We all like money :) And we are all scared a little when using foreign currency - is 500 a lot or hardly anything? But have you ever tried discovering those always kind-of-the same serious faces and castles on the banknotes? Since we are still not using the euro - we will take a fast tour in Hungarian history, dropping by at wherever the forint notes take us. We have endless connections with these almost neighbors Italian of ours, and one of the liaisons is the name of our currency: forint. The name comes from the city of Florence, where golden coins were minted from 1252 called fiorino d'oro. In Hungary, florentinus (later forint), also a gold-based currency, was used from 1325 under Károly Róbert and several other countries followed its example. The forint was reintroduced in Hungary in 1946 and is our money ever since.
200 Ft - Issued on 1 May 1998 - no longer accepted!! Substituted by coins.Front: King Károly Róbert (1301-1342)
Strong king with a wealthy and powerful country, setting off the Anjou dinasty. And yep, as mentioned earlier he started issuing Magyar fiorini.
Strong king with a wealthy and powerful country, setting off the Anjou dinasty. And yep, as mentioned earlier he started issuing Magyar fiorini.
Back: Castle of Diósgyőr In 1381, the torino treaty was signed here in which Venice agreed to pull up the Anjou flag on the St Mark square on every Sunday and Holidays. Worth visiting the castle and also their funky homepage :)
Front: Prince II. Rákóczy Ference
This long haired fellow was one of the bravest independence fighters. He was the leader of the Rákóczy-uprising (1703-1711) against the Habsburgs. Latter, he became the prince of the independent Transylvania.
This long haired fellow was one of the bravest independence fighters. He was the leader of the Rákóczy-uprising (1703-1711) against the Habsburgs. Latter, he became the prince of the independent Transylvania.
Back: Castle of Sárospatak
The castle was in the hands of the Rákóczi family,
and then later of other noble and less noble dynasties.
The castle was in the hands of the Rákóczi family,
and then later of other noble and less noble dynasties.
500 Ft - Issued on 20 Oct 2006
The connection with Rákóczi is the fight for independence again (a recurring motive in Hungarian history). In October 1956, with the support of the prime minister Imre Nagy, people took to the streets and demanded freedom from the Soviet Union. They cut out the coat of arms of soviet Hungary from the middle of the flag, ever since the symbol of this uprising.
1000 Ft - Issued on 20 April 2006
Front: King Matthias Corvinus (1458-1490)
Hungary had its biggest extension during his reign. Italian architects, Italian wife, a fountain of wine, a library, wars against the Ottomans, justice and wisdom, he had it all. No wonder, one of our best cartoons was based on him. And the beautiful church in the Castle Hill in Budapest is named after him.
Back: Hercules Fountain from the Castle of Visegrád
This was the summer castle of King Mátyás, and the fountain is one of its masterpiece. When the Turkish occupied Hungary Soliman took this fountain all the way till Constantinople.
2000 Ft - Issued on 20 August 2000
2000 Ft - Issued on 1 February 1998
Front: Count Széchenyi István
He was a Hungarian politician, theorist and writer, one of the greatest statesmen of Hungarian history. The establishment of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the foundation of the Hungarian National Museum and the Hungarian National Library and even the construction of the Chain Bridge is all thanks to him.
10 000 Ft - Issued on 1 July 1997
20 000 ft - Issued on 1 February 2001
Front: Deák Ferenc
He was known as "The Wise Man of the Nation" and luckily we had this wise man as Minister of Justice. He supported and éet to success the so called "Compromise" (Kiegyezés) of 1867, where foreign affairs, defense and finance were "common" to both Austria and Hungary (i.e. Hungary was not independent but also not oppressed).
Back: The old house of Commons in Pest
And by the way, if you happen to leave Hungary with some forints left in your pocket, keep them. Soon it will be history, coz sooner or later (i would rather say, later) we will join the euro zone.
Hungary had its biggest extension during his reign. Italian architects, Italian wife, a fountain of wine, a library, wars against the Ottomans, justice and wisdom, he had it all. No wonder, one of our best cartoons was based on him. And the beautiful church in the Castle Hill in Budapest is named after him.
Back: Hercules Fountain from the Castle of VisegrádThis was the summer castle of King Mátyás, and the fountain is one of its masterpiece. When the Turkish occupied Hungary Soliman took this fountain all the way till Constantinople.
2000 Ft - Issued on 20 August 2000Front: Holy Crown of Hungary
One of the oldest coronation crowns in Europe. Its birth date is under great dispute though.
One of the oldest coronation crowns in Europe. Its birth date is under great dispute though.
Back: Baptism of Vajk (972)
Vajk is actually István (Steven, yep, the one who has the Basilica in Budapest center), but he took the latter name after becoming a Christian. He was the first king of Hungary, introduced Christianity and pulled the country together.
Vajk is actually István (Steven, yep, the one who has the Basilica in Budapest center), but he took the latter name after becoming a Christian. He was the first king of Hungary, introduced Christianity and pulled the country together.
2000 Ft - Issued on 1 February 1998Front: Prince Gábor Bethlen
Back: Gábor Bethlen among his scientists
He was prince of Transylvania (1613-1629) and leader of an anti-Habsburg insurrection in the Habsburg Royal Hungary.
He was prince of Transylvania (1613-1629) and leader of an anti-Habsburg insurrection in the Habsburg Royal Hungary.
5000 Ft - Issued on 1 April 1999
He was a Hungarian politician, theorist and writer, one of the greatest statesmen of Hungarian history. The establishment of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the foundation of the Hungarian National Museum and the Hungarian National Library and even the construction of the Chain Bridge is all thanks to him.
Back: The Széchenyi Mansion in Nagycenk
10 000 Ft - Issued on 1 July 1997Front: King St Stephen/István
I told you above, the first King of Hungary.
I told you above, the first King of Hungary.
Back: View of Esztergom
Former capital of Hungary (early times). Beautiful view on the Danube!
Former capital of Hungary (early times). Beautiful view on the Danube!
20 000 ft - Issued on 1 February 2001
Front: Deák Ferenc
He was known as "The Wise Man of the Nation" and luckily we had this wise man as Minister of Justice. He supported and éet to success the so called "Compromise" (Kiegyezés) of 1867, where foreign affairs, defense and finance were "common" to both Austria and Hungary (i.e. Hungary was not independent but also not oppressed).
Back: The old house of Commons in PestAnd by the way, if you happen to leave Hungary with some forints left in your pocket, keep them. Soon it will be history, coz sooner or later (i would rather say, later) we will join the euro zone.
Have you got coins from an old travel or your father which say "fillér"? 1 forint was 100 fillér, but we do not use it anymore. But you can browse the coins here.
Wanna check out our old banknotes? Visit this page:
http://bankjegy.szabadsagharcos.org/xxcentury/hunxx13.shtml
Bakonyi Zsuzsa
No comments:
Post a Comment