Coins to Commemorate Hungarian Painter

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) has issued a silver collector coin with a face value of HUF 10,000 to honor the 175th anniversary of Hungarian painter Pál Szinyei Merse’s birth and the 100th anniversary of his death.

The collector coin, which also has its non-ferrous metal version with a face value of HUF 2,000, pays tribute to the groundbreaker of the modern Hungarian painting, who established his own school, come as additions to the thematic series presenting the outstanding figures of Hungarian visual arts. The coin was designed by sculptor Borbála Szanyi.

A press release by the central bank says that the fresh color scheme of plein-air and the light, easy elegance of impressionism are present in the art of Pál Szinyei Merse. From the 1890s, generations looked up to him as their master. No other artist or movement have had a bigger impact on the modern Hungarian painting than Pál Szinyei Merse’s art.

Both sides of the collector coins feature Pál Szinyei Merse’s works of art, i.e. their sections. The central motif on the obverse is based on one of the most original ideas of Pál Szinyei Merse’s. The easily formed sphere motif in his 1882 painting named The Balloon and a flying human figure may be regarded as representations of artistic freedom and soaring thoughts. The compulsory design elements on the obverse the lettering MAGYARORSZÁG (Hungary) and the denominations 10,000 FORINT and 2,000 FORINT are found in the lower field in three separate vertical lines. The figures in the denominations refer to the spherical form of the balloon. To the left of the balloon, the mint mark BP. and the mint year 2020 are shown in micro-lettering containing security elements.