Collectors and admirers of Hungarian coinage are again demonstrating their pride. The country’s 5,000 Forint coin featuring a depiction of the Castle of Gyula, currently leads the competition for the People’s Choice Coin of the Year at NumisMaster.com.

Last year, tens of thousands of votes from across the globe were logged for the winning Hungarian 50-forint coin commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian revolution.

This year, coins from 15 countries are represented in the contest including China, Poland, Canada, Australia, Germany, Austria, Japan, the United States, Russia, Denmark, France, Finland and the United Kingdom.

The U.S. Mint is in currently in second place for it’s one dollar silver coin honoring the founding of Jamestown, while the Royal Australian Mint is in third place with it’s 25 dollar gold coin entitled “Kangaroo at Sunset”.

“I am thrilled about the level of participation we have received so far in the Coin of the Year online voting. It goes to show that people across the globe are passionate about their countries’ coinage,” said World Coin News editor Maggie Stigsell. “I am proud that the People’s Choice Award has become a platform for the public to share their enthusiasm for world coins.”

The award, sponsored jointly by World Coin News and NumisMaster, is in its second year of honoring the Mints of the world producing the most artistic and historically relevant coinage.

To view images of all this year’s nominees and vote for your favorite coin, log on to NumisMaster.com and click on Coin of the Year. The contest will run until Jan. 4, 2009.