Description
“Iustitia Regnorum Fundamentum”, i.e. “justice is the foundation of empires”, once stood on the facade of the Palace of Justice, which long housed the Curia. This year marks 300 years since the Diet in Pozsony (present-day Bratislava) created the Royal Hungarian Curia in 1723, as a permanent supreme court with a defined scope of competence. As part of the judicial reform of 1723, Hungarian King Charles III established the Curia, consisting of the Table of Seven and the Royal Table.
Although it was not created back then, the roots of the Curia stretch all the way back to the 11th century; nevertheless, this date marks the birth of the Curia in the public’s eyes. As unlikely as its survival was through the turbulent centuries, the Curia still exists today and its work continues. The operation of the Curia rests on solid, confident and reliable foundations. According to Article 25 of Hungary’s Fundamental Law, the Curia is Hungary’s supreme judicial organ. As the supreme judicial forum, the Curia ensures uniform application of the law by the courts. It adopts uniformity decisions, which are binding for the courts, rules on uniformity complaints, analyses judicial practices and examines appeals submitted against the decisions of the county courts and the regional courts of appeal in cases defined by law.
Front: The front shows the “Curia 300” logo, adapted for the coin, in a slightly asymmetrical position, with additional elements in the background, tilted slightly to the left. The lines next to the background motifs contain the coin’s mandatory elements: the denomination “15000”” FORINT”, the legend “MAGYARORSZÁG”, the mint mark “BP.” and the minting date “2023”.
Back: A side view of the statue “Justitia” by Alajos Stróbl is presented on the back, highlighting the significance of the scales of justice, held in the left hand that rests on the book of laws. The sword held in the right hand symbolises the authority of the law and the coercive power of the state. The statute shows the goddess of justice without a blindfold, emphasising the significance of justice based on law. The important task and anniversary date of this supreme judicial body are indicated in the circular legends, to the left of the statue “1723 ÓTA A JOGEGYSÉG Ő̋RE” (Protecting legal uniformity since 1723) and to the right “300 ÉVES A KÚRIA” (300th anniversary of the Curia). A braided cord motif runs around the edge of the back of the coin, recalling the Curia’s unique work in ensuring uniform jurisprudence in the judicial system. The motif is interrupted in the bottom quarter of the coin by the depiction of Justitia. The master mark of coin designer Gábor Veres is found hidden in the image of the statue.
