2017-05-31 Wed

The 150th anniversary of the Compromise of 1867 was observed by Hungary with the release of an Uncirculated copper-nickel 2,000-forint coin and a Proof .925 fine silver 20,000-forint coin. These coins are the largest in diameter ever issued by the country. Everything about the design, except the denomination, is the same for both the coins.

One of the most significant events in the history of modern Hungary, the Compromise of 1867 was a set of agreements that transformed the political, legal and economic relations between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary. The head of the house of Hapsburg, King Franz Joseph I, and a Hungarian delegation led by Ferenc Deák and Gyula Andrássy participated in the agreement.

The obverse depicts a portrait of Ferenc Deák inspired by Ede Telcs’s work. The partially covered Hapsburg coat of arms is compared with the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Hungary. Ferenc Deák’s name and the quote “I am more able to love my homeland than to hate my enemies” are also inscribed on the obverse. The reverse depicts Queen Elizabeth and Franz Joseph I with the coat of arms of the House of Hapsburg relating to the Austrian coat of arms. Their names, the word KIEGYEZÉS meaning Compromise, year of the compromise and the year of minting are also inscribed. The same digit 7 takes the last digit of both years.

The mintage limit of the silver coin is 5,000 pieces and each one costs $97.75. The copper-nickel coin costs $22.75 each.