lines above Fáy’s shoulder, reads ‘1786-1864’. The initials of designer Vilmos Király are positioned to the left of the portrait, on the right edge of the coin.
The collector coin is struck in .925 fine silver. It weighs 12.5 grams, measures 30 mm in diameter and has a milled edge. The non-ferrous metal version weighs 12.5 grams and has the same diameter and the same coin design as the silver version. The mintage limit is 5,000 pieces in proof finish for the silver coin and 5,000 pieces of the brilliant uncirculated finish for the non-ferrous metal version.
From 2014, each precious metal commemorative coin will be issued in a less expensive non-ferrous metal version to benefit collectors who wish to buy the same artistic theme at a more affordable price. By issuing lower-priced versions, the MNB and the Hungarian Mint would also like to encourage younger generations to collect commemorative coins. Accordingly, a non-ferrous metal coin with a face value of HUF 2,000 and an identical design as the HUF 5,000 silver coin will also be issued.
The collector coin is distributed by the Hungarian Mint Ltd and is on sale from 24 July 2014 at the coin shop of the Hungarian Mint (Budapest, V. ker., Hold u. 17.) and in the Mint’s webshop (http://penzvero.hu/), where a number of collector coins produced from gold, silver and non-ferrous metals issued earlier are also on sale.
MAGYAR NEMZETI BANK
Communications
Tel.: + 36 (1) 428-2751
Fax: + 36 (1) 429-8000
Email: sajto@mnb.hu
