Lorne the Reader Writes

Lorne S. Marr has left a new comment on your post "Funny, This":

Hehe, nice. Can't but love the beautiful Chinese alphabet. It really does look confusing to a person who's never been accounted with it. Nevertheless, it's a very interesting language. Check out my article on weird insurance if you want, funny also :)
Take care, Lorne

I know about this personally. My father had a coin collection that was older than I am. Unfortunately, he never cataloged anything, but when I wanted to do it for him in 2001, he had to tell me the story of very coin as I logged it. He had about five thousand coins. After five hours, I had 10 coins in an Excel program and through in the towel. After he started letting strangers stay with him, because of their hard luck stories, the coins mysteriously decrease in number.

Pin It Now!

Tomorrow is the 200 Forint Day

Starting tomorrow, the Hungarian government will begin issuing the new 200 forint coin, replacing the 200 forint bank note. Similar to the 100 forint coin, it will be minted in two metals with an outer and inner ring, made of 75% copper. The last date to be able to use the current 200 forint paper currency will be November 16, 2009. According to the central bank, the reasons are two-fold. The coins will have a longer life expectancy as the bills wear out faster and this is also to prepare people for the eventual adoption of the Euro. That will not be happening in the near future, but it is still interesting to think about the currency exchange identification between 100 or 200 forints and 1 or 2 Euros. Yikes, what a rate that would be sending inflation skyrocketing. The forint's name comes from the city of Florence, where golden coins were minted from 1252 called fiorino d'oro. Hungary's florentinus (later forint), was also a gold-based currency, which was used from 1325 under King Charles Robert

Pin It Now!

Votes Are In - The Chain Bridge Wins

The National Bank has received some 200,000 votes for the Chain Bridge to appear on the tails side of the new Ft 200 coin. About half of the votes cast were for the bridge, which appeared on a shortlist of five symbols. The coin will replace the 200 Forint bill in 2009.

Pin It Now!

Which Euros Did You Want?

We have a guest coming here from the States. We had advised her that we prefer payment in Euros even if Hungary has not converted over to them yet.

She sent me a note today stating she went to the bank to order Euros and THEY, the bankers asked her if she wanted Italian, German, or French Euros since they could not get Hungarian Euros. Holy smokes!! A bank asking these questions blew my mind.

It gave me a big laugh, but I did not laugh at her when she asked which we preferred. I could understand her not knowing, but any banker should obviously be up-to-date on this information.

If this leaves anyone scratching their heads, I will save you the time from Googling it. From January 1st, 2002, twelve of the fifteen European Union members completed their conversion to using the Euro instead of their own national currencies. These twelve states comprise the Eurozone, sometimes called Euroland. The Vatican uses the Euro, but does not circulate them. They are sold in sets. Finland does not circulate the 1 Euro cent coin, but stores sell it for an inflated price. San Marino has its own set too.

All Euro bills are the same regardless of the country. The coins are all the same design on one side, but each country has their own design on the other. All currency is legal within the Euro zone regardless of the country of origin.

There are 27 countries in the European Union, but the last 12 to be admitted will not be able to use the Euro for some time yet. Hungary like the others, need to meet a set ratio of debt vs Gross National Product for two years before being allowed to convert to the Euro. In Hungary, it is estimated it will not be until about 2012.

Pin It Now!