In spring 2018 Budapest hosted the IIHF World Championship Division I Group A, and on 18 April, four days before the first face-off, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank put a 50-forint coin with an ice hockey scene into circulation.

The thematic side captures a shot on goal, players in front of the net, next to the emblem of the Hungarian Ice Hockey Federation. The legend JÉGKORONG VILÁGBAJNOKSÁG means «Ice Hockey World Championship», with MAGYARORSZÁG and the date below. The design is by István Kósa; the other side carries the value 50 FORINT and the BP mint mark of Budapest.

The tournament was played on 22–28 April 2018. Six teams, Great Britain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Slovenia and Poland, competed for two places in the top division; Britain and Italy took them, while the hosts finished fourth.

Two million coins were struck for circulation. In addition, 12,000 first-day pieces were sold in numbered packs, and 5,000 were struck in proof for the 2018 annual sets. The coin fills the ice hockey slot in Hungary’s commemorative circulating 50-forint series and sits well in a winter sports collection.

UNC condition means the coin has never been in circulation: the relief is unworn and the mint lustre intact, with only minor bag marks possible. The goalmouth scene, with its fine detail of sticks and net, reads best in this grade.

For those who collect coins by subject, whether wildlife, architecture, famous people or sport, the VPcoins catalogue offers other themed issues too.