Hungarian forint coins () are part of the physical form of current Hungarian currency, the Hungarian forint. Modern forint coins (distinguished from pre-20th century forint coinage) have been struck since 1946 and reflect the changes of post-World War II Hungarian history.
2nd Republic issues (1946–1948) After the trauma of the Second World War and the hyperinflation of the pengő, the Hungarian government faced the problems of introducing a new currency. The new coins were meant to express stability and raise popular confidence. The first coins minted in 1946 were made of copper alloys for fillér coins and aluminium for 1 & 2 forint coins. The new forint was based on a gold standard, and in the first two years 5 forint coins of good quality silver were put into circulation. However, the government feared hoarding of these coins, and the national bank lowered the mass and quality of silver in the 1947 minting. The silver 5 forint coins were halted for general circulation after 1947. Aluminium 5 and 50 fillér coins were first minted in 1948.
The first commemoratives were a series of 3 coins in 1948 honoring the centennial of the 1848 revolution.
2nd Republic issues - regular Value Technical parameters Description Date of Diameter Thickness Mass Composition Edge Obverse Reverse first minting issue withdrawal lapse 2 f 17.0 mm 1.7 mm 3.0 g Brass85% copper15% 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 bronze92% copper8% 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 19472nd Republic issues - circulating 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
People's Republic issues (1949–1989) In 1949 the communist party took full power. The country's name was changed to Hungarian People's Republic (Magyar Népköztársaság), which appeared on the coins. The Kossuth coat of arms was replaced with the Rákosi one (see: coat of arms of Hungary). The 2, 10 and 20 fillér coins were made of aluminium after 1950.
Following the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 the coat of arms was changed again, with the new version used from 1957 to 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% aluminium4% 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% aluminium4% 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% aluminium4% 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% aluminium4% magnesium 1967 12 May 1967 2 Ft 25.0 mm 1.4 mm 5.0 g Cupronickel75% copper25% 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% copper18% nickel24% zinc 1962 9 December 1962 2 Ft 22.4 mm 1.6 mm 4.44 g Brass72% copper28% 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% copper21% nickel19% 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 Cupronickel75% copper25% 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% copper6% aluminium2% 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 Cupronickel75% copper25% nickel Milled "MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG", György Dózsa Value, year of minting, mintmark, "Kádár" coat of arms 1982 18 April 1983 30 June 1995 31 December 1995People's Republic issues - circulating commemorative 20 f 20.4 mm 1.4 mm 0.9 g 96% Aluminium4% Magnesium Milled "MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG", year of minting, 3 ears of wheat, TERMELJ TÖBB ÉLELMETGrow more food Value, mintmark 1983 28 March 1983 CurrentDespite these coins' resemblance to regular issues, MNB (central bank of Hungary) has not officially withdrawn any commemorative coins issued after 1948. 5 Ft 23.4 mm 1.6 mm 5.0 g 75% Copper25% Nickel MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG, corncob (Zea mays), logo of FAO Value, mintmark, year of minting, "Kádár" coat of arms 10 Ft 28.0 mm 1.9 mm 8.83 g 100% Nickel Ornaments MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG, mintmark, the Liberty Statue in Budapest Value, year of minting, logo of FAO 1981 30 April 1981 MAGYAR NÉPKÖZTÁRSASÁG, mintmark, man cutting bread, logo of FAO Value, year of minting, "Kádár" coat of arms 1983 28 March 1983
3rd Republic issues (1989–2011) In 1992, after the fall of the communist government, a new series of coins was introduced in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 forint . Production of 2 and 5 fillér coins 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, which was considered too big and ugly and easily confused with the 20 forint coin. The 200 forint coin was made of .500 fine silver until 1994, when the price of the metal rose higher than the coin's face value. However, small issues for collectors were minted until 1998, when both the 1992 type 100 and 200 forint coins were withdrawn from circulation.
The 1 and 2 Forint coins were withdrawn from circulation on March 1, 2008, as announced in September 2007, as the cost of minting them was four times their face value. When paying with cash, the total is to be rounded to the nearest 5 forints. The 200 forint note was replaced with a new 200 forint coin on 15 June 2009,Coins to replace 200 forint banknotes , MNB press release, June 23, 2008 decorated with the Chain Bridge, as chosen in an internet poll in October 2008.http://www.forint.hu/Engine.aspx (in Hungarian)
Reportedly, large numbers of 1 forint coins were illegally used in Canada in place of subway tokens, a highly profitable trade until the machines were reprogrammed. The 50 forint coin is confused with the UK 50 pence coin by some British vending machines.