Budapest, 27 March 2026 – Today, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank is issuing a silver collector coin with a face value of 40,000 forints and a non-ferrous metal version with a face value of 6,000 forints to mark the 350th anniversary of the birth of Francis II Rákóczi. In addition to the collector coins, the MNB is issuing 1 million copies of a 50-forint commemorative circulation coin with a thematic side aligned with the anniversary.
Francis II Rákóczi was born on 27 March 1676 in Borsi, in Zemplén County. In the early 1700s he began an uprising against the Habsburg rule to liberate Hungary and Transylvania. Rákóczi’s War of Independence, fought between 1703 and 1711, was ultimately defeated by imperial troops, but as a result of the peace treaty, Hungary was able to retain its relative independence.
On the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the birth of Francis II Rákóczi, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank is issuing a silver collector coin with a face value of 40,000 forints and a non-ferrous metal version with a face value of 6,000 forints. The collector coins were designed by sculptor Borbála Szanyi, while the commemorative circulation coins were created using the design of sculptor and medallist Lajos Berán.
The primary role of the coins now being issued is to transmit values and raise awareness. The public may encounter the commemorative circulation coin in cash transactions while making everyday purchases. Collector coins, however, are not to be used in everyday payments. The face value displayed on the collector coins is meant to preserve their value for collectors.
Further details about the coins can be found on the MNB’s website.
Magyar Nemzeti Bank