10,000 forint – 52nd International Eucharistic Congress

o celebrate the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress to be held in Budapest in 2021, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank is today issuing a silver commemorative coin with a face value of HUF 10,000, a non-ferrous metal commemorative coin with a face value of HUF 2,000, as well as a commemorative version of the HUF 50 circulation coin. Hungary will once again play host to the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) between 5 and 12 September 2021. More than sixty lecturers from nearly forty countries on five continents will arrive in the Hungarian capital to attend the one-week international event. A wealth of colourful spiritual and cultural programmes will enrich the Congress, at the closing event of which Pope Francis will celebrate the Holy Mass. Hungary was given the opportunity to hold one of the greatest events of the Catholic community first in 1938. It is hoped that the Congress, postponed from 2020 to this year due to the global pandemic, will bring spiritual renewal for the Hungarian society. To commemorate the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress, the MNB issued a silver commemorative coin with a face value of HUF 10,000 and a non-ferrous metal commemorative coin with a face value of HUF 2,000, and put into circulation a commemorative version of the HUF 50 circulation coin. As part of the issuing ceremony, Cardinal Péter Erdő and CEO of the Hungarian Post György Schamschula honoured the Congress by issuing a stamp block for the occasion. The primary purpose of the silver and non-ferrous metal coins titled ‘52. Nemzetközi Eucharisztikus Kongresszus’ (52nd International Eucharistic Congress) is awareness-raising and disseminating information; they should not be used to make everyday payments. Their face value serves to preserve the value of these coins for the collector. The obverse of the commemorative coins bears a detail of the Missionary Cross, the symbol of the world event, adapted to coin. The Missionary Cross is not only a unique work carrying the motifs of our historic past but also a singular reliquary of Hungarian saints. The Relic of the Holy Cross is placed in a silver case at its centre, surrounded by the relics of Hungarian saints or other saints associated with Hungary in the twists of the leaf ornaments. Due to the international nature of the event, a detail of the English logo of the IEC features in the centre of the representation of the cross on the obverse. The lettering ‘MAGYARORSZÁG’ (HUNGARY) is inscribed in a semi-circular legend on the edge of the obverse. The denominations ‘10000’ and ‘2000’ feature at the bottom, on the left of the leg of the cross, with the inscription ‘FORINT’ placed on the right. The mint year ‘2021’ and the mint mark ‘BP.’ are inscribed in two lines below each other on the leg of the cross. The reverse of the commemorative coins bears a representation of the monstrance, made for the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress, as a central motif. Beams of light pointing from the monstrance towards the edge of the reverse feature as a symbol of emanating light. Groups of statues at Heroes’ Square, arranged in two semi-circles, emerge in the background. The inscription at the top of the coin reads ‘52. NEMZETKÖZI EUCHARISZTIKUS KONGRESSZUS’ (52nd International Eucharistic Congress), with the biblical motto of the world event: ‘MINDEN FORRÁSOM BELŐLED FAKAD’ (All my springs are in you; Psalms, 87:7) inscribed at the bottom.