Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 5 Forint 1948, KM# 537, Hungary, 100th Anniversary of Hungarian Revolution of 1848, Sándor Petőfi
  • 5 Forint 1948, KM# 537, Hungary, 100th Anniversary of Hungarian Revolution of 1848, Sándor Petőfi
Description

The Hungarian Revolution of 1848, also referred to as the Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence of 1848–1849, was a pivotal event closely tied to the broader European Revolutions of 1848, particularly in the Habsburg regions. Despite its ultimate failure, it remains a defining moment in Hungary's modern history, shaping the nation's identity. The outbreak of the revolution on March 15th is celebrated as one of Hungary's three national holidays. In April 1848, Hungary enacted a democratic parliamentary election law, becoming the third country in Continental Europe to do so. This law transformed the feudal parliament into a representative body, granting extensive voting rights. However, tensions escalated when Austrian monarch Franz Joseph I revoked these laws arbitrarily, leading to conflict with the Hungarian parliament. The subsequent military intervention and defeat of Hungarian forces by a joint Russo-Austrian army restored Habsburg power and placed Hungary under martial law, marking a significant setback for Hungarian aspirations of independence.

The Second Hungarian Republic (Hungarian: Magyar Köztársaság) was a parliamentary republic briefly established after the dissolution of the Kingdom of Hungary on 1 February 1946 and dissolved on 20 August 1949. It was succeeded by the People's Republic of Hungary.

Engraver: József Reményi

Obverse

Depicts the portrait of Petőfi Sándor, his name above, and dates of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 below.

Sándor Petőfi (1823-1849) was a Hungarian poet, revolutionary, a national hero, one of the most iconic figures of Hungarian literature and culture. His poems were translated into the most languages in Hungarian poetry. In his short life, the internationally renowned poet wrote nearly a thousand poems, and was one of the first literary figures who managed to make a living from his writings. He started the concept of the literary icon. As an embodiment of Hungarian Romanticism, he introduced new themes into Hungarian poetry, such as the family poetry, the depiction of the Puszta (Hungarian grasslands) and the idea of a free world. His exceptional popularity was also due to the fact that he used plain language in his works, and incorporated the language of the people into literature. He was one of the leading figures of the ‘Young people of March’, a dominant figure in the 1848-1849 Hungarian Revolution and War of Independence.

PETŐFI SÁNDOR
1848-49

Reverse

Depicts the denomination surrounded by the country name (Republic of Hungary), the issue date and the mintmark (BP.) below.

MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG
5
FORINT
1948
BP.

Edge

Depicts a quotation from Petőfi Sándor's revolutionary poem inscribed: "We swear, we swear" ... "that we will no longer be prisoners"

ESKÜSZÜNK, ESKÜSZÜNK

5 Forint

Second Republic
KM# 537 Unger# 1534 Huszar# 2343 Adamo# EM1
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.500
Weight 12 g
Diameter 32 mm
Thickness 1.9 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Budapest Mint (BP)

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