Before the War
Explore the world of Hungarian currency before the war
Before the Pengö
During WWI and immediately after, the currency of Hungary was the Korona. This included the time prior to WWI, during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The pengö was introduced in 1923 as overprints of Hungarian Korona currency.
Pengö vs. Csengö
The word “pengö” comes from the sound silver makes when struck. As a side note, the word “csengö” is the sound gold makes when struck.
This image is the only example of csengö currency I have found.
Early Pengö Notes
Examples of the early pengö notes are quite rare. Commonly circulated in WWII, the 20 pengö note, was produced from January 1930 with Kossuth Lajos on the obverse.
Who was Kossuth Lajos?
Kossuth Lajos was the governor of Hungary in 1848 during the revolution against Austria. Later, he became a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln and had a county in northern Iowa named after him.
What does obverse mean?
Obverse always refers to the front of paper money. The reverse side is the Treasury Building and 20 pengö denomination written in six languages representing the myriad of nationalities living within Hungary’s border.
1930: 100 Pengö Note
In June 1930 the 100 pengö note appeared with the obverse containing a portrait of King Mátyás, ostensibly, Hungary’s most loved and famous ruler. The reverse having a picture of the Buda Palace in Budapest.
Buda and Pest become one
Buda was on the hilly side of the Danube and merged with the Pest on the Eastern plain side of the Danube, in 1873.
1932: 50 Pengö Note
A picture of Petöfi Sándor graces the obverse. The reverse contains a painting of horsemen riding on the Hungarian plains, known as the hortobágy.
Who was Petöfi Sándor?
He was a patriot for the revolution of 1848-49 to break free from the Austro-Hungarian regime. He wrote stirring poetry and sacrificed his life for the cause of Hungarian freedom.
Petöfi Sándor Wrote:
“Talpra Magyar, Hij a haza, it az idö, most vagy soha.”
To your feet Hungarian, the homeland is calling, here is the time – now or never.
1936: 10 Pengö Note
Next followed the printing of the 10 pengö note in December 1936. On the obverse is a young Hungarian woman and the Patroness of Hungary, Mary with her son Jesus. On the reverse is a picture of St. Steven.
Who Was St. Steven?
St. Steven was the first king of Hungary who led Hungary down the path of Christianity.
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During the War
