2,000 forint – 150th anniversary of the Hungarian Meteorological Service’s foundation

The Magyar Nemzeti Bank will issue a silver collector coin with a face value of 10,000 forints and its non-ferrous metal version of 2,000 forints to mark the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Hungarian Meteorological Service on 25 September 2020. For the first time in the history of central bank issuances of over 50 years, a square shaped silver collector coin will be issued, and the large size of its non-ferrous metal version makes it also unique. The ‘Országos Meteorológiai Szolgálat' (Hungarian Meteorological Service) collector coin was designed by sculptor, Mercédesz Molnár. The Hungarian Meteorological Service (OMSZ) was founded in 1870 to investigate the climatic features in Hungary, and to organise and assess meteorological measurements. The OMSZ currently runs a nationwide monitoring network, and it is tasked to complete duties related to weather, climate and air quality. Thanks to its professional experience and tradition of 150 years, it became an institute of outstanding standards and strategic importance in Central Europe. The MNB will issue a silver collector coin of 10,000 forints and its non-ferrous metal version of 2,000 forints named ‘Országos Meteorológiai Szolgálat' (Hungarian Meteorological Service) on the 150th anniversary of the OMSZ’s foundation. The primary role of collector coins is to raise awareness of Hungary’s anniversary of note in the history of science and to recognise the high-level activity of forecast, research and education in the Service. The collector coins are not to be used in everyday payments. Their face value serves to preserve the value the coins represent to collectors. The silver and the non-ferrous metal versions have the same design, with their denominations being the only difference. The collector coins were designed by sculptor Mercédesz Molnár. On the obverse, a little to the left from the centre a schematic representation of a cyclone created from the logo of the Hungarian Meteorological Service is shown. Its interpretation is facilitated by the lettering OMSZ on the right at the bottom. The compulsory elements of collector coins are placed on the obverse: at the top, in two horizontal lines, aligned to the right the denomination ‘2000' and the wording ‘FORINT' below the lettering ‘MAGYARORSZÁG' (Hungary), at the bottom, on the left the mint mark ‘BP.' and the mint year ‘2020' in two horizontal lines. The collector coins’ thematic side features a scenery at Lake Balaton, complemented with a synoptic representation of the warm and cold fronts in a frontal system, attached to a cyclone, on a map. The motif on the reverse also refers to the fact that the OMSZ installed a storm warning network with stations, placed at the largest lakes in Hungary. Inserted in the representation, the master mark of coin designer, Mercédesz Molnár, is shown at the bottom, on the right. The central motif is framed by the lettering ‘Országos Meteorológiai Szolgálat' (Hungarian Meteorological Service) at the top, and the wording ‘Alapítva: 1870' (Founded: 1870), at the bottom.