Hungary marks 80th forint anniversary

On 31 July 2026, the Hungarian Currency Museum in Budapest opened an exhibition titled “The Heritage of the Gold Train – the rebirth of Hungarian money.” The display, marking the museum’s 500,000th visitor, showcased around 80 artefacts related to the 1946 return of Hungary’s gold reserves and the launch of the modern forint. Deputy Governor Levente Sipos‑Tompa of the Hungarian National Bank inaugurated the show, and a round‑table discussion highlighted the Gold Train’s role in securing the new currency’s gold backing.

The following day, 1 August 2026, media coverage reflected on the broader significance of the forint’s 80th anniversary. The 1946 reform that replaced the hyperinflated pengő with the forint stabilized Hungary’s post‑war economy. Over the decades, the forint’s banknote designs have incorporated national icons such as Petősi Sándor, Dózsa György, and Lajos Kossuth. The anniversary underscores eight decades of uninterrupted use of the forint as Hungary’s legal tender.