Obverse. Photo © Magyar Nemzeti Bank
  • 2000 Forint 2021, Adamo# EM417, Hungary, 125th Anniversary of the Millennium Underground Railway
  • 2000 Forint 2021, Adamo# EM417, Hungary, 125th Anniversary of the Millennium Underground Railway
Description

The Millennium Underground Railway, now Metro 1, is Budapest's first metro line, running primarily beneath Andrássy Avenue. Opened in 1896, it was the first underground railway in continental Europe.

Construction began in 1860, inspired by the London Underground, with Siemens and Halske designing the plans. Emperor Franz Joseph rode the railway on May 8, 1896, and it was named in his honor. Initially, the 3700-meter line had 9 underground and 2 surface stops, with trains every 2 minutes and a peak daily ridership of 34,526 passengers.

Development paused until after World War II, with the railway initially operating with left-hand traffic. In 1973, the line was extended, moved entirely underground, and switched to right-hand traffic with modernized signaling and control systems. A full renovation in 1995 restored period-appropriate station designs and updated the track.

In 2002, the Millennium Underground and Andrássy Avenue were designated a World Heritage Site.

Engraver: Balázs Bitó

Obverse

Depicts a side view of a motor car with wooden cladding from the Millennium Underground Railway (BFKVV). Above it, in two horizontal rows, the inscriptions "MILLENNIUM UNDERGROUND" and "RAILWAY" are centered, with "1896" on the left and the issuance year "2021" on the right below the depiction. Along the edge, there is a depiction of a Zsolnay tile pattern bordering the names of the Millennium Underground Railway stations. The engraver's privy mark is integrated into the depiction of the motor car.

The BFKVV motor cars were manufactured by the Schlick-Nicholson factories between 1911 and 1912, totaling 60 units, painted in yellow and white. In 1931, during their motorization, new, stronger 70 HP motors manufactured by Ganz were installed, allowing the towing of 2 trailers. Then, between 1934 and 1936, 35 motor cars were also equipped with battery-powered rail brakes. They were decommissioned in the 1970s, although some cars remained in operation until the 1980s.

MILLENNIUMI FÖLDALATTI
VASÚT
BFKVV BB
1896 2021

Reverse

Depicts a station of the Millennium Underground Railway based on a 19th-century drawing, with people dressed in period clothing at the surface entrance and underground platform. Above it, arranged in three horizontal rows to the right, are the inscriptions "HUNGARY", the denomination, and "FORINT". At the bottom edge, on the left side, the mintmark "BP." is placed.

MAGYARORSZÁG
2000
FORINT
BP.

Edge

2000 Forint

125th Anniversary of the Millennium Underground Railway

Adamo# EM417
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Copper Nickel
Weight 27 g
Diameter -
Width 39.6 mm
Height 26.4 mm
Thickness -
Shape rectangular
Alignment Medal
Mint
Budapest Mint (BP)

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