Obverse. Photo © Magyar Nemzeti Bank
  • 2000 Forint 2020, Adamo# EM396, Hungary, Hungarian Nobel Prize Winners, John Harsanyi
  • 2000 Forint 2020, Adamo# EM396, Hungary, Hungarian Nobel Prize Winners, John Harsanyi
Description

John Charles Harsányi (1920–2000), born János Harsányi, was a Hungarian economist renowned for his contributions to game theory and social choice theory. He excelled in mathematics and physics at Fasori Evangelical Gymnasium, winning first prize in the Eötvös Mathematics Competition. Initially studying mathematics and philosophy, he switched to pharmaceutical studies at the University of Budapest (now Eötvös Loránd University) due to World War II, earning a pharmacy degree in 1944.

After the war, Harsányi taught economics at the University of Brisbane (1954-1956) and later earned his Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University in 1958 under Kenneth Arrow. His groundbreaking work in game theory earned him the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1994, shared with John Nash and Reinhard Selten. In his honor, the János Harsányi College was established in Budapest in 2003.

Engraver: Balázs Pelcz

Obverse

Depicts the portrait of John Harsanyi. Encircled by a border, on the upper left side, "HARSÁNYI" is inscribed, while on the upper right side, "JOHN" is written. On the lower right side, the birth and death years "1920–2000" are visible. To the left of the portrait, the engraver's privy mark is placed at the bottom.

HARSÁNYI JÁNOS
1920-2000
PB

Reverse

Depicts a triangular endless staircase, symbolizing a hierarchical structure. The staircase's railing is on the left, and a ladder protruding from its center on the right interrupts the outline. This design symbolically represents Harsányi's Nobel-winning achievement, where he introduced a simpler concept (the ladder) that triggered infinite regression (the staircase). The design also includes mandatory elements: the country name at the top edge, the denomination below, "BP" mintmark on the left, and the year "2020" vertically between the ladder's legs. The mintmark contains micro-writing visible at ten times magnification, replicating the letters of the mintmark.

MAGYARORSZÁG
BP.
2020
2000 FORINT

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Copper Nickel
Weight 30.8 g
Diameter 38.61 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Budapest Mint (BP)

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