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Death of Saint Stephen I. 900th Anniversary Mintage: Hungary, Budapest UNC Information: Krause number KM# 516 Country Hungary Denomination 5 pengő Year 1938 Subject 900th Anniversary - Death of Saint Stephen I Period Regency (Pengő) (1926 - 1945) Coin type Commemorative coins Composition Silver Edge type Ornaments Shape Round Alignment Medal (0°) Weight (gr) 25 Diameter (mm) 36 Thickness (mm) 2.9 Obverse: 1938 5 PENGÖ MAGYAR KIRÁLYSÁG Reverse: 1038 969 SZT. ISTVÁN Saint Stephen I (Hungarian: I. (Szent) István, Slovak: (Svätý) Štefan I.) (967 – August 15, 1038) was Grand Prince of the Magyars (997-1000/1001) and the first King of Hungary (1000/1001-1038). Stephen was born under the pagan Turkic name “Vajk,“ but was baptized as “Stephen“ in his childhood. Following the death of his father, Géza, Stephen became the Grand Prince of the Magyarsain, but he could only strengthen his rule when he defeated his relative, Koppány. Shortly afterwards, he claimed and received a crown from the pope and he became the first King of Hungary and the last Grand Prince. Stephen extended his rule in the Carpathian Basin with force by defeating several local chieftains. He maintained peace with the Holy Roman Empire during the first three decades of his reign, and later he could withdraw the attacks of Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor. Stephen established ten dioceses in his kingdom and he issued severe decrees against pagan customs and in favor of the Christian faith in order to strengthen Christianity among his subjects. He organized several counties (vármegye) in Hungary and his decrees could ensure the internal peace in his kingdom. Based on his acts, he is generally considered as the founder of Hungary. Following the death of his son, Emeric, Stephen wanted to ensure the maintenance of the Christianity in his kingdom and, therefore, he named his sister's son, the Venetian Peter Urseolo as his heir instead of his cousin, Vazul whom he suspected following pagan customs and ordered him blinded. Stephen was canonized, together with his son and Bishop Gerard of Csanád, on August 20, 1083, and he become one of the most popular saints in Hungary. Six other members of his family, the Árpád dynasty would also be canonized and others were beatified. The country he founded played an important role in European history, often bridging the East and the West and the modern nation state of Hungary is the heir to his kingdom, which was ruled by his descendants until 1301.
