A closer look
Hungary experienced the worst case of hyperinflation in recorded human history following the end of the second world war in 1946. Prices for everyday goods doubled exactly every fifteen hours, culminating in an absolutely mind-boggling monthly inflation rate of forty-one point nine quadrillion percent. The government eventually had to print the one hundred quintillion pengo note, which is the highest denomination of physical currency ever issued. This historical disaster beautifully highlights the utter absurdity of fiat currency, proving that money is just completely made-up paper that only has value because we all collectively hallucinate it does. Next time you feel like complaining about the price of your organic iced latte going up by fifty cents, just remember that seventy years ago Hungarian citizens needed wheelbarrows full of cash just to buy a single loaf of stale bread
