1906 Hungary 5 Korona 

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The 1906 5 korona is one of the rarer issues in Hungarian numismatics. Genuine examples realize thousands of dollars, which is quite a step up from other dates in the series such as the 1908 and 1909, which can be acquired for a few hundred dollars. 

The coin has a distinguished design, with an obverse showing Franz Joseph I, who reigned as emperor of Austria and king of Hungary from 1848 until his death in 1916. The reverse shows a pair of angels supporting the Holy Crown of Hungary above the denomination and date. Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) recently received a purported example of the rare 1906 issue. 

Whenever the date on a coin carries a significant numismatic premium, an excellent place to start the authentication process is by examining the date itself. In this case, the area around the 6 displays discoloration, which is a red flag.

A closer examination removes any doubt. Compare the 6 to one found on a genuine example. The stroke at the top-right should end in what typographers call a “ball terminal.” On the genuine example, both the 6 and 9 have this. On the altered coin, the 9 has the ball terminal, but the 6 does not. The counterfeiter moved the metal around to form a 6 from what had been another digit, possibly a 0 or an 8.

A low-mintage rarity such as a 1906 5 korona can be the centerpiece of a Hungarian coin collection, a treasure that collectors can proudly share. If you want to be sure your centerpiece is genuine, remember that NGC backs its determinations of authenticity and grade with the NGC Guarantee.

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A version of this article appears in the August 2026 issue of The Numismatist (money.org).

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