Collector Coin Commemorates Ladislaus I of Hungary

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) is issuing collector coins named ‘Szent László király’ (Ladislaus I of Hungary) with a face value of HUF 500,000, in one ounce of fine gold; HUF 20,000 in one ounce of fine silver and a non-ferrous metal version with a face value of HUF 3,000 as part of the ‘Nation-Building Sovereigns from the Árpád Dynasty’ series.

The exceptionally low mintage of 500 gold coins is the most valuable in this year's program. The coins commemorate Ladislaus I of Hungary (1077-1095), who, as a just ruler, strengthened the Christian state and enacted important laws to protect private property and the church organisation.

During his reign, he successfully defended the country from external attacks by the Pechenegs and the Cumans, thus fortifying the eastern borders of the country for a century and a half. He was canonised in 1192. His legacy is one of the pillars of medieval Hungarian statehood. The issued collector coins are the third part of the ‘Nation-Building Sovereigns from the Árpád Dynasty’ series, alongside the Stephen I of Hungary (2021) and Andrew I of Hungary (2023).

The primary role of the ‘Ladislaus I of Hungary’ commemorative coins is to disseminate knowledge; therefore, they are not to be used in everyday payments. Their face value serves to preserve the value of the coins represent to collectors. The gold, silver and non-ferrous metal versions feature the same coin design, differing only in their denomination.

The obverse shows a detail of a silver denarius of Ladislaus I of Hungary, depicting a schematic portrait of the king, while the reverse represents a detail of the herm of the knight-king depicted in half profile. The collector coins, based on motifs of the historical period, were designed by goldsmith Zoltán Tóth.