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Jaelus' Hungarian Patterns

Category:  Pattern Coins
Owner:  Jaelus
Last Modified:  5/5/2023
  
Set Description
The Hungarian concept of a "Próbaveret" (literally trial strike) is similar to that of other European countries (for example the German probeprägung), however, it differs slightly from what US collectors might think of as a pattern. Prior to the production of a coin, trial strikes were almost always prepared as specimens for inspection by mint (or other government) officials for approval, and to serve as a physical record of the type for archival purposes. Many of the designs of the patterns in this collection are nearly identical to the business strikes, however, many of the designs were also modified in some way prior to the release of business strikes, indicating they were not approved in that form. In some cases a complete redesign of one of the faces was merited. In some cases only minor changes were made such as a date, a legend, or a single aspect of the design. In fewer cases still, the coin was not produced at all. For those coins, these patterns give a glimpse into the inner workings of the Hungarian mint.

Hungary started producing their patterns with the legend "Próbaveret" (First Strike) or its abbreviation "PV" with some regularity around the close of WWII, yet this was not done with consistency until after the revolution of 1956. While finding this pattern mark is key to identifying many of these issues that otherwise resemble the business strikes, there are always exceptions. Die trials and planchet composition tests are typically unmarked, or since 2009, marked as "Minta" (Specimen).

While this is a general collection of Hungarian patterns and trials from 1868 to the present day, the core of this collection consists of the Hungarian Soviet issue patterns (1949-1989) and the Hungarian Third Republic patterns (1989-2011). During those two time periods, 30-50 examples were generally struck of each pattern type, making them difficult, but not impossible to collect. For the preceding and following periods, however, patterns generally had 10 or fewer examples struck, with 4 examples retained for the various museums and archives that house the national collection. This makes collecting patterns from those periods especially challenging to say the least.

Highlights of this collection include unique 19th century die trials from the mint archive book at Gyulafehérvár, 5 pengo design iterations from 1938-1945, a 10 fillér pattern from the Second Hungarian Republic, surviving examples of the destroyed transitional issues of 1989, and a nearly complete set of the patterns for the circulating coinage of 1990-1996 during the early Third Hungarian Republic.

Set Goals
While my goal is to complete the modern set of patterns for circulating issues and their proofs, in order to collect patterns, one has to be a bit of an opportunist. As such, I have acquired what I can as rare earlier pieces or unusual trials have come to market. Aside from the main focus on the patterns of circulating issues, I also enjoy collecting patterns that showcase early unreleased versions of commemorative issues, and include them in this set.

Slot Name
Origin/Country
Item Description
Full Grade
Owner Comments
Pics
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 4K (1868-DATED) TIN UNIFACE TRIAL NGC MS 63 This is an obverse die archival strike of the 1868 4 krajczár from the mint archive book at the Gyulafehérvár mint (GYF). The 1868 GYF issue was ultimately not produced except for some patterns. Based on an analysis of the dentils and other die markers, the obverse die used for this archival strike is different from all other known dies used for the business strikes, specimens, patterns, and restrikes of this one-year type. This makes it an archival strike of an otherwise unused die for the scrapped GYF business strike.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE Tin 10K (1870-DATED) TIN UNIFACE OBVERSE TRIAL NGC MS 63 PL This is an obverse die archival strike of the 1870 10 krajczár from the mint archive book at the Gyulafehérvár mint (GYF).

As this trial received the PL designation, I also include it in my Prooflike Coins of Franz Joseph I set.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 10K 1870-DATED TIN UNIFACE REVERSE TRIAL NGC MS 62 This is a reverse die archival strike of the 1870 10 krajczár from the mint archive book at the Gyulafehérvár mint (GYF).
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 1K 1883KB NICKEL DIE TRIAL TS-29 NGC MS 65 A stunning gem example of one of the alternate planchet tests done for the Hungarian krajczár in 1883. Both nickel (this example) and CuNiZn planchets were tested.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE DUCAT 1896 HUNGARIAN MILLENNIUM LEAD OBVERSE TRIAL NGC MS 64 This unique example is an obverse die trial in lead of the Karoly Robert type dukát struck for the Hungarian Millennium in 1896. As with the lead die trials of the other Millennium Expo coins, the back is notated with the type and die number "dukát 15".
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 2FIL 1916KB SMALL SIZE, THICK FLAN IRON PATTERN Huszár-2225 NGC AU 58 This is an early iron piedfort pattern of 2 fillér KM-497 based on the design of 2 fillér KM-481 with a reduced diameter. A business strike of this design was never produced. The general appearance of the obverse was maintained (minus the dentils) for KM-497, however, the design of the reverse was changed completely.

This is an extremely rare pattern that I cherrypicked at auction as it was misattributed as an AU example of the typical business strike of KM-497, which would otherwise be a wholly unremarkable coin.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 5K 1922 COPPER-NICKEL PATTERN NO INITIALS UNDER SHIELD Adamo KE5 NGC MS 65 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).
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 5P 1938BP ADMIRAL MIKLOS HORTHY SILVER PATTERN NGC AU Details This is a pattern of the Horthy 1939BP AR 5 pengő dated 1938. This is sometimes miscataloged as a circulating date but it is an unmarked pattern of which 60 specimens were struck. The mint produced a 5 pengő coin in 1938 featuring Saint Stephen to commemorate the 900th anniversary of his death instead of the Horthy issue. This issue is exceedingly rare, and some examples like this one may have seen actual circulation, similar to the US 1856 flying eagle cent.

Of note, the mint’s earliest use of a “Próbaveret” mark to indicate a pattern did not occur until four years later in 1943, which is why this coin is unmarked.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 5P 1942BP ADMIRAL MIKLOS HORTHY ALUMINUM PATTERN NGC MS 61 This is a smaller (4.43g, 31.85mm x 2.9mm) early aluminum iteration of the 1943BP Horthy 5 pengő (for reference the business strike produced in 1943 was aluminum 6.1g, 36mm x 3.9mm, with a reeded edge). The obverse design of this pattern matches the obverse of the 1939BP Horthy 5 Pengő rather than the obverse used for the 75th birthday of Horthy issue in 1943, making it likely this was the first trial of an aluminum 5 Pengő with a reduced diameter and thickness as well as a reeded edge. This example does not bear a “Próbaveret” mark as they were not adopted for use until the following year.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 5P 1943BP ADM. HORTHY - PROBA-VERET ALUM. PIEFORT-INCUSE EDGE NGC MS 63 Like the previous 1942 pattern, this iteration also uses the same reduced size design from the 1939 5 Pengő, however, the date has been changed to 1943. The planchet has a slightly increased diameter (6.93g, 33mm x 3.7mm), but the dies were not enlarged, resulting in an example with a wide rim. The planchet itself, while 3mm narrower than the eventual business strike, was also nearly a full gram heavier, making for a very thick example with the appearance of a piedfort.

Unlike the 1942 example, this specimen has a decorative edge. The edge decoration is extremely interesting as it was most likely intended as a “sampler” for evaluation. It uses four different styles of edge decoration, each style covering a quarter of the edge, however, the edge is not well-struck and it is difficult to make out some of the decoration types. This is quite possibly the very first pattern to be produced by the Hungarian mint that bears a probaveret mark, though of note it is hyphenated as “Próba-Veret” on this example.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 5P 1943BP ADM. HORTHY - PROBA-VERET ALUMINUM - REEDED EDGE NGC MS 61 Like the previous 1943 pattern of this coin, this iteration also uses a reduced size design from the 1939 5 Pengő, however, new dies have been produced to add space between the legend and the rim to produce a rim of normal thickness (4.73g, 32.81mm x 2.75mm). The diameter and thickness of the planchet were also reduced. As with the previous pattern, this coin is marked with a hyphenated “Próba-Veret”, however, unlike the previous pattern, this coin has a reeded edge.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 5P 1943BP ADM. HORTHY - PROBAVERET SILVER - INCUSE EDGE NGC MS 60 On this example (20.90g, 33mm x 3.1mm), the bust of Horthy was reduced in size to accommodate the addition of the 75th birthday legend underneath his bust. As such this is the first example to feature an obverse design closer to the type of 1943 than to the type of 1939, however, unlike the 1943 business strike which was aluminum with a reeded edge, this coin was struck in silver with a decorative edge.

I don't know if they were considering producing this coin in silver at the reduced size instead of making the change to aluminum, or if this was just struck in silver for presentation purposes for evaluators. In support of it being a presentation piece, the two silver iterations (this one and the following pattern) when examined together serve as examples of all styles used in the 1943 design iterations: both small diameters (32.81mm and 33mm), both planchet thicknesses ignoring the piedfort (2.75mm and 3.1mm), and both edge styles.

Either way, the mint continues to experiment with the size and thickness here. The edge decoration is extremely interesting as it was most likely intended as a decorative edge “sampler” for evaluation. It uses 4 different styles of edge decoration, each style covering a quarter of the edge, and it is well struck.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 5P 1943BP ADM. HORTHY - PROBAVERET SILVER - REEDED EDGE NGC MS 63 This second silver 5 Pengő pattern (16.53g, 32.81mm x 2.75mm) also features the obverse design of 1943, though in reduced size. It is struck in silver with a reeded edge. This example uses the same obverse die as the following pattern in this set.

I don't know if they were considering producing this coin in silver at the reduced size instead of making the change to aluminum, or if this was just struck in silver for presentation purposes for evaluators. In support of it being a presentation piece, the two silver iterations (this one and the previous pattern) when examined together serve as examples of all styles used in the 1943 design iterations: both small diameters (32.81mm and 33mm), both planchet thicknesses ignoring the piedfort (2.75mm and 3.1mm), and both edge styles.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 5P 1943BP ADM. HORTHY - PROBAVERET ALUMINUM - R.E. (32.7mm) NGC MS 64 This 5 Pengő iteration (5.50g, 32.81mm x 3.1mm) uses the same obverse die as the previous reeded edge silver pattern, though it is struck in aluminum with a thicker planchet.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 5P 1943BP ADM. HORTHY - PROBAVERET ALUMINUM - R.E. (36.0mm) NGC MS 64 This 5 Pengő pattern (6.15g, 36.26mm x 2.7mm) looks the most like the 1943 business strike and has the same weight, however, it is slightly larger and noticeably thinner, with a higher relief. The spacing of the font in the legends on the obverse is also different than on the business strike.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 5P 1945BP PARLIAMENT - PROBAVERET WHEAT ABOVE SHIELD NGC MS 63 This is a very early version of the 1945 Provisional Government 5 pengő with a reverse featuring the designer’s name (removed for the business strike) and a sheaf of wheat atop the Hungarian arms (replaced with the holy crown for the business strike). While the diameter is the same as the business strike, the planchet (4.67g, 32mm x 2.67mm) is slightly thicker (for comparison, the business strike is 4.5g and 2.58mm in thickness). Of note, the obverse die does not match the obverse próbaveret die used for the Artex Restrikes, which is from a later revision of this pattern that more closely matches the business strike.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 10FIL 1946BP PROBAVERET NGC MS 64 This is undoubtedly the crown jewel of my pattern collection. Patterns of the short-lived Second Hungarian Republic (1946-1949) are extremely scarce. Only 10 pieces of this 10 fillér pattern were ever struck, and no examples of this type can be found in the Hungarian National Collection.

Many Second Hungarian Republic coinage designs were the origins of modern Hungarian designs. While the planchet composition and legends changed with the times, both the obverse and reverse design of this 10 fillér pattern would remain in use until 1997.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 10FIL 1950BP 3 STOPS IN OBVERSE LEGEND ALUMINUM NGC MS 67 There is much confusion regarding this type as Krause improperly cataloged it as business strike subtype KM-530a, however, it is an early Soviet era pattern.

More small coinage was needed in the early days of the Hungarian People's Republic, and as a stopgap, existing types KM-530 and KM-531 (10 and 20 fillér, respectively) were restruck with the date 1950. These 1950 dies of KM-530 were pressed into use to strike 2000 specimens of the coin in aluminum. The same number were struck of the 1950BP 2 forint pattern at this time, however, unlike the 2 forint for which new dies were produced, a próbaveret mark was not added to the existing KM-530 dies used to strike these specimens. Both the relatively high mintage and lack of this mark led to the general confusion in identifying the type as a pattern issue. A 10 fillér aluminum type was ultimately produced (KM-547) with a legend change to reflect the name of the new government. The first issues of that coin were also dated 1950, though examples of that date are extremely rare.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 2FOR 1950BP "PV" PROBAVERET NGC MS 67 This is an early Soviet era pattern for which 2000 specimens were produced, making an example attainable, however, it took some time to find an example that would grade MS67. The pattern issue is easily discernable by noting the P. V. (an abbreviation for próbaveret) located on either side of the ribbon above the date on the obverse. The rest of the coin remained relatively unchanged compared to the business strike, save for a minor adjustment in the size of the inner star on the obverse.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 2FOR 1970BP PROBAVERET NGC MS 64 This is one of the first Soviet era Hungarian patterns for new types struck after the Revolution of 1956. 50 pieces were produced. Post revolution coinage featured a changed Hungarian arms starting in 1957. This popular 2 forint type would be struck through the end of the Soviet era in 1989, although aluminum trials were done of this type for many dates.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 2FOR 1984BP STRUCK IN ALUMINUM NGC MS 62 Normally struck in brass, this is an example of an aluminum planchet trial of the last Soviet 2 forint type. These planchet trials in aluminum exist for most dates in the 1980s for this denomination, though all of them are extremely rare.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 5FOR 1971BP PROBAVERET NGC MS 65 This is a pattern of the first year of issue for this Soviet 5 forint type of (1971-1982). 50 pieces were produced.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 10FOR 1971BP PROBAVERET NGC MS 65 This is a pattern of the first year of issue for this Soviet 10 forint type of (1971-1982). 50 pieces were produced.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE S50F 1972BP ST. STEPHEN PROBAVERET NGC MS 67 This is a 50 forint pattern of a silver commemorative of the 1000th anniversary of the birth of Saint Stephen. The reverse features the first Hungarian coin, attributed to Saint Stephen, King of Hungary. 50 pieces were struck.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE S50F 1972BP ST. STEPHEN PROBAVERET NGC PF 68 ULTRA CAMEO This is a proof strike of a 50 forint pattern of a silver commemorative of the 1000th anniversary of the birth of Saint Stephen. The reverse features the first Hungarian coin, attributed to Saint Stephen, King of Hungary. 50 pieces were struck.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE S100F 1972BP ST. STEPHEN - PROBAVERET NO DESIGNER'S INITIALS NGC MS 68 This is an early version of the 100 forint pattern of a silver commemorative of the 1000th anniversary of the birth of Saint Stephen. 50 pieces were struck. This version of the obverse lacks the designer's initials (added later) and the robe of Saint Stephen has a plain hem (later versions of this pattern added decoration to the hem).
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE S100F 1972BP ST. STEPHEN - PROBAVERET NO DESIGNER'S INITIALS NGC PF 67 ULTRA CAMEO This is a proof strike of an early version of the 100 forint pattern of a silver commemorative of the 1000th anniversary of the birth of Saint Stephen. 50 pieces were struck. This version of the obverse lacks the designer's initials (added later) and the robe of Saint Stephen has a plain hem (later versions of this pattern added decoration to the hem).
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE S100F 1972BP SAINT STEPHEN PROBAVERET - THICK FONT NGC MS 68 This is the second iteration of the 100 forint pattern of a silver commemorative of the 1000th anniversary of the birth of Saint Stephen. 50 pieces were struck. This version of the obverse includes the designer's initials and the decorative hem on the robe of Saint Stephen, however the font for the legends on the obverse were significantly changed. While the other changes to this version stuck, the font change was reverted for the final version of this pattern.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE S100F 1972BP SAINT STEPHEN PROBAVERET - THICK FONT NGC PF 67 ULTRA CAMEO This is a proof strike of the second iteration of the 100 forint pattern of a silver commemorative of the 1000th anniversary of the birth of Saint Stephen. 50 pieces were struck. This version of the obverse includes the designer's initials and the decorative hem on the robe of Saint Stephen, however the font for the legends on the obverse were significantly changed. While the other changes to this version stuck, the font change was reverted for the final version of this pattern.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE S100F 1972BP SAINT STEPHEN PROBAVERET NGC MS 68 This is the 100 forint pattern of a silver commemorative of the 1000th anniversary of the birth of Saint Stephen. 50 pieces were struck. This version reflects the addition of the designer's initials and decorative hem on the robe of Saint Stephen as well as a reversion to the original font, matching the final version used for the business strike.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE S100F 1972BP SAINT STEPHEN PROBAVERET NGC PF 64 ULTRA CAMEO This is a proof strike of the 100 forint pattern of a silver commemorative of the 1000th anniversary of the birth of Saint Stephen. 50 pieces were struck. This version reflects the addition of the designer's initials and decorative hem on the robe of Saint Stephen as well as a reversion to the original font, matching the final version used for the business strike.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE S100F 1972BP BUDAPEST UNION CENTENNIAL PROBAVERET - NO INITIALS NGC MS 67 This is an early version of the pattern for the 1972 commemorative 100 forint celebrating the centennial of the union of Buda and Pest. This version has a completely different design for the reverse, with a decorative rim. The reverse design was changed for the final version of this coin. 50 pieces were struck.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE S100F 1974BP KGST UNION ANNIVERSARY PROBAVERET NGC MS 69 This is a pattern of the silver 100 forint commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Council of Mutual Economic Aid (COMECON). Known as KGST in Hungary. 50 pieces were struck.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE S200F 1977BP NATL. MUSEUM - PROBAVERET SABRETACHE PLATE NGC MS 69 This is an early version of a 200 forint pattern commemorating the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest. The reverse features a famous sabretache plate from the museum's collection, however, this reverse design was replaced in entirety for a new one featuring architecture from the museum for the final version of the commemorative. 50 pieces were struck of this early concept.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE S200F 1977BP NATL. MUSEUM - PROBAVERET SABRETACHE PLATE NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO This is a proof strike of an early version of a 200 forint pattern commemorating the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest. The reverse features a famous sabretache plate from the museum's collection, however, this reverse design was replaced in entirety for a new one featuring architecture from the museum for the final version of the commemorative. 50 pieces were struck of this early concept.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE S200F 1979BP GABOR BETHLEN PROBAVERET NGC MS 68 A Gabor Bethlen commemorative pattern. 50 pieces were struck. I have yet to see an example on the market for the pattern of the piedfort issue, but I have the business strike and proof patterns in this set. Just a lovely design for this commemorative.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE S200F 1979BP GABOR BETHLEN PROBAVERET NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO A stunning proof strike of the Gabor Bethlen commemorative pattern. 50 pieces were struck.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 10FOR 1981BP F.A.O. - PROBAVERET NGC MS 68 A pattern of a Soviet era 10 forint F.A.O. commemorative, that replaced the regular 10 forint type in 1981. 50 pieces were struck.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 5FOR 1982BP PROBAVERET NGC MS 65 This is a 1982 pattern of the 5 forint type of 1983-1989. Note that this is the earlier version of the pattern dated 1982, although the business strike was not produced until the following year. A pattern dated 1983 also exists. As with most post 1956 Soviet era patterns, 50 pieces were struck.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 10FOR 1982BP PROBAVERET NGC MS 66 One of my favorite Soviet era patterns in this set due to the beautiful toning, this is a pattern of the aluminum-bronze 10 forint of 1983-1989. This pattern was produced dated 1982, a year prior to the first date of the business strike run. 50 pieces were struck.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 20FOR 1982BP PROBAVERET NGC MS 68 A pattern of the 20 forint of 1982-1989. Unlike the 5 and 10 forint 1982 patterns, whose respective coins were not produced until the following year, this coin was actually struck for circulation in 1982. 50 pieces were struck of this pattern.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 20FIL 1983BP F.A.O. - PROBAVERET NGC MS 67 A pattern of the 20 fillér 1983 F.A.O commemorative. 50 pieces struck. Of note, this is the only commemorative Hungarian coin produced in any fillér denomination.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 5FOR 1983BP F.A.O. - PROBAVERET NGC MS 68 A pattern of the 5 forint 1983 F.A.O commemorative. 50 pieces struck.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 10FOR 1983BP F.A.O. - PROBAVERET NGC MS 67 A pattern of the 10 forint 1983 F.A.O commemorative. 50 pieces struck.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 100F 1990BP ANDRAS FAY - PROBAVERET PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC REVERSE NGC MS 69 This Andras Fay commemorative pattern is quite curious. The Soviets left Hungary in 1989 and the name of the country changed from the People's Republic of Hungary (Magyar Népköztársaság) to The Republic of Hungary (Magyar Köztársaság), however, this pattern is dated 1990 and the legend on the reverse lists the Soviet name for the country.

One can only assume this pattern was made in the earlier part of 1989 while that was still the name of the country, with the dies dated 1990 in anticipation of the coin being produced the following year. An out of sync country name and date like this is not seen on any other pattern, which would likely make this one of the very last, if not the last pattern produced in the Soviet era.

This coin as is could not be produced without revision, so to change Magyar Népköztársaság to Magyar Köztársaság they removed the "Nép" (people) from the reverse legend and replaced it with... nothing. Just a conspicuous blank space. Then they released the final version of the coin in 1990 just like that. 50 pieces of this early version pattern were struck.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 100F 1990BP ANDRAS FAY - PROBAVERET PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC REVERSE NGC PF 69 ULTRA CAMEO This gorgeous proof strike of the Andras Fay commemorative pattern is quite curious. The Soviets left Hungary in 1989 and the name of the country changed from the People's Republic of Hungary (Magyar Népköztársaság) to The Republic of Hungary (Magyar Köztársaság), however, this pattern is dated 1990 and the legend on the reverse lists the Soviet name for the country.

One can only assume this pattern was made in the earlier part of 1989 while that was still the name of the country, with the dies dated 1990 in anticipation of the coin being produced the following year. An out of sync country name and date like this is not seen on any other pattern, which would likely make this one of the very last, if not the last pattern produced in the Soviet era.

This coin as is could not be produced without revision, so to change Magyar Népköztársaság to Magyar Köztársaság they removed the "Nép" (people) from the reverse legend and replaced it with... nothing. Just a conspicuous blank space. Then they released the final version of the coin in 1990 just like that. 50 pieces of this early version pattern were struck.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE FORINT 1989BP REPUBLIC - W/O PROBAVERET TRANSITIONAL TYPE NGC MS 67 While this is not technically a próbaveret (though they do exist for this type), this isn't a circulating coin either. If you consider a business strike issue for which the entire mintage was destroyed to be a pattern, then this is a pattern. Either way, what you see here is undeniably one of the rarest modern Hungarian coins, and it comes with a story.

In 1989 as the Soviets were preparing to leave Hungary, the mint made modifications to the circulating Hungarian coin types for 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 forint to change the name of the country from The Hungarian People's Republic (Magyar Népköztársaság) to The Republic of Hungary (Magyar Köztársaság). They then produced trial strikes as normal for the issue, and hurriedly also produced an initial (unknown but believed to be small) mintage for 1989, and a larger (several million of each type) issue for 1990, as it was near the end of the year. The specimens reached officials higher up in the new government and they were extremely upset that the first coins with the name of the new country should also bear the Soviet arms of Hungary. So it was (to the mint) a sudden and unexpected political decision that stopped them dead in their tracks, and the coins were ordered to be destroyed.

It is known that somehow a deal was made to put aside 10,000 sets of the 1990 issue for sale in uncirculated souvenir sets. Those sets still appear on the market from time to time, and I have a full set of NGC certified 1990 transitional coinage in my modern type set. These 1990 issues technically have the same status as the 1989 issues in that they were never approved for circulation, but as they were sold to the public as souvenirs they are in a grey area where they are also transitional souvenir coinage.

The 1989 coins, however, were not sold to the public and the entire mintage was destroyed, save, apparently, for a few pieces that were spared. Estimates place this at fewer than 10 surviving examples of each type, for which I have examples of both the 1 and 2 forint in this set. As I mentioned earlier, they did produce próbaveret pieces for these, but as they each have the typical mintage of 50 specimens, while extremely rare, they are actually more common than the surviving planned business strikes.

So for the US collectors who might be reading this, the 1989 Hungarian Republic issues are similar to the 1933 St. Gauden's double eagles in that the mintage was ordered destroyed for political reasons, and yet, a few examples escaped the melting pot through unknown channels.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 2FOR 1989BP REPUBLIC - W/O PROBAVERET TRANSITIONAL TYPE NGC MS 66 While this is not technically a próbaveret (though they do exist for this type), this isn't a circulating coin either. If you consider a business strike issue for which the entire mintage was destroyed to be a pattern, then this is a pattern. Either way, what you see here is undeniably one of the rarest modern Hungarian coins, and it comes with a story.

In 1989 as the Soviets were preparing to leave Hungary, the mint made modifications to the circulating Hungarian coin types for 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 forint to change the name of the country from The Hungarian People's Republic (Magyar Népköztársaság) to The Republic of Hungary (Magyar Köztársaság). They then produced trial strikes as normal for the issue, and hurriedly also produced an initial (unknown but believed to be small) mintage for 1989, and a larger (several million of each type) issue for 1990, as it was near the end of the year. The specimens reached officials higher up in the new government and they were extremely upset that the first coins with the name of the new country should also bear the Soviet arms of Hungary. So it was (to the mint) a sudden and unexpected political decision that stopped them dead in their tracks, and the coins were ordered to be destroyed.

It is known that somehow a deal was made to put aside 10,000 sets of the 1990 issue for sale in uncirculated souvenir sets. Those sets still appear on the market from time to time, and I have a full set of NGC certified 1990 transitional coinage in my modern type set. These 1990 issues technically have the same status as the 1989 issues in that they were never approved for circulation, but as they were sold to the public as souvenirs they are in a grey area where they are also transitional souvenir coinage.

The 1989 coins, however, were not sold to the public and the entire mintage was destroyed, save, apparently, for a few pieces that were spared. Estimates place this at fewer than 10 surviving examples of each type, for which I have examples of both the 1 and 2 forint in this set. As I mentioned earlier, they did produce próbaveret pieces for these, but as they each have the typical mintage of 50 specimens, while extremely rare, they are actually more common than the surviving planned business strikes.

So for the US collectors who might be reading this, the 1989 Hungarian Republic issues are similar to the 1933 St. Gauden's double eagles in that the mintage was ordered destroyed for political reasons, and yet, a few examples escaped the melting pot through unknown channels.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 2FIL 1990BP "PV" PROBAVERET NGC MS 68 After the Hungarians gained independence from the Soviets in 1989, the minor coins, none of which featured the arms of Hungary, were easy to modify to suit the new republic. This 2 fillér pattern is identical to the older Soviet era type, with the name of the country changed to The Republic of Hungary (Magyar Köztársaság). As the coin is tiny and without ample space to add a full próbaveret mark, the abbreviation PV was added under the date. 50 pieces struck.
View Coin   HUNGARY 1800 TO DATE 5FIL 1990BP "PV" PROBAVERET NGC MS 66 After the Hungarians gained independence from the Soviets in 1989, the minor coins, none of which featured the arms of Hungary, were easy to modify to suit the new republic. This 5 fillér pattern is identical to the older Soviet era type, with the name of the country changed to The Republic of Hungary (Magyar Köztársaság). As the coin is tiny and without ample space to add a full próbaveret mark, the abbreviation PV. was added to the right of the bust. 50 pieces struck.
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