Budapest, 25 November 2025 – “For a century and a half, the Hungarian Athletic Club has proven that the basis of national performance is perseverance, creating value and faith in the future. These values are worthy of being commemorated in the form of a collector coin,” said MNB Governor Mihály Varga at the ceremony held on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Hungarian Athletic Club. Governor Varga called attention to the fact that the Hungarian Athletic Club’s significance was evidenced by the fact that in the 150 years since its founding, it had produced numerous Olympic champions and world-famous athletes.
Governor Varga recalled that the Hungarian Athletic Club was the sports club with the longest history in Hungary; over the years, it was home to twenty-one sports and produced 18 Olympic champions, with its members winning 63 gold medals at Olympic Games and World and European Championships. He also recalled that since 1968 the MNB had been issuing collector coins on a regular basis to commemorate Hungary’s significant historical, scientific and cultural events, and anniversaries. As part of this activity, the MNB was commemorating the jubilee anniversary of the Hungarian Athletic Club’s founding with a coin, issuing a non-ferrous metal coin with a face value of HUF 3,000 in limited quantity. Governor Varga called attention to the fact that the primary role of collector coins was to transfer value and raise awareness, and they were not to be used in everyday payments. Thanks to the sophisticated artistic design, they held unique value. The face value displayed on the collector coins was meant to preserve their value for collectors.
Kristóf Kállay, President of the Hungarian Athletic Club, held a speech at the event, commemorating the Club’s 150-year-long history and its notable sportsmen and sportswomen. To commemorate the jubilee, the Hungarian Post Ltd. also issued a commemorative stamp. Dr. Géza Láng, President and CEO of the Hungarian Post, highlighted that the Hungarian Athletic Club, Hungary’s first competitive sports club, was at the forefront of strengthening Hungary’s national community and identity and had done so in an exemplary manner.
For more information on collector coins, please visit the MNB’s website.