3000 Forint Setting the Himnusz to music

The Himnusz text was written by Ferenc Kölcsey in 1823, but the poem sat unset for nearly two decades until Ferenc Erkel — better known as the father of Hungarian opera and composer of two national operas — won a competition in 1844 to give it music. The competition was organised by the National Theatre in Pest, and Erkel's submission was performed publicly for the first time that same year. The 175th anniversary of that premiere is what this issue commemorates.