By Coin & Currency Institute ……
The Gold Florins of Medieval Hungary: King Albert of Habsburg (1437-1439) – Classic Hungarian Gold Coin Recreated on Modern Legal Tender
World Coins: The only gold coin Hungary will issue in 2018 reaches back seven centuries, to the goldguldens (or florins) of King Albert, for its inspiration. Albert of Habsburg (the Magnanimous), descendant of King Bela IV, was crowned king of Hungary on December 18, 1437 after the death of his father-in-law, the Holy Roman emperor Sigismund. Soon afterwards Albert was named king of Bohemia, and in March 1438 he was named “King of the Romans”, although he was never crowned Holy Roman emperor. He died in 1439 during a war with the Turks.
The 2018 50,000-forint legal tender gold coin is modeled after a coin minted for Albert in 1439 now in the collection of the Hungarian National Museum. It corresponds to No. 589 in the Huszar catalog and No. 12 in Friedberg’s Gold Coins of the World.
The obverse duplicates the original with a four-part coat of arms with stripes representing Hungary, a band from the Austrian shield, a Bohemian lion, and a Moravian eagle. Encircling the coin are five of the mintmaster’s marks used during Albert’s two-year reign. The reverse has an image of St. Ladislas standing holding a battle axe and orb. To his left and right are the letter “h” representing the Hermannstadt mint, and a lamb, the coat of arms of János Lemmel, the lord of the chambers who was in charge of minting.
The 20 millimeter, .986 fine gold-ducat sized uncirculated pieces weigh 3.491 grams and are available for $389 USD each. They are limited to 2,000 coins. In addition, the Hungarian Mint is striking 500 quadruple-weight (13.964 grams) piéfort coins that are also 20mm, but four times as thick and heavy as the regular striking with the inscription ALBERTUS DEI GRATIA REX VNGARIE (Albert, King of Hungary by the grace of God) around the edge. While they last, this limited issue is available for $1,550.
A copper-nickel-zinc brilliant uncirculated 2,000-forint version with the same design, weighing 2.7 grams and limited to 5,000 pieces is also available for $19.95. All three coins will be ready for delivery to North America by the end of April.
This issue continues the series begun in 2012 with the gold florin of Charles I. Other issues were for Louis I (2013), Mary, Queen of Hungary (2014), and Sigismund (2016).
To order, or for more information on these and other world coins of Hungary, contact the Hungarian Mint’s North American Representative at P.O. Box 399, Williston, VT 05495. Toll-free 1-800-421-1866 or Fax at (802) 536-4787. Email: [email protected], or click on the Hungarian flag at www.coin-currency.com for secure website ordering. Add $5.75 to each order for shipping and handling in the U.S.A. Shipping to other countries will be based on actual cost. Vermont residents add 6% sales tax. Those desiring to receive information and photographs electronically on a regular basis can provide their email address to [email protected].
