An 1896 Commemorative Medal for a 1000 Years of the Hungarian Kingdom

In bronze, obverse illustrating the seated figure of Emperor Franz Joseph I wearing the Hungarian crown of St. Stephen, a standing figure in early medieval dress to the left crowning the Emperor with a laurel crown, a figure to the right with a shield bearing the arms of Hungary in his right hand, a sword in his left, inscribed "EZRÉDEVES TÖRTÉNETÜNK EZREDEKRE REMÉNY NEKÜNK" (A millennium of history, a thousand years of hope to us) and dated "1896" below, reverse illustrating Árpád, leader of the Hungarians, arriving in Hungary on horseback surrounded by his followers on foot and met by a standing female figure offering a laurel crown, a palm branch and the date "896", engraver marked "STEINER A. : F." and inscribed "BUDAPESTEN", 42.5 mm, on triangular ribbon with sewn reverse, nicks and and contact marks on the raised rim and edge, surface wear overall, very fine.Footnote: Árpád (circa 850-907) was the first known leader of the Magyars and in 896 led them across the Carpathian Mountains for the first time into what is today part of Hungary. The concept of Franz Joseph I as heir and successor to Árpád is a strange one, especially as the Hungarians had as recently as 1867 forced the Hapsburg Monarchy into the Compromise that created the dual state of Austria-Hungary. This medal is an interesting piece of Hapsburg, rather than Hungarian nationalist, propaganda.