Jaelus' Hungarian Patterns

Owner Comments:

During the first six years of the Horthy Regency Hungary remained on the Hungarian korona monetary system. During this time many patterns were produced yet only a couple business strikes of emergency coinage were actually produced for circulation. These concepts were all scrapped in favor of the pengő system in 1926.

This unproduced piece is the last coin to bear the 5 korona denomination, as well as the first Hungarian coin engraved by Lajos Berán, who would later design the coinage for Hungary in the 1930s and early 40s. This gives the coin the general look and feel of later coinage, but the obverse bears the middle shield with Fiume that was used by the Habsburgs from 1890-1915. This form of the Hungarian arms was scrapped in favor of the small shield of Hungary, which would be reflected on the coins of the pengő system.

Many versions of this pattern were struck as they tested no fewer than six different planchet compositions. Though all examples are extremely rare, copper-nickel is the most common of the planchet types. Early strikes like this example did not feature the engraver's initials on the obverse (later added to the lower left of the shield).