Hyperinflation in Hungary 1945-1946: Historical, Cultural, Numismatic and Linguistic Perspectives

Rad razmatra povijesna, simbolička i ideološko-politička obilježja motiva i likova na papirnatom novcu koji je stavljen u optjecaj tijekom hiperinflacije u Mađarskoj 1945.-1946. godine. Daje se povijesni kontekst i navode uzroci mađarske hiperinflacije, opisuju se novčanice koje su se nalazile u optjecaju, a neko su vrijeme važile dvije paralelne valute (pengö i adópengö). Osobita pozornost pridaje se pojavi kvazihrvatskih natpisa na nekim novčanicama. Zaključuje se da je početna teza o razbijanju kulturno-povijesnoga slijeda novčane simbolike i ikonografije djelomično potvrđena jer je, bez obzira na lošu materijalnu situaciju koja je uvjetovala proizvodnju novih novčanica, nastavljena već uspostavljena tradicija uporabe mađarskih pučkih motiva koji povezuju prve novčanice penga iz 1926. godine i poslijeratne novčanice forinte sve do 1980-ih. Nadalje, bez obzira na jezično iskrivljene hrvatske natpise, određeni broj novčanica treba smjestiti u kontekst hrvatske numizmatike jer su na simboličkoj razini bile priznanje kulture i povijesti hrvatske nacionalne manjine u Mađarskoj.The paper discusses historical, symbolical, ideological and political characteristics of motifs and individuals that were depicted on Hungarian paper money in the period of hyperinflation of 1945-1946. In the introductory part the paper gives a historical context and discusses the causes of the Hungarian hyperinflation, then describes the banknotes that were put into circulation in the given period, including the so called \u27\u27tax pengö\u27\u27 which served as a parallel currency for a limited time period. Particular attention is given to the distorted Croatian inscriptions found on some banknotes. It is concluded that the initial hypothesis about the break in the cultural and historical continuity in symbolism and iconography on the banknotes is only partially confirmed, because in spite of the lack of production material that impeded the printing of new banknotes, the already established tradition of the use of Hungarian folk motifs (that appear on paper money from 1926 to 1980ies) on banknotes was continued. Furthermore, in spite of the distorted and incorrect Croatian banknote values given on the back of some of the banknotes, the said banknotes need to be included in the context of the Croatian numismatics, because on a symbolic level the inscriptions in the Croatian language presented the recognition of history and culture of the Croatian national minority in Hungary