Coins of the Hungarian forint

Hungarian forint coins (Hungarian: forint érmék) are part of the physical form of current Hungarian currency, the Hungarian forint. Modern forint coins (this name is used to distinguish them from pre-20th century forint coinage) are stroke since 1946 and reflect the changes of the post-WWII Hungarian history.

Republic issues (1946-1948)

After the trauma of the Second World War and the hyperinflation of the pengő the Hungarian government had to face the problems of introducing a new currency. In the case of coins this meant that they had to express stability and raise confidence in the people toward the new money. The first coins minted in 1946 were made of copper alloys in the case of the fillér coins and aluminium in the case of the 1 & 2 forint coins. Although the forint was based on gold standard, only silver coins were minted in the first 2 years: 5 forint coins made of good quality silver were put into circulation. However, the government fear of hoarding these coins convinced the national bank to lower the mass and quality of silver used for the 1947 strike. Finally, no silver 5 forint coins were minted for general circulation after 1947. The 5 & 50 fillér coins were first minted in 1948 and were made of aluminium.

Commemorative coins appeared early, the first being a series of 3 coins in 1948 to commemorate the centennial of the 1848 revolution.

Republic issues - regular
Image		Value	Technical parameters				Description			Date of
Obverse	Reverse		Diameter	Thickness	Mass	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse	first minting	issue	withdrawal	lapse
		2 f	17.0 mm	1.7 mm	3.0 g	Brass 85% copper 15% zinc	Smooth	"MAGYAR ÁLLAMI VÁLTÓPÉNZ" 1, year of minting, "Kossuth" coat of arms	Value, mintmark	1946	1 November 1946	30 June 1977	31 December 1977
		5 f	17.0 mm	1.4 mm	0.6 g	Aluminium	Smooth	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG" 2, year of minting, young female model	Value, mintmark	1948	30 January 1948	30 September 1992	31 December 1993
		10 f	19.1 mm	1.5 mm	3.0 g	Aluminium bronze 92% copper 8% aluminium	Milled	"MAGYAR ÁLLAMI VÁLTÓPÉNZ", year of minting, Dove carrying an olive branch	Value, mintmark	1946	1 November 1946	30 June 1977	31 December 1977
		20 f	21.0 mm	1.6 mm	4.0 g			"MAGYAR ÁLLAMI VÁLTÓPÉNZ", year of minting, 3 ears of wheat
		50 f	22.0 mm	1.6 mm	1.4 g	Aluminium	Smooth	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, man sitting on an anvil with a hammer	Value, mintmark	1948	5 May 1948	30 June 1972	30 June 1973
		1 Ft	23.7 mm	1.6 mm	1.5 g		Milled	"MAGYAR ÁLLAMI VÁLTÓPÉNZ", mintmark, "Kossuth" coat of arms	Value, year of minting	1946	1 November 1946	31 August 1951	31 March 1952
		2 Ft	28.0 mm	2.0 mm	2.8 g			"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", mintmark, "Kossuth" coat of arms				31 December 1951	31 December 1952
		5 Ft	32.0 mm	2.9 mm	20.0 g	835‰ silver	"MUNKA A NEMZETI JÓLÉT ALAPJA" 3	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", mintmark, year of minting, value, "Kossuth" coat of arms	"1802-1894 KOSSUTH", Lajos Kossuth			30 June 1977	31 December 1977
		5 Ft		1.9 mm	12.0 g	500‰ silver	"M Á P V" 4 and ornaments			1947	19 May 1947
Republic issues - commemorative
		5 Ft	32.0 mm	1.9 mm	12.0 g	500‰ silver	"ESKÜSZÜNK ESKÜSZÜNK" 5	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", value, year of minting, mintmark	"PETŐFI SÁNDOR 1848-49", Sándor Petőfi	1948	1 May 1948	30 June 1977	31 December 1977
		10 Ft	36.0 mm	2.5 mm	20.0 g		"A LEGNAGYOBB MAGYAR EMLÉKÉRE" 6	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", value, year of minting, mintmark	"SZÉCHENYI ISTVÁN 1848-49", István Széchenyi
		20 Ft	40.0 mm	2.8 mm	28.0 g		Ornament	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", value, year of minting, mintmark, "Kossuth" coat of arms	"TÁNCSICS MIHÁLY 1848", Mihály Táncsics
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.

People's Republic issues (1949-1989)

In 1949 the communist party took power in every field of politics and economy. The country's name was changed to Hungarian People's Republic (Magyar Népköztársaság) which replaced the former name on the coins. The Kossuth's coat of arms was replaced with the Rákosi's one (see: coat of arms of Hungary). The 2, 10 and 20 fillér coins were made of aluminium after 1950.

As a consequence of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 the coat of arms was changed again, this version was used from 1957 until 1989.

People's Republic issues - regular
Image		Value	Technical parameters				Description			Date of
Obverse	Reverse		Diameter	Thickness	Mass	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse	first minting	issue	withdrawal	lapse
		2 f	18.0 mm	1.1 mm	0.65 g	Aluminium	Smooth	"MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG" 7, year of minting	Value, mintmark	1950	27 March 1950	30 September 1992	31 December 1993
		5 f	17.0 mm	1.4 mm	0.6 g	Aluminium	Smooth	"MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, young female model		1953	31 March 1953
		10 f	19.1 mm	1.4 mm	0.85 g	Aluminium	Milled	"MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, Dove carrying an olive branch		1950	15 December 1950	30 September 1996	31 December 1997
		10 f	18.5 mm	1.2 mm	0.6 g	96% aluminium 4% magnesium	Smooth			1967	12 May 1967
		20 f	21.0 mm	1.6 mm	1.25 g	Aluminium		"MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, 3 ears of wheat		1953	31 March 1953
		20 f	20.4 mm	1.4 mm	0.9 g	96% aluminium 4% magnesium	Milled			1967	12 May 1967
		50 f	22.0 mm	1.6 mm	1.4 g	Aluminium	Smooth	"MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, man sitting on an anvil with a hammer		1953	31 March 1953	30 June 1972	30 June 1973
		50 f	21.5 mm		1.2 g	96% aluminium 4% magnesium		"MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG", Erzsébet Bridge	Value, year of minting, mintmark	1967	12 May 1967	30 September 1999	30 September 2000
		1 Ft	23.7 mm	1.6 mm	1.5 g	Aluminium	Milled	"MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, "Rákosi" coat of arms	Value, mintmark	1949	15 November 1949	30 June 1995	31 December 1995
		1 Ft						"MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, "Kádár" coat of arms		1957	10 October 1957
		1 Ft	22.8 mm	1.8 mm	1.4 g	96% aluminium 4% magnesium				1967	12 May 1967
		2 Ft	25.0 mm	1.4 mm	5.0 g	Cupronickel 75% copper 25% nickel	Ornaments	"MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, "Rákosi" coat of arms		1950	20 January 1950	30 June 1971	30 June 1972
		2 Ft						"MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, "Kádár" coat of arms		1957	10 October 1957
		2 Ft				58% copper 18% nickel 24% zinc				1962	9 December 1962
		2 Ft	22.4 mm	1.6 mm	4.44 g	Brass 72% copper 28% zinc	Smooth	"MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG", "Kádár" coat of arms	Value, year of minting, mintmark	1970	1 July 1970	30 June 1995	31 December 1995
		5 Ft	27.5 mm	1.7 mm	7.4 g	60% copper 21% nickel 19% zinc	Milled	"MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG", mintmark, year of minting, value, "Kádár" coat of arms	"1802-1894 KOSSUTH", Lajos Kossuth	1967	12 May 1967	30 June 1972	30 June 1973
		5 Ft	24.3 mm	1.7 mm	5.73 g	Nickel		"MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG" "KOSSUTH", Lajos Kossuth	Value, mintmark, year of minting, "Kádár" coat of arms	1971	2 August 1971	30 June 1995	31 December 1995
		5 Ft	23.4 mm	1.6 mm	5.0 g	Cupronickel 75% copper 25% nickel				1983	18 April 1983
		10 Ft	28.0 mm	1.9 mm	8.83 g	Nickel	Ornaments	"MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG", mintmark, the Liberty Statue in Budapest	Value, year of minting, "Kádár" coat of arms	1971	1 June 1971	31 March 1987	31 December 1988
		10 Ft	25.4 mm	1.7 mm	6.1 g	92% copper 6% aluminium 2% nickel	Ornaments	"MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG", mintmark, the Liberty Statue in Budapest	Value, year of minting, "Kádár" coat of arms	1983	18 April 1983	30 June 1995	31 December 1995
		20 Ft	26.8 mm	1.8 mm	7.06 g	Cupronickel 75% copper 25% nickel	Milled	"MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG", György Dózsa	Value, year of minting, mintmark, "Kádár" coat of arms	1982	18 April 1983	30 June 1995	31 December 1995
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.

Recent issues (1990-)

In 1992, a new series of coins was introduced with denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 forint [1]. Production of the 2 and 5 fillér ceased in 1992, with all fillér coins withdrawn from circulation by 1999. From 1996, a bimetallic 100 forint coin was minted to replace the 1992 version, since the latter was considered to be too big and ugly, and could be easily mistaken with the 20 forint coin.

A 200 forint coin was made of .500 fine silver. From 1994, mass minting of the 200 Ft coin was stopped, since the price of the metal was getting higher than the face value of the coin. However, small issues for collector purposes were minted until 1998, when both the 1992 type 100 forint and the 200 forint coins were withdrawn from circulation.

The 1 forint denomination was illegally exported to Canada in significant amounts, as the tiny coin could be used in place of genuine tokens for entry at the underground railway's automatic gates. Considering the minimal value of 1Ft coins, this was a highly profitable venture that lasted until the machines were reprogrammed.^{[citation needed]} The 50 forint coin is confused with the UK 50 pence coin by some vending machines in the UK.^{[citation needed]}

The 1 and 2 forint coins have been withdrawned on March 1, 2008. This was announced by the Hungarian National Bank in September 2007, because the cost of minting them is too large: approximately 4 times their face value. When paying with cash, the total will have to be rounded to 5 forints. [2] [3]

The National Bank has announced that the 200 forint notes have been replaced with a new 200 forint coin in 2009.^[1] The Chain Bridge was chosen in an internet poll between October 13 and October 26, 2008 to be on the coin.^[2] The coin entered circulation on 15 June 2009.

Recent issues - regular
Image		Value	Technical parameters				Description			Date of
Obverse	Reverse		Diameter	Thickness	Mass	Composition	Edge	Obverse	Reverse	first minting	issue	withdrawal	lapse
		2 f	18.0 mm	1.1 mm	0.65 g	Aluminium	Smooth	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting	Value, mintmark	1990	1 April 1990	30 September 1992	31 December 1993
		5 f	17.0 mm	1.4 mm	0.6 g			"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, young female model
		10 f	18.5 mm	1.2 mm		96% aluminium 4% magnesium		"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, Dove carrying an olive branch				30 September 1996	31 December 1997
		20 f	20.4 mm	1.4 mm	0.9 g		Milled	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, 3 ears of wheat
		50 f	21.5 mm	1.6 mm	1.2 g		Smooth	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", Erzsébet Bridge	Value, year of minting, mintmark			30 September 1999	30 September 2000
		1 Ft	16.3 mm	1.1 mm	2.05 g	75% copper 21% zinc 4% nickel	Smooth	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, coat of arms	Value, mintmark	1992	29 March 1993	1 March 2008	1 March 2013
[4]		2 Ft	19.2 mm	1.5 mm	3.1 g	Cupronickel 75% copper 25% nickel	Milled	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, Hungarian Colchicum (Colchicum Hungaricum)	Value, mintmark	1992	29 March 1993	1 March 2008	1 March 2013
[5]	[6]	5 Ft	21.2 mm	1.3 mm	4.2 g	75% copper 21% zinc 4% nickel	Smooth	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, Great Egret (Egretta alba)	Value, mintmark	1992	21 June 1993	Current
[7]	[8]	10 Ft	24.8 mm	1.3 mm	6.1 g	Cupronickel 75% copper 25% nickel	Alternately smooth and milled	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, coat of arms	Value, mintmark	1992	21 June 1993	Current
[9]	[10]	20 Ft	26.3 mm	1.9 mm	6.9 g	75% copper 21% zinc 4% nickel	Milled	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, Stool Iris (Iris aphylla)	Value, mintmark	1992	29 March 1993	Current
[11]	[12]	50 Ft	27.4 mm	1.7 mm	7.7 g	Cupronickel 75% copper 25% nickel	Smooth	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, sitting Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug)	Value, mintmark	1992	21 June 1993	Current
		100 Ft	29.2 mm	1.9 mm	9.4 g	75% copper 21% zinc 4% nickel	Ornaments	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, coat of arms	Value, mintmark	1992	21 June 1993	31 December 1998	31 December 1999
[13]	[14]	100 Ft	23.8 mm	2.2 mm	8 g	Steel Ring: Ni plated Center: 75% Cu 25% Zn plated	Milled	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, coat of arms	Value, mintmark	1996	21 October 1996	Current
		200 Ft	32 mm	1.7 mm	12 g	500‰ silver	Milled	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, value, mintmark, the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, coat of arms	The building of the Hungarian National Bank, signatures of its governor and four vice-governors	1992	1 December 1992	3 April 1998	3 April 1999
		200 Ft							Portrait of Ferenc Deák	1994	29 April 1994
		200 Ft				Bimetallic	Interrupted milled	"MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, Széchenyi Chain Bridge	Value, mintmark	2009	15 June 2009
These images are to scale at 2.5 pixels per millimetre. For table standards, see the coin specification table.

Remarks

1. "MAGYAR ÁLLAMI VÁLTÓPÉNZ" = "Hungarian state token coin" - váltópénz literally means "small change"; here it stands to express that the metal of which the coin is made is worth less than the face value of the coin itself
2. "MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG" = "Hungarian Republic"
3. "MUNKA A NEMZETI JÓLÉT ALAPJA" = "Labour is the ground of national welfare"
4. "M Á P V" = "Magyar Állami Pénzverde" = "Hungarian State Mint"
5. "ESKÜSZÜNK ESKÜSZÜNK" = "We vow, we vow" (from the refrain of the Nemzeti dal by Sándor Petőfi)
6. "A LEGNAGYOBB MAGYAR EMLÉKÉRE" = "To commemorate the greatest Hungarian" (Lajos Kossuth designated István Széchenyi as such)
7. "MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG" = "Hungarian People's Republic"

References

1. ^ Coins to replace 200 forint banknotes, MNB press release, June 23, 2008
2. ^ http://www.forint.hu/Engine.aspx (in Hungarian)

Further reading

• Károly Leányfalusi, Ádám Nagy (1998). Magyarország fém- és papírpénzei 1926-1998 (Coins and paper money of Hungary 1926-1998). Magyar Éremgyűjtők Egyesülete, Budapest. ISBN 963036060233.