Item: i98355

Authentic Coin of:

Hungary
 50th Anniversary of the Republic of Councils
1969 Proof Silver 50 Forint 34mm (16.13 grams) 0.640 Silver (0.3292 oz. ASW)
Reference: KM# 589, ÉH# 1570, H# 2375 | Engraver: Dezső KOVÁCS 
 MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG 50 BP FORINT 1969, Coat-of-arms above denomination.
MAGYAR TANÁCSKÖZTÁRSASÁG · 1919. III. 21. ·, Revolutionary, after the placard of Róbert Berény.

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The Hungarian Soviet Republic, literally the Republic of Councils in Hungary (Hungarian: Magyarországi Tanácsköztársaság)  and also known as the Socialist Federative Soviet Republic in Hungary (Hungarian: Magyarországi Szocialista Szövetséges Tanácsköztársaság), was a short-lived Socialist–Communist rump state. It was the state of Hungary from 21 March 1919 until 1 August 1919 (133 days), succeeding the First Hungarian Republic. The head of government was Sándor Garbai from the Social Democratic Party of Hungary, but the influence of the foreign minister Béla Kun from the Hungarian Communist Party was much stronger. Unable to reach an agreement with the Triple Entente, which maintained an economic blockade in Hungary, tormented by neighboring countries for territorial disputes, and invested by profound internal social changes, the soviet republic failed in its objectives and was abolished a few months after its existence. The presentation of the Vix Note led to the fall of Mihály Károlyi’s government, which was by then devoid of significant support, and the proclamation of the soviet republic the following day, 12 March. Its main figure was the Communist Béla Kun, despite the fact that the majority of the new government was Socialist. Apparently democratic, the new system effectively concentrated power in the governing councils, which exercised it in the name of the working class.  

The new regime failed to reach an agreement with the Triple Entente that would lead to the lifting of the economic blockade, the improvement of the new borders or the recognition of the new government by the victorious powers of World War I. The army was reorganized and attempts were made to recover the lost territories at the hands of neighboring countries, an objective that aroused widespread support from all social classes, not only those more favorable to the newborn regime. For their part, the neighboring countries used the struggle against communism, first against the government of Károlyi and then against the soviet republic, as a justification for their expansionist ambitions. Initially, thanks to patriotic support from conservative officers, the republican forces advanced against the Czechoslovakians in Slovakia, after suffering a defeat in the east at the hands of the Romanian Army in late April, which led to a retreat on the banks of the Tisza. In mid-June, the birth of the Slovak Soviet Republic was proclaimed, which lasted two weeks until the Hungarian withdrawal at the request of the Triple Entente. On 20 July, the soviet republic launched a new attack on the Romanian posts. After a few days in advance, the Romanians managed to stop the offensive, to break through the front and reach Budapest, the Hungarian capital, a few days after the end of the soviet republic, which was abolished on 2 August.

The Hungarian heads of government applied doctrinal measures in both foreign and domestic policy that made them lose the favor of the majority of the population. The attempt of the new executive to profoundly change the lifestyle and the system of values of the population proved to be a resounding failure; the effort to convert Hungary, which still had the aftermath of the Habsburg period, into a socialist society was unsuccessful due to a number of elements, namely lack of time, experienced administrative and organizational staff, as well as inexperience, both political and economic, in some of the maneuvering activities. The attempt to win the sympathies of the peasants met with general indifference, since encouraging agricultural production and supplying the cities at the same time was not a process that could be completed in a short period of time. After the withdrawal from Slovakia, the application of some measures aimed at regaining popular support was ordered, without great success; in particular, the ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages was repealed, the delivery of some plots to peasants was planned without land, and attempts were made to improve the monetary situation and food supply. Unable to apply them, the soviet republic had already lost the support of the majority of the population between June and July, which led, together with military defeats, to its inexorable ruin. The failure of internal reform was joined by that of foreign policy; the political and economic isolation of the Triple Entente, the military failure in the face of neighboring countries and the impossibility of joining forces with the Red Army units contributed to the collapse of the soviet republic. The Socialist–Communist government was succeeded by an exclusively Socialist one on 1 August; the Communists left Budapest and went abroad, while power returned to the nationalist aristocracy that had held it the previous century.

Hungary is a sovereign state in Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Romania to the east, Serbia to the south, Croatia to the southwest, Slovenia to the west, Austria to the northwest, and Ukraine to the northeast. The country’s capital and largest city is Budapest. Hungary is a member of the European Union, NATO, the OECD, the Visegrád Group, and the Schengen Area. The official language is Hungarian, which is the most widely spoken non-Indo-European language in Europe.

Following centuries of successive habitation by Celts, Romans, Huns, Slavs, Gepids, and Avars, the foundation of Hungary was laid in the late 9th century by the Hungarian grand prince Árpád in the Honfoglalás (“homeland-conquest”). His great-grandson Stephen I ascended to the throne in 1000 CE, converting the country to a Christian kingdom. By the 12th century, Hungary became a middle power within the Western world, reaching a golden age by the 15th century. Following the Battle of Mohács in 1526 and about 150 years of partial Ottoman occupation (1541-1699), Hungary came under Habsburg rule, and later formed a significant part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867-1918).

Hungary’s current borders were first established by the Treaty of Trianon (1920) after World War I, when the country lost 71% of its territory, 58% of its population, and 32% of ethnic Hungarians. Following the interwar period, Hungary joined the Axis Powers in World War II, suffering significant damage and casualties. Hungary came under the influence of the Soviet Union, which contributed to the establishment of a four-decade-long communist dictatorship (1947-1989). The country gained widespread international attention regarding the Revolution of 1956 and the seminal opening of its previously-restricted border with Austria in 1989, which accelerated the collapse of the Eastern Bloc.

On 23 October 1989, Hungary again became a democratic parliamentary republic, and today has a high-income economy with a very high Human Development Index. Hungary is a popular tourist destination attracting 10.675 million tourists a year (2013). It is home to the largest thermal water cave system and the second-largest thermal lake in the world (Lake Hévíz), the largest lake in Central Europe (Lake Balaton), and the largest natural grasslands in Europe (the Hortobágy National Park).