12 May 2025
The Magyar Nemzeti Bank is continuing its series, presenting the national memorial sites in Hungary, by issuing a bronze coated, non-ferrous metal collector coin named ’Budapest Várnegyed Nemzeti Emlékhely’ with a face value of 3,000 forints. As a symbol of our capital, the Budapest Castle District has been a site of world heritage and was inaugurated as a national memorial site in 2013.
With a history spanning over centuries and an unparalleled architectural heritage, the Castle District is the oldest part of the capital and an area richest in monuments, and has been the administrative and political centre of the Hungarian state since the mid-13th century.
The construction of the first fortifications was ordered by Béla IV of Hungary after First Mongol invasion. The development of the castle into an impressive palace complex began during the reign of Sigismund of Luxembourg. In 1541, the Buda Castle fell to the hands of the Turks, and in the following 150 years significant changes were carried out. The Baroque reconstruction of the castle district and the royal palace began after the recapture in 1686. The construction of the Castle Garden Bazaar began 200 years ago, in 1875, based on the plans by Miklós Ybl, and under the guidance of Alajos Hauszmann, another major extension and reconstruction took place 120 years ago. After the unification of the Buda and Pest in 1873, the Castle District was once again an integral part of the capital becoming the cultural centre of Budapest.
Launched jointly with the Nemzeti Örökség Intézete (National Heritage Institute), the Magyar Nemzeti Bank is adding the 12th piece to its series of coins presenting national memorial sites in Hungary, named ’Budapest Várnegyed Nemzeti Emlékhely’ (Budapest Castle District National Memorial Site) with a face value of 3,000 forints in non-ferrous metal finish. The primary role of the collector coins is to raise awareness and promote our national values, and their use in everyday payments is to be avoided. The denomination is intended to preserve the value the coin holds as a collector's item.
Previously issued collector coins of the series presenting national memorial sites in Hungary: “Somogyvár-Kapuvár” (2014), “Mohács” (2015), “New Public Cemetery of Rákoskeresztúr” (2016), “Kossuth Lajos Square Budapest” (2017), “Fiumei Cemetery” (2018), “Esztergom, Castle Hill and Víziváros” (2019), “Debrecen, Reformed Great Church and College” (2020), „Ópusztaszer National Heritage Park” (2021), “Székesfehérvár, Romkert” (2022), “Military Memorial Park, Pákozd” (2023), “Benedictine Archabbey of Pannonhalma” (2024).
The ’Budapest Várnegyed Nemzeti Emlékhely’ collector coin was designed by sculptor Gábor Veres.
One side depicts the entire national memorial site from a distance, while the other side features a specific detail of the national memorial site, highlighting its sacramental, cultural character.
More details about the coin can be found in the annex.