Obverse. Photo © Monetarium Numizmatika
  • 750 Forint 1998, KM# 725, Hungary, 125th Anniversary of the Unification of Buda and Pest
  • 750 Forint 1998, KM# 725, Hungary, 125th Anniversary of the Unification of Buda and Pest
Description

The term "Budapest" was coined by István Széchenyi in 1831, advocating for a unified capital merging historic Buda and burgeoning Pest. Széchenyi stressed the necessity of artificial intervention to prevent the cities' provincial status, with the construction of the Chain Bridge symbolizing this union. Minister of the Interior Bertalan Szemere officially merged the cities on June 24, 1849, emphasizing Buda's historical significance and Pest's status as the capital. Despite the decree's initial failure, centralization continued under the absolutist regime, culminating in the amalgamation of Óbuda and Buda in December 1849, followed by Buda and Pest in November 1850. The Compromise of 1867 spurred further political changes, leading to the final merger of Buda, Pest, Óbuda, and Margaret Island on November 17, 1873. This event marked the establishment of the Municipal Council and paved the way for Budapest's transformation into a global metropolis, experiencing rapid growth in industry, commerce, and population. By 1890, Budapest's civilian population had surged to 492,000, elevating it to 8th place among European cities by 1900.

Engraver: Gábor Gáti

Obverse

Depicts a stylized map of Budapest, featuring the word "BUDA" on the Buda side and "PEST" on the Pest side. Positioned at the bottom right of the map is the coat of arms of the capital city, beneath which the designer's initials (GG) are displayed. On the left edge, in the center, the inscription "125 YEARS" is presented in two lines.

The capital's Gothic coat of arms, predominantly red in color, is divided by a silver or white wavy ribbon, symbolizing the Danube River. The upper field of the shield features a one-towered, single-gated, gold (yellow) structure representing Pest, while the lower field depicts a three-towered, double-gated, gold-colored castle representing Buda and Óbuda. Both castle gates are open against a sky-blue background. Positioned on the right side of the shield is a gold-colored lion, while on the left side rests a gold-colored griffin (a lion-bodied eagle). The Hungarian Holy Crown is placed atop the shield.

125
ÉVES
BUDA
PEST
GG

Reverse

Depicts the Chain Bridge at its center, with the Buda Castle depicted in the background. Positioned on the right side, at the top, is the denomination, followed by the inscription "FORINT" below it. In the lower third, consecutive rows of inscriptions including "Hungarian Republic," the year of issue and mint mark, along with the engraver's initials, are visible.

The Széchenyi Chain Bridge, known as Széchenyi lánchíd in Hungarian, spans the River Danube, connecting Buda and Pest, the two sides of Budapest, Hungary's capital city. Designed by English engineer William Tierney Clark and constructed by Scottish engineer Adam Clark, it holds the distinction of being Hungary's first permanent bridge over the Danube. Completed in 1849, the bridge is anchored on the Pest side to Széchenyi Square and on the Buda side to Adam Clark Square. Named after István Széchenyi, a key supporter of its construction, it is commonly referred to as the "Chain Bridge" due to its chain-link design. Renowned as a marvel of modern engineering upon its completion, the bridge's decorations are crafted from cast iron.

750
FORINT
MAGYAR
KÖZTÁRSASÁG
1998 BP.
GG

Edge

750 Forint

Third Republic

125th Anniversary of the Unification of Buda and Pest

KM# 725 Schön# 230 Adamo# EM149
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Silver
Fineness 0.500
Weight 10 g
Diameter 30 mm
Thickness 1.9 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Budapest Mint (BP)

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