Regency (Pengo) (1926-1945) Coin List
The most valuable and popular coins
The most valuable Regency (Pengo) (1926-1945) coins and sought after by collectors according to Foronum statistics are the following:
Historical information
The Regency era in Hungary, which lasted from 1926 to 1945, was a fascinating period in the country's history, marked by significant political and economic changes. During this time, Hungary underwent a series of transformations that were reflected in its monetary system, particularly in the introduction and use of the pengő as the official currency.
The pengő and the Hungarian economy.
The pengő was introduced in 1927 as part of an effort to stabilize the Hungarian economy after the hyperinflation that followed World War I. The pengő was introduced in 1927. Initially, the pengő proved to be a strong and stable currency, backed by the country's gold reserves. Pengő coins were minted in denominations ranging from 1 fillér to 5 pengő, with designs reflecting Hungarian national identity. These pieces often featured important historical and cultural symbols, such as the crown of St. Stephen and the Hungarian coat of arms. The initial stability of the pengő contributed to a period of relative economic prosperity in Hungary during the 1930s, although the country did not completely escape the effects of the global Great Depression.
Decline of the pengő and consequences of the war.
However, as Hungary was drawn into World War II, the country's economic situation began to deteriorate rapidly. The government was forced to issue increasing amounts of pengő to finance the war effort, leading to runaway inflation. Toward the end of the war and in the months that followed, the pengő suffered one of the worst hyperinflations in history. Banknotes were issued in astronomical denominations, reaching up to the milpengő (one million pengő) and the b.-pengő (one trillion pengő). Metal coins practically disappeared from circulation, being replaced by low-denomination banknotes. This monetary crisis culminated in 1946 with the introduction of the forint, which replaced the pengő at a conversion rate of 1 forint to 400 octillion pengő, marking the end of the pengő era and, with it, the close of the Regency period in Hungary.