12 October 2023
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A commemorative coin for King Andrew I, who ruled 1040–60, is the second issue in Hungary’s series titled ‘Nation-building sovereigns of the Arpad Dynasty’, presenting the most important kings from the House of Arpad. The series will feature ten sovereigns, and it is expected that a new issue will be released every other year.
King Andrew I strengthened the position of Christianity in Hungary during the turbulent period following the death of King St Stephen, without allowing the country to become a vassal state of the Holy Roman Empire.
As a direct male descendent of King St Stephen, he reigned in the footsteps of Hungary’s founding king, developing the nation by sharing leadership with his brother, Duke Béla.
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In 1055, he founded the Benedictine abbey in Tihany, granting the abbey its deed of foundation; this document is considered to be the first original surviving deed in Hungarian. King Andrew’s tomb is in the abbey crypt of the monastery.
Coin design
The obverse of the coin presents the design of the second denar coin minted under King Andrew I, against a background representing the parchment of the deed of foundation for Tihany Abbey. The circular legend on the coin shows the name of ‘REX ANDREAS’, with the cross motifs expressing his commitment to restoring Christianity.
On the reverse, again with a parchment-like background, the royal seal of King Andrew I is reproduced, which serves as a source for the stylised depiction of the monarch. The liturgical monogram from Tihany Abbey’s deed of foundation is found to the left of the seal, with the Latin word ‘REX’ (King) to the right.
The circular legend presents the name of the sovereign, with the years of his reign ‘1046–1060’ at the bottom and the master mark of the coin’s designer, András Szilos, below.
Available in a 3000-forint value in base metal, with a mintage of 5000, as well as silver 15,000 forint, with a mintage of 5000, and a 500,000-forint gold version, with a mintage of 500.
