1946 Hungary 100,000,000 B.-Pengo Banknote P-136 PMG 66 EPQ Gem UNC Hyperinflation Rarity

1946 Hungary 100,000,000 B.-Pengo Banknote P-136 PMG 66 EPQ Gem UNC Hyperinflation Rarity

Description:
Offered here is a spectacularly preserved 1946 Hungary 100,000,000 B.-Pengo banknote, issued by the Hungarian National Bank during one of the most extreme hyperinflation events in recorded history. Graded PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ (Exceptional Paper Quality), this note is a top-tier example of a historic and scarce denomination.

Catalog Reference: Pick #136
Date of Issue: 3 June 1946
Denomination: 100,000,000 B.-Pengo (100 Million B-Pengo)

Historical Significance:
This note hails from the final days of the Hungarian pengő, which collapsed in mid-1946 after experiencing the worst hyperinflation in world history. At its peak, prices in Hungary doubled every 15 hours. The “B.-Pengo” (short for “Bilpengő”, or billion pengő) was introduced in a desperate attempt to stabilize transactions by shifting the numerical base upward, with 1 B.-Pengo = 1,000,000,000 pengő.

The issuance of this 100 Million B.-Pengo note represents a moment when the currency had become effectively meaningless, with larger denominations being printed almost weekly. The Hungarian government eventually abandoned the pengő in favor of the forint later in 1946, ending one of the most dramatic currency failures in modern economic history.

Design and Features:

• Obverse: Features a stately portrait of Ignác Darányi, former Hungarian Minister of Agriculture, in detailed engraving.

• Reverse: Elegant symmetrical guilloche patterns and denomination prominently displayed.

• Color Scheme: Muted purple, lavender, and light brown hues, typical of late pengő issues.

• Security Features: Intricate line work and anti-counterfeiting geometric elements.

Grading Notes:
Graded PMG 66 EPQ, this note exhibits exceptional paper quality, bold color contrast, and pristine margins—placing it among the finest known survivors of this short-lived, extreme denomination. High-grade examples from this series are scarce, particularly with an EPQ designation.

Collector's Value:
For collectors of hyperinflation currency or world economic history, this note is a must-have centerpiece. It embodies the extremes of monetary collapse and the artistic elegance of mid-20th-century European banknote design. With a prestigious PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ grade, it offers elite investment-grade appeal and a rare opportunity to own one of the most dramatic banknotes ever issued.