Saint Ladislaus, King of Hungary (r. 1077–1095), was a just ruler who strengthened the Christian state and adopted significant laws on the protection of private property and ecclesiastical organisations. During his reign, he successfully protected the country from attacks by the Pechenegs and the Mongols, helping to secure the country’s eastern borders for one hundred and fifty years. He was canonised in 1192. His legacy formed one of the pillars of the medieval Hungarian state.
As the next coin in the series “Nation-building sovereigns from the Árpád Dynasty”, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank is issuing a one-ounce, pure gold coin with a face value of 500,000 forints entitled “King Saint Ladislaus”.
The goal of this series is to narrow the differences between public historical perception and historical knowledge. This gold coin paying tribute to King Saint Ladislaus is the most valuable coin in this year’s programme and is only being issued in a limited quantity (500 pieces).
The front of the collector coin depicts the front of a silver denar coin issued by Saint Ladislaus. The front top edge bears the circular legend “MAGYARORSZÁG” (Hungary), with the denomination “500000” “FORINT” at the bottom, and the date “2025” and mint mark “BP.” on the left, in two horizontal lines.
The back of the coin shows a half-profile view of part of the herm of Saint Ladislaus. The legend “SZENT LÁSZLÓ KIRÁLY” (King Saint Ladislaus) is found on the back left side in three lines, with the dates denoting his reign “1077” and “1095” in two lines below this, and the master mark of the coin’s designer Zoltán Tóth at the bottom.
The diameter of the coins is 34 mm with smooth edge lettering. The edge lettering reads “UNGARORUM REX PIISSIMUS LADIZLAUS” (Ladislaus, most pious king of the Hungarians); the source of this text is a document inventorying the goods of the monastery of Bakonybél in 1086.