Obverse. Photo © Zomi Numizmatika
  • 2000 Forint 2019, Adamo# EM388, Hungary, Hungarian National Memorial Sites, Esztergom, Castle Hill and Víziváros
  • 2000 Forint 2019, Adamo# EM388, Hungary, Hungarian National Memorial Sites, Esztergom, Castle Hill and Víziváros
Description

Hungarian historical landmarks hold profound significance as sites of memory, revered for their national, religious, regional, or minority importance. While they often boast remarkable architectural features, their primary value lies in their historical significance. According to legislation, a national memorial site can encompass either a constructed setting or a natural locale where a pivotal event from the past, shaping the nation's trajectory, or a significant state decision has unfolded, deemed worthy of national remembrance.

Distinguished national memorial sites serve as crucial touchstones in both Hungarian history and the history of the Hungarian State. They offer visitors a window into the pivotal events, tragedies, and triumphs that have shaped Hungary's past. Presently (as of 2024), the country boasts sixty-four recognized historical landmarks, designated as such by government decree following recommendations from the National Memorial and Mourning Committee. The National Heritage Institute ensures their consistent identification, erecting markers that not only uniformly distinguish the landmarks but also succinctly convey their significance to interested parties.

Engraver: Zoltán Tóth

Obverse

Depicts the Royal castle, Esztergom Basilica and the Primate's Palace. Above, in the center, is the inscription "ESZTERGOM," with "NATIONAL MEMORIAL SITE" written in a semicircle along the edge. Below, on the left, the inscription "CASTLE HILL AND VÍZIVÁROS" is visible. To the left of the castle depiction is the emblem of the national memorial sites, and below the depiction of the Basilica is the engraver's privy mark.

Esztergom is a city with county rights located in northern Hungary, 46 kilometers (29 miles) northwest of the capital, Budapest. Esztergom served as Hungary's capital from the 10th century until the mid-13th century, when King Béla IV relocated the royal seat to Buda. Esztergom is the seat of the Primate of the Catholic Church in Hungary.

The Primatial Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Adalbert, also known as the Esztergom Basilica, is the largest church in Hungary and the mother church of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest. Dedicated to Saint Mary and Saint Adalbert, it measures 118 meters long, 49 meters wide, and has a dome height of 71.5 meters inside. The basilica's vast interior includes a crypt built in 1831 in Old Egyptian style, now a resting place for notable archbishops like József Mindszenty. Built on Castle Hill, the basilica stands on the site of earlier churches dating back to the early 11th century.

Víziváros (Watertown) in Esztergom, named for its location along the Small and Great Danube, features historic fortresses, walls, and remnants of Turkish structures from the 16th century, including a memorial to Sultan Suleiman's 1543 siege. The picturesque streets, lined with Baroque and Classicist buildings, house the Primate's Palace, designed by József Lippert, which includes the Keresztény Múzeum with its extensive collection of medieval Hungarian and European art.

NEMZETI EMLÉKHELY
ESZTERGOM
VÁRHEGY ÉS VÍZIVÁROS

Reverse

Depicts the interior of the castle chapel, featuring a wall section adorned with frescoes of the apostles and seating niches. Above, on the left, arranged in two rows one above the other and aligned to the right, are the denomination and the inscription "FORINT." Along the upper left edge, in a semicircle, is the inscription "HUNGARY". Below, in the center, arranged in two rows one above the other, are the year of issue "2019" and the mint mark "BP."

MAGYARORSZÁG
2000
FORINT
2019
BP.

Edge

2000 Forint

Hungarian National Memorial Sites
Esztergom, Castle Hill and Víziváros

Subscribe series
Adamo# EM388
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Bronze Plated Copper
Weight 18.4 g
Diameter 37 mm
Thickness 2.7 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Budapest Mint (BP)

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