National Bank of Slovakia has issued a silver collector coin with a nominal value of 20 euros commemorating the 250th anniversary of the proclamation of Maurice Benyovszky as king of Madagascar. The euro coin tells the story of one of the most remarkable Slovak travellers and adventurers, whose life took him to several parts of the world.
The obverse depicts a period sailing ship on stormy waves. To the left is the Slovak coat of arms. At the bottom is the name of the issuing country SLOVENSKO, with the year of issuance 2026 below it. To the right of the sailing ship is a stylised three-leaf linden motif which changes into the letters NBS, representing the abbreviation for the National Bank of Slovakia, when the coin is tilted. The stylised initials of the designer Miroslav Ronai, MR, are to the left of the country name. To the right is the mint mark of the Kremnica Mint, a state-owned enterprise, consisting of the abbreviation MK placed between two dies. The reverse features a portrait of Maurice Benyovszky. To the left of it is a portion of a globe with an enlarged image of Madagascar and a stylised representation of a zebu – a typical Madagascan animal. The stylised initials of the designer Branislav Ronai, BR, are to the left of Madagascar. To the right of the portrait are the denomination 20 EURO in two lines and a compass. Beneath the portrait is an emblem composed of a traveller’s palm and a crescent moon with two stars. The name MÓRIC BEŇOVSKÝ is inscribed along the sides of the upper part of the coin field. Along the lower edge is the inscription KRÁĽ MADAGASKARU (King of Madagascar), with the year 1776 above it.
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