Coins of Hungary were probably held by everyone. Have you noticed that coins before 1945 must have a crown with a slanting cross? In this topic, I will first talk about this very significant symbol of statehood for all Hungarians, and then show several coins of this period from my collection.
Crown of St. Istvan
King of Hungary Istvan I Saint
There are many versions of the acquisition of this crown by the Hungarians. I will set out the one I think is most likely. This golden crown, with precious stones and images of saints, consists of two parts. The upper part (the arcs of which close at the top of the crown) with inscriptions in Latin was donated in 1001 by Pope Sylvester II for the coronation of the first Hungarian Christian monarch Istvan. By the way, according to one version, this crown was originally stolen from the Armenian king Tiridates III the Great, who ruled in the III century AD.
In 1075, the Hungarian king Chalomon fled the country, taking the crown with him, so the Byzantine emperor Michael VII Duca gave the Hungarian king Geza (eighth in a row) a new crown for coronation, now with a Greek text. Many researchers agree that this female crown was presented to the king's wife, and not to himself. Somewhere in the XII century, the first crown was returned back, then both crowns were combined into a single whole and crowned with a cross.
If you notice, the cross on the crown is tilted. There are also many versions of why and how it happened. Throughout the thousand-year history of the crown, it was repeatedly taken away, stolen, hidden, lost, drowned in swamps, found and returned back to Hungary. In one of these cases, which occurred in the 15th century during the next turmoil, the stolen crown, trying to take it out of the palace, was hidden in a casket, the lid of which was bent in the confusion. In memory of this incident, they did not rule the cross. In this form, the crown has survived to this day.
The crown of St. Stephen first appeared on the coat of arms of Hungary in 1464, then on coins from the reign of Maria Theresa, when Hungary was ruled by Austrian monarchs from the Habsburg dynasty. From the coins of the next Emperor Ferdinand I, the crown disappeared, on the reverse depicted St. Mary - the patroness of Hungary.
KM # 422, 20 Crusher 1848, Silver 0.583, 15 MMex. production years 1837-1848
In 1848-1849, a national uprising broke out in Hungary under the leadership of Lajos Kossuth, which was crushed with the help of the Russian Empire. Nevertheless, during this period, the Hungarians managed to issue a line of bargaining chips.
KM # 430.1 1 1848 Crossover Copper Single Year
KM # 430.2 1 1849 Crossover Copper Single Year
Lajos Kossuth, President of Hungary 1848-1849
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was formed in 1867 and lasted until 1918. The Austrian monarchs from the Habsburg dynasty ruled Hungary at that time: Franz Joseph I (1848-1916) and Charles IV (1916-1918).
Emperors of Austria-Hungary Franz Joseph I (left) and Charles IV (right)
KM # 441.1, 1 Kreutzer 1872, copper, m. Kremnitz, production years 1868-1873
KM # 442, 4 Kreuzer 1868, copper, MT Kremnitz, 3.1 MMex., single year of manufacture
KM # 451, 10 crossers 1870, silver 0.400, m. Kremnitsa, 21.9 million ex. years of production 1870-1889
KM # 453.1, 1 forint 1879, silver 0.900, m/d Kremnica, 25.8 M ex. years 1870-1879
KM # 468, 5/10 Kreutzer 1882, copper, mL Kremnitz, 2.4 MMex. single year of manufacture
KM # 458, 1 Crusher 1885, Copper, Kremnitz, 26.6 MMex. production years 1878-1885
KM # 478, 1 Crosser 1891, Copper, Kremnitz, 16.3 M equivalent, years 1891.1892
In 1892, a monetary reform was carried out. They left the cruisers and forints, fillers and crowns were put into circulation.
KM # 480, 1 filler 1895, bronze, m. Kremnitsa, 9.1 million copies, years of production 1892-1914
KM # 484, Hungary 1 crown 1893, silver 0.835, 24.4 million ex. years of issue 1892-1906
The next issue of new coins came in the First World War. Coins from this period can be viewed here. I will add only silver 1 and 2 crowns, produced at that time and not included in the review.
KM # 492, 1 crown 1915, silver 0.835, m. Kremnica, 3.9 million ex. years 1912-1916
KM # 493, 2 crowns 1913, silver 0.835, mD Kremnica, 3 M ex. years 1912-1914
As in many European (and not only) states in the period after the end of World War I, Hungary was going through a difficult time. The Hungarian Soviet Republic was even somehow declared, which, however, did not last long. The monarchy without a monarch was restored in 1920. The regent until 1944 was Vice Admiral Miklos Horthy.
Post-war inflation also made itself felt. In 1927, the Government was forced to carry out monetary reform. The new currency was penge (from Hungarian - voiced). The old Hungarian crowns were exchanged at a rate of 12,500: 1.
KM # 505, 1 filler 1930, bronze, m. Budapest, 3.7 M ex. years 1926-1939
Commemorative coins of the period.
KM # 512, 5 pengo 1930, silver 0.640, m. Budapest, 3.7 million ex. dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the regency of Admiral Horthy
KM # 513, 2 pengo 1935, silver 0.640, metro Budapest, 50 thousand copies, dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Catholic University of Peter Pazman.
KM # 514, 2 pengo 1935, silver 0.640, metro Budapest, 100 thousand copies, dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the death of Prince Transylvania Ferenc II Rakoczy.
KM # 515, 2 pengo 1936, silver 0.640, metro Budapest, 200 thousand copies, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the death of the Hungarian composer and pianist Franz Liszt.
True, there is a slight inconsistency. Unlike numerous other images of Istvan, the crown is drawn "correct," i.e. only its upper part. Was there a cross on the "first" crown at the time when King Istvan wore it during his lifetime?
KM # 517, 5 pengo 1939, silver 0.640, metro Budapest, 408 thousand copies, Vice Admiral Miklos Horthy, Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary
A selection of Hungarian coins from the Second World War can be found here.
In February 1945, the Red Army liberated Budapest. The Provisional Government that came to power issued a single coin - aluminum 5 pence. In our review, this is the last coin on which there is an image of the crown of St. Istvan.
KM # 525, 5 pengo 1945, aluminium, 5 M ex, single year of manufacture
Due to catastrophic inflation, this coin soon lost its solvency. During the monetary reform of 1946, the exchange rate was 400 octillion penge per forint (400,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000: 1).
In 1946, Hungary moved to the socialist camp for a long time and the Crown of St. Stephen appeared on regular coins only in 1992. Continuing the history of the Crown itself, it should be noted that it was taken by the Germans during the retreat to Austria to the Americans, who returned it to Hungary only in 1978.