Obverse. Photo © Monetnik.ru
  • 500 Forint 1994, KM# 707, Hungary, Old Danube Ships, Carolina
  • 500 Forint 1994, KM# 707, Hungary, Old Danube Ships, Carolina
Description

The Carolina, the inaugural steamship on the Danube, was constructed by Antal Bernhard, a resident of Pécs, near the Drava River in Sellye. It was launched on March 21, 1817, and towed to Vienna before arriving in Pest for the first time on September 5 of the same year.

Measuring 13.37 meters in length, 3.16 meters in width, and with a draft of 1.02 meters, the Carolina played a pivotal role in initiating river navigation in Budapest on July 16, 1820. Equipped with a modest 17.7 kW steam engine and a small hull, passengers were ferried on a connected barge due to limited space. Despite its intended use as a tugboat, its performance fell short, leading to its service in transporting passengers between Pest, Buda, and Óbuda. Operating twice daily, the vessel could achieve speeds of 3.4 km/h upstream and 17 km/h downstream on the Danube, carrying cargo weighing 488 metric tons.

However, due to its limited passenger traffic, attributed to the affordability of bridges, the Carolina's operation was confined to the navigation season. Ultimately, it was returned to the Drava River, where it was last sighted as a wreck in 1824.

Engraver: Mihály Fritz

Obverse

Depicts one of the earliest Hungarian steamships, known as "Carolina," navigating the Danube. On the left side, there's a decorative border featuring the coin series title, "Old Danube Ships," presented in three lines, with the year of its launch visible below.

Régi
dunai
hajók
1817
CAROLINA

Reverse

Depicts at the center the coat of arms of the Republic of Hungary, below which is the denomination. The last letter of the word "FORINT" is depicted in the shape of an anchor. Aligned with the inscription, on the left side, the mintmark "BP" is positioned, beneath which is the year of issue, and on the same line, on the right side, are the initials "FM" representing the designer's name.

The Hungarian coat of arms, adopted in 1919 and reaffirmed on July 3, 1990, features a vertically divided shield with a rounded base. The left field displays eight red and silver horizontal bars, symbolizing the Árpád dynasty, while the right field depicts three green hills with a golden crown on the center hill and a silver patriarchal cross emerging from it. These elements represent the Danube, Tisza, Dráva, and Száva rivers, and the Tátra, Mátra, and Fátra mountain ranges. Atop the shield rests the Holy Crown of Hungary, also known as the Crown of Saint Stephen, which has been used for coronations since the 12th century. The crown's cross was tilted in the 17th century due to damage, and it has remained in this position since then, symbolizing the enduring history and legitimacy of Hungarian monarchs.

MAGYAR
500
Forint
BP.
1994
FM
KÖZTÁRSASÁG

Edge

500 Forint

Third Republic
KM# 707 Schön# 213 Adamo# EM134
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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