Platinalapú

Platinalapú refers to a type of Hungarian currency note that was printed on paper with a platinum content. These notes were issued during a period of hyperinflation in Hungary following World War I. The inclusion of platinum was an attempt to imbue the currency with some intrinsic value and to bolster public confidence in its worth, as the paper money was rapidly losing its purchasing power.

The high denomination notes, often bearing very large numbers, were a direct consequence of the extreme inflation. The economic instability of the time led to a rapid devaluation of the Hungarian pengő, necessitating the printing of increasingly higher face values. The platinalapú notes were part of this desperate measure to keep the economy functioning. While the platinum content was intended to provide a backing, it did not ultimately solve the underlying economic problems. The hyperinflation continued until a new currency, the Hungarian forint, was introduced in 1946. Surviving platinalapú notes are now considered collector's items, representing a significant episode in Hungarian monetary history and a stark reminder of the devastating effects of hyperinflation.