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Hungary Gold Forint/Florin/Gulden/Ducat of King Matthias I (Corvinus) 1458-1490

Currency:CAD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:1.00 CAD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,200.00 CAD
Hungary Gold Forint/Florin/Gulden/Ducat of King Matthias I (Corvinus) 1458-1490
The surname of Corvinus became current posthumously, from the latin word for Raven, a prominent feature of the family shield. The kingdom of Matthias was considerably larger than the boundaries of today s Hungary, and includes Transylvania, Croatia and parts of today's Romania, Austria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, etc. An early & enthusiastic follower of Renaissance Humanism, he was fluent in many languages, including Hungarian, Latin, Italian, Polish, Czech and German. His political and military exploits, over his long reign, are too extensive for this short note , but it may be said that he was crucial in the movement of Central Europe from feudal Baronies towards mondern, Italian influenced Nation States. Interestintly, it was King Matthias who captured and imprisoned, for many years, the notorious Count Dracula. This particular coin has the Royal Coat of Arms reverse, indication that it was struck before 1470, when the reverse design was changed to the Madonna & Child. The obverse depicts Saint Ladislaw. The condition is a choice almost uncirculated. The mint is Kronstadt in Transylvania.