10,000 forint – The Golden Bull of Andrew II

Named “II. András Aranybullája” (The Golden Bull of Andrew II of Hungary), the Magyar Nemzeti Bank is issuing a small-sized gold coin at a face value of 10,000 forints and a non-ferrous metal coin at a face value of 5,000 forints, which is the same size as the seal on the Aranybulla, in Esztergom today to honour the 800th anniversary of the issuance of the document. The two collector coins mark two separate issuances with different coin designs. This specific issuance is quite special among the Hungarian commemorative coin issues, as the gold and non-ferrous coins interlock into each other, but also stand alone independently. The collector coins were designed by applied artist and goldsmith Zoltán Endrődy. Named after its golden seal, the Aranybulla is one of the most well-known documents in the history of Hungary. Issued by Andrew II of Hungary in the spring of 1222, the edict is an exceptional reminiscence in the history of Hungarian law, it is the symbol of Hungarian historic constitution. Although its true significance was not realised in its own age, only later. After Louis I of Hungary (1342-1382) confirmed the charter of 1222 and codified its text in 1351, it was considered as the framework of privileges of noblemen for centuries. As a result, it was also included in István Werbőczy’s Opus Tripartitum in 1517, a manual of Hungarian customary law in the Middle Ages. Thanks to Werbőczy, the Golden Bull had constituted one of the cornerstones of the resistance by Hungarian orders and of the efforts to achieve independence until 1848. To honour the 800th anniversary of the issuance of the Golden Bull, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank is issuing a small-sized gold coin at a face value of 10,000 forints and a non-ferrous metal coin at a face value of 5,000 forints, which is the same size as the seal on the Aranybulla, today. The special feature of the gold and non-ferrous coins is that they can interlock into each other, but also stand alone independently.