A princess, a duchess, and later a Saint, it is no wonder why this next entry in our blog series covering Whitman Publishing’s 100 Greatest Women on Coins has been placed among the list. Author Ron Guth guides us through her short life but the infinite impact she had on the Catholic church.
#71 – Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
Born to King Andrew II of Hungary and Queen Gertrude of Merania in 1207, Elizabeth was betrothed to Louis IV of Thuringia in an arranged political marriage when she was just 14 years old. During her marriage to Louis, Elizabeth would give birth to three children. Her husband would die on his way to a crusade six years after they wed. Her son, Hermann, would be too young to take over as king, so Louis’s brother, Heinrich Raspe, became regent for the boy. Elizabeth would then enter a life of celibacy under her priest-confessor, Konrad von Marburg.
Throughout her marriage, Elizabeth became influenced by Francis of Assisi, an Italian mystic, poet, and Catholic friar who was known for his ministry to the poor and underprivileged. She would even correspond with him before his death. She would aid the poor by feeding them, clothing them, and attending to their needs. She would even build a hospital to serve the sick. Under Marburg, she continued to minister to the underprivileged and would so until her death in 1231. The Elizabeth-kirche (Elizabeth Church) in Marbury is named after her.
She was only 24 years old when she died, but during her short life she became revered as a Catholic saint. Elizabeth was canonized in 1235 (four years after her death) in large part due to the miracles connected to her. For example, one of those miracles was the Miracle of the Roses. This occurred when Elizabeth was carrying loaves of bread in her cloak one day to feed the poor. She came across her husband who insisted she reveal what was inside her cloak to prove to his companions that she was not stealing from the castle. When she opened it, white and red roses appeared in place of the bread.
To commemorate the 800th anniversary of Saint Elizabeth’s birth, Hungary issued a silver 5,000-forint coin in 2007. On one side she is feeding the poor while on the other side she is depicted as a queen. She is seen with roses and bread rolls in her lap, like the Miracle of the Roses. Germany also honored her in 2007 with a silver 20-euro coin. She is seen on the reverse standing with a pitcher in her hand and a bread roll in the other. A small castle, church, and two beggars are receiving food.
Collecting difficulty is considered easy, according to Guth. The German Saint Elizabeth coin is common and is relatively inexpensive with prices ranging from $25-$50. The coin from Hungary is more difficult to come across in large part to its mintage being low (4,000 each of Proof and Uncirculated versions). Those range from $75 to $100.