Obverse. Photo © Monetarium Numizmatika
  • 500 Forint 1988, KM# 662, Hungary, 950th Anniversary of Death of King Stephen I
  • 500 Forint 1988, KM# 662, Hungary, 950th Anniversary of Death of King Stephen I
  • 500 Forint 1988, KM# 662, Hungary, 950th Anniversary of Death of King Stephen I, St. Stephen's denar (Lancea Regis)
Description

Stephen I (c. 975 – 1038), known as King Saint Stephen, was the last Grand Prince of the Hungarians from 997 to 1000 or 1001, and the first King of Hungary until his death in 1038. Born around 975 in Esztergom, he was baptized with the name Vajk. Stephen married Gisela of Bavaria, and after ascending to the throne, he faced challenges from his relative Koppány, whom he defeated with the help of foreign knights and native lords. Crowned in 1000 or 1001, he expanded his kingdom by unifying the Carpathian Basin and defending against invasions, establishing church institutions and local administration systems. His reign brought peace and prosperity to Hungary, making it a key route for pilgrims and merchants. Stephen died at age 62 or 63, buried in Székesfehérvár. Canonized by Pope Gregory VII in 1083, he is celebrated as a national saint in Hungary, with his feast day observed on 20 August, also known as State Foundation Day.

Engraver: Lebó Ferenc

Obverse

Depicts King Saint Stephen and Queen Gisela. King Saint Stephen is portrayed wearing a lily crown and a cloak, holding a lance and an orb, with the Latin inscription "King Stephen" around his head. Queen Giselle is depicted wearing a lily crown and a cloak, holding a stylized church, with the Latin inscription "Queen Gisela" around her head. All images are surrounded by the Latin inscription "King Stephen of Hungary" above and the death year of King Saint Stephen.

Gisela of Hungary (or Gisele, Gizella and of Bavaria; c. 985 – 1065) was the first queen consort of Hungary by marriage to Stephen I of Hungary, and the sister of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor. She has been beatified by the Catholic Church.

STEPHANUS + REX + HUNGARIAE † 1038 +
STEPHANUS REX
GISELA REGINA

Reverse

Depicts the first Hungarian coin, St. Stephen's denar (Lancea Regis), the denomination, the mintmark (BP), the issue year and the engraver's name below, surrounded by the country name (Hungarian People's Republic).

Following his coronation, King Stephen exercised royal prerogatives, including the minting of coins. Until 1968, Hungarian numismatics considered Stephen's silver denar inscribed with "STEPHANUS REX" as the first Hungarian coin. However, an unexpected turn occurred in 1968 when, during earthworks near the village of Nagyharsány in Baranya County, a bulldozer shattered a pottery vessel, revealing jewelry and coins. Among them were 40 pieces of a previously unknown coin type, weighing around 1.2 grams with a diameter of approximately 23 mm. The obverse of the coin features a central motif of a lance, a symbol of royal dignity. The outer circle reads "LANCEA REGIS" (the king's lance), while the inner circle depicts an arm holding a flag-bearing lance from the right. On the reverse, the outer circle reads "REGIA CIVITAS" (royal city), while the inner circle portrays an unusual depiction of a Carolingian church, with the inscription "RECI" referring back to the outer circle.

Research following the discovery concluded that the inscriptions and the lance motif on the obverse could only symbolize King Stephen's authority. Similarly, the depiction of the Carolingian church on the reverse supports Stephen's attribution, as it appears on his other coins and those of his successors. This representation of the church also signifies Stephen's conversion of the pagan Magyars and his initiation of the Hungarian Church's establishment.

The discovery in Nagyharsány opened a new chapter in Hungarian numismatics, fundamentally altering our understanding of the origins of Hungarian coinage.

MAGYAR
500
FORINT
BP · 1988
LEBÓ F.
NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG

Edge

500 Forint

People's Republic

950th Anniversary of Death of King Stephen I

KM# 662 Schön# 162 Adamo# EM102
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.900
Weight 28 g
Diameter 40 mm
Thickness 2.7 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Budapest Mint (BP)

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