Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 500 Forint 1994, KM# 709, Hungary, 100th Anniversary of Death of Lajos Kossuth
  • 500 Forint 1994, KM# 709, Hungary, 100th Anniversary of Death of Lajos Kossuth
Description

Lajos Kossuth de Udvard et Kossuthfalva (1802–1894) was a Hungarian lawyer, journalist, politician and Governor-President of the Kingdom of Hungary during the revolution of 1848–49. With the help of his talent in oratory in political debates and public speeches, Kossuth emerged from a poor gentry family into regent-president of Kingdom of Hungary. He was widely honored during his lifetime, including in Great Britain and the United States, as a freedom fighter and bellwether of democracy in Europe. Kossuth's bronze bust can be found in the United States Capitol with the inscription: "Father of Hungarian Democracy, Hungarian Statesman, Freedom Fighter, 1848–1849".

Engraver: György Kiss

Obverse

Depicts the bust of Lajos Kossuth, beneath which his signature is visible. The engraver's privy mark (KYY) is displayed to the left of the center of the bust, while to the right, the years indicating the centenary are visible.

KYY
1894
1994
Kossuth Lajos

Reverse

Depicts the denomination, with the inscription "FORINT" below it, encircled by the outlined depiction of the Kossuth Coat of Arms. At the top, in the center beneath the circular inscription, the engraver's privy mark (KYY) is ligatured. Inside the circular inscription, below and to the left of the protruding tip of the coat of arms line, the year of issue is displayed, while to the right, the mint mark is situated. A four-pointed star is visible between the words of the circular inscription.

The Kossuth Coat of Arms is a unique rendition of Hungary's historical national coat of arms, notably lacking the Holy Crown. Its shape differs from the standard straight-sided shield, featuring inwardly curved edges at the top and sides, forming a distinctive Hungarian shield shape. On the left side, against a red backdrop, there's a green triple hill topped with a golden crown, beneath which a white apostolic double cross is displayed. The right side is divided into red and silver "Árpád stripes," cut seven times. Introduced after the dethronement of the Habsburgs on April 14, 1849, and the declaration of independence on April 19, it is closely associated with Lajos Kossuth. Henceforth, the Hungarian army adopted it for their flags. The Ministry of Finance, under Kossuth's leadership, adopted the modified middle coat of arms in 1848, representing Hungary, Croatia, Slavonia, and Transylvania under the Hungarian government's authority at the time.

MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG
KYY
500
FORINT
1994 BP.

Edge

500 Forint

Third Republic

100th Anniversary of Death of Lajos Kossuth

KM# 709 Schön# 212 Adamo# EM133
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.925
Weight 31.46 g
Diameter 38.61 mm
Thickness 3 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Budapest Mint (BP)

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