Polish złoty
The złoty (Polish: [ˈzwɔtɨ] (
Polish złoty | |||||
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Polski złoty (Polish) | |||||
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ISO 4217 | |||||
Code | PLN | ||||
Number | 985 | ||||
Exponent | 2 | ||||
Denominations | |||||
Subunit | |||||
1⁄100 | Grosz | ||||
Plural | There are many ways to construct plurals in Polish. See the notes below. The language(s) of this currency belong(s) to the Slavic languages. There is more than one way to construct plural forms. | ||||
Symbol | zł | ||||
Grosz | gr | ||||
Banknotes | 10 zł, 20 zł, 50 zł, 100 zł, 200 zł, 500 zł | ||||
Coins | 1 gr, 2 gr, 5 gr, 10 gr, 20 gr, 50 gr, 1 zł, 2 zł, 5 zł | ||||
Demographics | |||||
User(s) | |||||
Issuance | |||||
Central bank | National Bank of Poland | ||||
Website | www | ||||
Mint | Mennica Polska | ||||
Website | www | ||||
Valuation | |||||
Inflation | 3,7% (2020) | ||||
Source | Narodowy Bank Polski[1] | ||||
Method | CPI |
The word złoty is a masculine form of the Polish adjective 'golden', which closely relates with its name to the Dutch guilder, whereas the grosz subunit was based on Austrian groschen. It was officially introduced to replace its predecessor, the Polish marka, on 28 February 1919 and began circulation in 1924. The only body permitted to manufacture or mint złoty coins is Mennica Polska, founded in Warsaw on 10 February 1766.
As a result of inflation in the early 1990s, the currency underwent redenomination. Thus, on 1 January 1995, 10,000 old złoty (PLZ) became one new złoty (PLN). Since then, the currency has been relatively stable, with an exchange rate fluctuating between 3 and 4 złoty for a United States dollar. Though Poland is a member of the European Union, nearly 60% of Poles are strongly against replacing the złoty with the euro.[7][8]
Before the złoty
The predecessors of the złoty were the Polish mark (grzywna) and the kopa. The grzywna was a currency that was equivalent to approximately 210 g of silver, in the 11th century. It was in use until sometime in the 14th century, when it gave way to the Kraków grzywna (approximately 198 g of silver). At the same time, first as a complement to the grzywna, and then as the main currency, came the grosz and the kopa. Poland made the grosz as an imitation of the Prague groschen; the idea of the kopa came from the Czechs as well. A grzywna was worth 48 grosz; a kopa cost 60 grosz.[9][10][11]
First złoty
Kingdom of Poland and Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
The złoty (golden) is a traditional Polish currency unit dating back to the late Middle Ages. Initially, in the 14th and 15th centuries, the name was used for all kinds of foreign gold coins used in Poland, most notably Venetian and Hungarian ducats, (however, in provinces Volyn & Galicia the name for them were the золотий (zolotiy) - golden).[12] One złoty at the very beginning of their introduction cost 12–14 grosz; however, grosz had less and less silver as time passed. In 1496 the Sejm approved the creation of a national currency, the złoty, and its value was set at 30 grosz, a coin minted since 1347 and modelled on the Prague groschen, and a ducat (florin), whose value was 1 1⁄2 złoty.[13] The 1:30 proportion stayed (1⁄2 of a kopa), but the grosz became cheaper and cheaper, because the proportion of silver in the coin alloy diminished over time. In the beginning of the 16th century, 1 złoty was worth 32 grosz; by the middle of the same century it was 50 grosz;[14] by the reign of Sigismund III Vasa 1 złoty was worth 90 grosz while a ducat was worth 180 grosz.
The name złoty (sometimes referred to as the florin) was used for a number of different coins, including the 30-grosz coin called the polski złoty, the czerwony złoty (red złoty) and the złoty reński (the Rhine guilder), which were in circulation at the time. However, the value of the Polish złoty dropped over time relative to these foreign coins, and it became a silver coin, with the foreign ducats eventually circulating at approximately 5 złoty.
The matters were complicated by the extremely intricate system of coins, with denominations as low as 1⁄3 grosz and as high as 12,960 grosz fit into one coin. There were no usual decimal denominations we use today: the system used 4, 6, 8, 9 and 18 grosz, which are now most uncommon. Moreover, there was no central mint, and, apart from Warsaw mint, there were the Gdańsk, Elbląg and Kurland (Riga) separate mints which did not produce the same denomination coins with the same materials. For example, the szeląg had 1.3g of copper while minted in either Kraków or Warsaw, but the local Gdańsk and Elbląg mints made it using only 0.63g of copper. This facilitated forgeries and wrought havoc in the Polish monetary system.
Following the monetary reform carried out by King Stanisław II Augustus which aimed to simplify the system, the złoty became Poland's official currency and the exchange rate of 1 złoty to 30 copper grosz was confirmed. The king established the system which was based on the Cologne mark (233.855 g of pure silver). Each mark was divided into 10 Conventionsthaler of the Holy Roman Empire, and 1 thaler was worth 8 złoty (consequently, 1 złoty was worth 4 silver grosz). The system was in place until 1787. Two devaluations of the currency occurred in the years before the final partition of Poland.
After the third partition of Poland, the name złoty existed only in Austrian and Russian lands. Prussia had introduced the mark instead.
Name | Value (in groszy) | Introduced by | Minted in | Material | Weight (in grams) | Photos or graphics | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
denar | 1⁄18–1⁄10 grosza | Bolesław I the Brave | 11th century – 1653 | After 1527: copper | 0.33 g (Sigismund III Vasa's coin);
0.53 g(John II Casimir) |
Smallest coin in use | |
ternar | 1⁄6 grosza | Władysław II Jagiełło | 14th century – 1407 (1414); 1526–1529; 1545–1548; 1623 | 1526 coins: silver(18%) alloy;
1623 coins: silver(7.8%) alloy; |
0.57 g | ||
szeląg | 1⁄3 grosza | Stefan Batory | 1579–1627; 1659–1666; 1749–1792 | Silver alloy (15.929%); copper from 1658 | 1.13 g (Stefan Batory szeląg);
1.3 g (boratynka) 0.62 g(local coins, such as the Gdańsk grosz) |
The John Casimir szeląg is also called boratynka | |
półgrosz | 1⁄2 grosza | Władysław II Jagiełło | 1398 – early 17th century; 1766–1795 | In 1393–1414 (in Lwów): silver alloy (up to 56.2%); then 43.7%.
In Kraków: either heavier with 50% silver or lighter with 37.5% silver. From 1766 copper. |
Kraków: 1.58 g (50% silver) or 0.96 g (37.5% silver);
Stanisław II Augustus: 1.95 g |
||
grosz srebrny | 1 grosz srebrny = 7 1⁄2 groszy miednych | Stanisław II Augustus | 1764–1795 | 36.7% silver alloy | 1.99 g | ? | |
grosz
(grosz miedziany from Stanisław II Augustus' reign) |
1 grosz | Casimir III the Great | 1367–1849; 1918–present | Casimir III Great: brass coins; later copper | 1.3(Kurland grosz) or 3.4 grams("Kingdom" grosz);
3.89 g(Stanisław II Augustus) |
The base of the currency | |
półtorak | 1 1⁄2 grosza | Sigismund III Vasa | 1614-1660; in the John II Casimir Vasa and Augustus III reigns | Silver (46.9%) alloy | 1.09 g(Augustus III) | Created as an intermediate between grosz and trojak | |
dwojak | 2 grosze | Sigismund II Augustus | Around the 1520s; sporadically later; more minted at John II Casimir Vasa's reign; 1766–1784; 1923–1939; 1954– | Sigismund I the Old: silver
Sigismund II Augustus: silver Stanisław II: 58.7% silver alloy |
1.8 g (Sigismund I the Old)
ca. 3.5 g (Sigismund II Augustus); 3.4 g(Stanisław II Augustus) |
||
trojak | 3 grosze | Sigismund I the Old | 1528–1849 | Silver, most copper from Stanisław II Augustus' reign;
some Gdańsk coins are copper |
2.16 g("Kingdom" trojak)
1.53 g(Gdańsk trojak); 11.69 g(Stanisław Augustus) 1.52 g(silver Gdańsk and Toruń trojak) |
Also called "dutka", "babka", "dydek" in Lithuania | |
czworak | 4 grosze | Sigismund II Augustus | 1565–1568; 1614; 1766–1795 | Silver;
55% silver alloy(Stanisław II Augustus) |
4.29 g;
5.51 g(Stanisław II Augustus) |
||
szóstak | 6 groszy | Sigismund I the Old | 1528–1795 | Silver | 2.34 g(Toruń szóstak)
2.94 g(Gdańsk and Elbląg szóstak); 3.7 g(Kurland szóstak) 4.32 g("Kingdom" szóstak); in 1794–1795 1.52 g |
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2 złote [Stanisław II and Augustus III] | 8 groszy | Augustus III | 1753-1795 | 62.67% silver alloy | 9.35 g(Stanisław II)
7.31 g(Augustus III) |
||
półurcie | 9 groszy | ? | ? | ? | ? | ||
10 copper Kingdom groszy | 10 groszy | Stanisław II Augustus | 1787-95 | 37.3% silver alloy | 2.49 g, then 4.48 g | ||
ort | 18 groszy | Sigismund III Vasa | 1608–1766 | Silver | Augustus III reign:
5.84 g("Kingdom") 6.1 g or 7.7 g (Gdańsk) |
Coins of 1618 were minted by Stanisław Berman | |
półkopek | 30 groszy;
Stanisław II Augustus' złoty - 4 grosze |
Sigismund II Augustus | 1564–1841 | Silver alloy (49.955%) | 6.726 g(John III Sobieski)
5.84 g("Kingdom") or 6.1 g(Gdańsk) tymf; złotówka gdańska: 9.85 g |
From 1663 on also called tymf | |
kopa | 60 groszy = 2 złote | ? | ? | Silver | ? | ||
półtalar | 15–120 groszy (de facto 15–290, more expensive as time passed) | Sigismund II Augustus | 1567–1794 | Silver | ca. 12.5 g;
14.62 g(Augustus III reign); 14.03 g, later 13.07 g(Stanisław II Augustus) |
||
2⁄3 of talar | only commemorative | Augustus III | 1738; 1747 | Silver | |||
talar | 30–240 groszy (de facto 30–580, more expensive as time passed) | Sigismund I the Old | 1533; 1580–1795 | Silver;
83.3% silver alloy(from 1766) |
ca. 24.3–29.3 g | ||
2 talars | 480 groszy(de facto 1160 groszy) | Augustus III | 1740 | Silver | 58 g | ||
dukat (florin) | 45–1,080 groszy | Władysław Łokietek | Early 14th century–1831 | Gold;
98.6% gold alloy(1766–95) |
3.46-3.5 g in the second half of the 18th century | ||
2 ducats | Augustus III | 1753-4 | Gold | 7 g | |||
6 ducats | Augustus III | 1742 | Gold | 21 g | |||
portugał | 10 ducats | Sigismund II Augustus | 1562–1652 | Gold | 35 g(Augustus III) | ||
12 ducats | Augustus III | 1740 | Gold | 29.17 g | |||
półaugustdor | 2 1⁄2 talars = 600 groszy (de jure); 1,450 groszy (de facto) | Augustus III of Poland | 1752–1756 | Gold | 3.32 g | ||
augustdor | 5 talars = 1,200 groszy (de jure); 2,900 groszy (de facto) | Augustus III of Poland | 1752–1756 | Gold | 3.32 g | ||
double augustdor | 10 talars = 2400 talars (de jure); 5800 groszy (de facto) | Augustus III of Poland | 1752–1756 | Gold | 13.3 g | ||
semi-stanislasdor(półstanislasdor) | 27 złotych | Stanisław II Augustus | 1794–1795 | Gold | 6.17 g | ||
stanislasdor | 54 złotych | Stanisław II Augustus | 1794–1795 | Gold (83%) | 12.35 g |
1794–1807
On 8 June 1794 the decision of the Polish Supreme Council offered to make the new banknotes as well as the coins. 13 August 1794 was the date when the złoty banknotes were released to public. At the day there was more than 6.65 million złoty given out by the rebels. There were banknotes with the denomination of 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 złoty (dated as of 8 June 1794), as well as 5 and 10 grosz, and 1 and 4 złoty coins (later banknotes, dated as of 13 August of the same year. Table)
However, it did not last for long: on 8 November, Warsaw was already held by Russia. Russians discarded all the banknotes and declared them invalid. Russian coins and banknotes replaced the Kościuszko banknotes, but the division on złoty and grosz stayed. This can be explained by the fact the Polish monetary system, even in the deep crisis, was better than the Russian stable one, as Poland used the silver standard for coins. That is why Mikhail Speransky offered to come to silver monometalism ("count on the silver ruble") in his work План финансов (Financial Plans, 1810) in Russia. He argued that: "... at the same time ... forbid any other account in Livonia and Poland, and this is the only way to unify the financial system of these provinces in the Russian system, and as well they will stop, at least, the damage that pulls back our finances for so long."
Duchy of Warsaw
The złoty remained in circulation after the Partitions of Poland and the Duchy of Warsaw issued coins denominated in grosz, złoty and talar (plurals talary and talarów), worth 6 złoty. Talar banknotes were also issued. In 1813, while Zamość was under siege, Zamość authorities issued 6 grosz and 2 złoty coins.
Congress Poland
On 19 November O.S. (1 December N.S.) 1815, the law regarding the monetary system of Congress Poland (in Russia) was passed, according to which the złoty stayed, but there was a fixed ratio of the ruble to the złoty: 1 złoty was worth 30 silver grosz, while 1 grosz was worth 1⁄2 silver kopeck. From 1816, the złoty started being issued by the Warsaw mint, denominated in grosz and złoty in the Polish language, as well as the portrait of Alexander I and/or the Russian Empire's coat of arms:
- 1 and 3 grosz made from copper;(1815–49);
- 5 and 10 grosz out of billon;(1816–55);
- 1, 2, 5 and 10 złoty out of silver;(1816–55);
- 25 (the so-called złoty pojedyńczy, single złoty) and 50 (złoty podwójny; double złoty) złoty out of gold (1817–34).
At the same time kopecks were permitted to be circulated in Congress Poland. In fact foreign coins circulated (of the Austrian Empire and Prussia), and the Polish złoty itself was effectively a foreign currency. The coins were as well used in the western part of the Russian Empire, legally from 1827 (decision of the State Council).
In 1828 the Polish mint was allowed to print banknotes of denominations of 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 złoty, on the condition of their guaranteed exchange for coins at the will of Saint Petersburg. That meant that there should have been silver coins that had the value of 1⁄7 of banknotes in circulation.
November Uprising
At the time of the November Uprising, the rebels released their own "rebellion money" – golden ducats and silver coins in the denomination of 2 and 5 złoty, with the revolutionary coat of arms, and the copper 3 and 10 grosz. The 1-złoty coin was as well released as a trial coin. The Polish bank, under the control of the rebels, having few precious metal resources in the reserves, released the 1 złoty banknote. They released the 5, 50 and 100 zł banknotes as well, all yellow. By August 1831 735 thousand złoty were released as banknotes. After the defeat of the uprising the decisions from 21 November (3 December) and 18 (30) December cancelled all the uprising monetary politics. All the coins were to be replaced by Russian coins, but it took a long time till the currency was circulating – only in 1838 was the usage of rebel money banned.
The last years of the first złoty of Congress Poland
At the same time the question arose about the future of the Polish złoty, as well as drastically limiting Polish banking autonomy. Russian finance minister Georg von Cancrin suggested to "value everything in rubles, not florins [złoty]".
There was a problem, however. The monetary system in the Russian Empire was still severely unbalanced. Banknotes, for example, cost much less to produce than their denomination. For that reason, the decision was taken to show both currencies on coins, which was a rather mild punishment for the November Uprising. From 1832 on the Petersburg and Warsaw mints decided to start minting new double-denominated coins. The exchange rate was 1 złoty to 15 kopecks.
Images(obverse/reverse) | Denomination zł/gr | Denomination ruble/kopeck | Material | Years of minting in Petersburg mint | Years of minting in Warsaw mint |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 groszy | 5 kopecks | silver | 1842 (trial coins) | ||
20 groszy | 10 kopecks | silver | 1842 (trial coins) | ||
40 groszy | 20 kopecks | silver | — | 1842–48; 1850 | |
50 groszy | 25 kopecks | silver | — | 1842–48; 1850 | |
1 złoty | 15 kopecks | silver | 1832-41 | 1834–41 | |
2 złote | 30 kopecks | silver | — | 1834–41 | |
5 złotych | 3⁄4 rubles (75 kopecks) | silver | 1833–41 | 1834–41 | |
10 złotych | 1 1⁄2 ruble | silver | 1833–41 | 1835–41 | |
20 złotych | 3 rubles | gold | 1834–41 | 1835–40 |
In 1841 the main currency of Congress Poland became the Russian ruble.
From 1842, the Warsaw mint already issued regular-type Russian coins along with some coins denominated in both grosz and kopecks. At that time the złoty-to-ruble ratio changed again: 1 ruble was now worth only 2 złoty.
The Warsaw mint still issued three coin types: double currency coins (up to 1850), złoty and grosz (up to 1865), and the Russian Empire standard coins till 1865. From 1865 the Warsaw mint stopped making coins, and on 1 January 1868 the Warsaw mint was abolished.
The banknotes were changed much faster, as no Polish banknote was in circulation (at least officially). The Polish Bank started issuing Russian banknotes, denominated only in rubles and valid only in Congress Poland. At the same time the national credit banknotes, made in St. Petersburg, could be used everywhere in the Empire as usual Russian banknotes, as well in Poland.
The Free City of Kraków złoty
Between 1835 and 1846, the Free City of Kraków also used a currency, the Kraków złoty, with the coins actually being made in Vienna. There were 5 and 10 grosz coins and 1 złoty coins. They were all the same: the obverse had the coat of arms and the writing: WOLNE MIASTO KRAKÓW ("Free City of Krakow"), the reverse had the nominal and the year of production.
Poland without the złoty
From 1850, the only currency issued for use in Congress Poland was the ruble consisting of Russian currency and notes of the Bank Polski. The monetary system of Congress Poland was unified with that of the Russian Empire following the failed January Uprising in 1863. However, the gold coins remained in use until the early 20th century, much like other gold coins of the era, most notably gold rubles (dubbed świnka, or "piggy") and sovereigns. Following the occupation of Congress Poland by Germany during World War I in 1917, the ruble was replaced by the marka (plurals marki and marek), a currency initially equivalent to the German Papiermark.
Polish currency in 1918–24
New Poland started releasing new currency – Polish marks, after the defeat of the German Empire and Austro-Hungary. The first banknotes had either Tadeusz Kościuszko (5, 10, 100, 1000 marks) or Queen Jadwiga (10 and 500 marks). 1 and 20 marks also circulated, but they showed nobody on the banknotes.
The Polish marka was extremely unstable because of the constant wars with its neighbours. Attempts to reduce the expenditures of Polish budget were vain – all the money gained went to conduct war with the USSR. To complicate the matters, those attempts did not please the elite, which ruled the country. The government's actions were not popular at all, so the taxes did not rise significantly, in order to avoid popular resentment. Even worse, the territories that made up Poland were rightly coined "the country of three parts", as each part of Poland developed differently during the 123 years after Stanisław II Augustus' abdication, with post-Prussian territories the best developed, and Austrian Galicia and Russian Kresy the worst.
The last attempt to save the Polish marka was made in 1921, when Jerzy Michalski made out his own plan to raise taxes and reduce expenditure. The Sejm accepted it, albeit with many amendments. Realisation of that plan did not succeed, and it had only short-term influence.
This disrupted the whole economy of Poland, and galloping inflation began. The 1⁄2 marek and 5,000 marek banknotes became worthless in two years. As hyperinflation progressed, Poland came to print 1, 5 and 10 million mark banknotes. However, they were quickly almost valueless. 10 million marks cost only US$1.073 in January 1924. Immediate action was needed. Władysław Grabski was invited to stop the pending hyperinflation. As a result, the second Polish złoty was created.
Second złoty
Grabski monetary reform
The złoty was reintroduced as Poland's currency by Grabski in 1924, following the hyperinflation and monetary chaos of the years following World War I. It replaced the marka at a rate of 1 złoty = 1,800,000 marek and was subdivided into 100 grosz, instead of 30 grosz, as it had been earlier. 1 złoty was worth 0.2903 grams of gold, and 1 US dollar cost 5.18 złoty. New coins had to be introduced, but were not immediately minted or in circulation. The temporary solution of the problem was ingenious. 500,000 marek banknote were cut in two, and on each side there were overstamps that showed they were 1 grosz "coins". Similarly 10,000,000 marek notes were divided and overprinted to make two "coins" each worth 5 grosz. This was an emergency measure to provide the population with a form of the new currency.
Transition to złoty
When the second złoty was created, it was pegged to the US dollar. The Sejm was weak in its financial control. Yet political parties demanded the government spend more money than had been projected in the budget.
The budget deficit ballooned and out-of-control inflation ensued. The government struggled to cut expenditures, and as a result often came into conflict with the Sejm. However, the government could not allow hyperinflation to reoccur. To achieve that, the government authorised issue of securities, which went along with the temporary "bilety zdawkowe" coins and złoty banknotes printed in 1919.
Picture | Denomination | Size | Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Watermark | Date of print | Date of withdrawal |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 złoty | 93×63 | Yellow | Tadeusz Kościuszko, denomination in words, date of print | Coat of arms, denomination in number | — | 28 February 1919 | 31 January 1940 | |
2 złote | 115×80 | Blue | Denomination in number | — | ||||
5 złotych | 125×80 | Bright yellow,
orange |
Józef Poniatowski, denomination in words, date of print | Denomination in words, coat of arms | — | 28 February 1919
15 July 1924 | ||
10 złotych | 150×88 | Yellow | Tadeusz Kościuszko, denomination in words, date of print | Some agricultural products | As portrait | 28 February 1919 (not released in public) | ||
Pink | 28 February 1919, 15 July 1924 | |||||||
20 złotych | 160×97 | White, red around the coat of arms and watermark | Denomination in numbers, coat of arms | |||||
50 złotych | 165×102 | Brown, yellow around denomination in words | 28 February 1919 | |||||
100 złotych | 172×103 | Blue | ||||||
500 złotych | 180×110 | Violet and olive | ||||||
1000 złotych | 183×111 | Brown | 28 February 1919 (extremely rare, not released in public) | |||||
5000 złotych | 190×113 | Different shades of green | 28 February 1919 (not released in public) | |||||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
Picture | Denomination | Size | Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Date of print | Amount
printed/ overprinted |
Date of withdrawal |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 grosz | 156×80 | Gray, red overprint | Image of 1 grosz coin, | Notation from the Polish Bank | 28 April 1924 | 49,171,000 | 31 January 1925 | |
5 groszy | 199×92 | Gray, red overprint | Image of 5 groszy coin, | 11,361,000 | ||||
10 groszy | 68×46 | Blue | Image of 10 groszy coin;
Sigismund's Column, in front of the Royal Castle in Warsaw |
27,144,000 | ||||
20 groszy | 79×49 | Brown | Image of 20 groszy coin; Nicolaus Copernicus Monument, Warsaw | 19,872,000 | ||||
50 groszy | 85×53 | Red | Image of 50 groszy coin; Józef Poniatowski Monument, Warsaw | 18,839,000 | ||||
2 złote | 113×80 | Olive | Denomination, date of print; image of the 2 zł commemorative coin (woman with a bunch of cereals) | Denomination; notation from the Polish Bank | 1 May 1925 | 50 mln | 31 March 1928
(lapsed 30 June 1930) | |
5 złotych | 130×80 | Olive and yellow | Denomination, date of print; image of the 5 zł commemorative Constitution coin | Notation from the Polish bank, coat of arms | 59,709,000 | 3 June 1929(lapsed 30 June 1930) | ||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
By the end of 1925 the Polish government was unable to redeem the released securities. The Polish economy was on the brink of collapse.
Despite the crisis, Grabski refused to accept foreign help, because he was concerned Poland would become dependent on the League of Nations. The Polish PM thought that after the złoty stabilised, foreign financiers would be persuaded to give credits and make investments on more favourable conditions than were recently on offer. However, deep-rooted lack of confidence in the Polish economy had made these expectations unrealisable. Grabski's government was forced to sell some of the country's property on unfavourable conditions, without any significant effects. Eventually, the złoty depreciated some 50% from its 1923 value and Grabski resigned as Prime Minister. However, renewed hyperinflation was averted.
Pictures | Denomination | Diameter(mm) | Thickness(mm) | Mass(g) | Composition | Obverse | Reverse | Introduced | Issued | Withdrawn |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 grosz | 14.7 | 1.01 | 1.5 | bronze | Polish coat of arms' eagle, inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | denomination with a simple plant ornament | 1923 | 1923; 1925 1927
1928 1930-1939 |
1939 | |
2 grosze | 17.6 | 0.96 | 2 | brass | Polish coat of arms' eagle, inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | denomination with a simple plant ornament | 1923 | 1923 | 1939 | |
2 grosze | 17.6 | 0.98 | 2 | bronze | Polish coat of arms' eagle, inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | denomination with a simple plant ornament | 1923 | 1925 1927 1928
1930-1939 |
1939 | |
5 groszy | 20 | 1.12 | 3 | brass | Polish coat of arms' eagle, inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | denomination with a simple plant ornament | 1923 | 1923 | 1939 | |
5 groszy | 20 | 1.14 | 3 | bronze | Polish coat of arms' eagle, inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | denomination with a simple plant ornament | 1923 | 1925 1928 1930
1931 1934-1939 |
1939 | |
10 groszy | 17.6 | 0.92 | 2 | nickel | Polish coat of arms' eagle, inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | denomination with a complicated bush ornament | 1923 | 1923 | 1939 | |
20 groszy | 20 | 1.07 | 3 | nickel | Polish coat of arms' eagle, inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | denomination with a complicated bush ornament | 1923 | 1923 | 1939 | |
50 groszy | 23 | 1.35 | 5 | nickel | Polish coat of arms' eagle, inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | denomination with a complicated bush ornament | 1923 | 1923 | 1939 | |
1 złoty | 25 | 1.6 | 7 | nickel | Polish coat of arms' eagle, inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | denomination with an ornament | 1929 | 1929 | 1939 |
Pictures | Denomination | Dimension(mm) | Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Watermark | Date of introduction | Date of printing | Date of withdrawal | Author |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 złoty | 108×60 | brown | Bolesław I the Brave, denomination, the "Bank of Poland" and "Government note" inscriptions, date and place of issue | Denomination | As portrait | 1 October 1938 | 20 May 1940 | Leonard
Sowiński | ||
2 złote | 102×63 | Gray-yellow | Denomination, portrait of a Doubravka of Bohemia, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | Denomination, Polish coat of arms | Value(2 zł) | 26 February 1936 | Zdzisław Eichler | |||
5 złotych | 127×83 | Olive, yellow edges | Portrait of a man, denomination, place and date of issue | A miner in the tunnel, denomination | - | 1 May 1925 | 1 May 1925, 25 October 1926 | Wacław Borowski | ||
144×78 | Blue | Denomination, portrait of a woman, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | Denomination, coat of arms, "Bank of Poland" inscription | Sigismund I the Old | 2 January 1930 | 2.01.1930 or 26.02.1936 | Ryszard Kleczewski | |||
10 złotych | 160×80 | Light brown | Denomination, pictures of saints, coat of arms, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | A woman with a model ship in her hands, a worker and a female peasant with a bunch of wheat | Bolesław I the Brave, 10 ZŁ | 20 July 1926 | 20 July 1926, 20 July 1929 | Zdzisław Eichler | ||
158×80 | Green | Denomination, a picture of a woman, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | A road in the field that passes between the trees | As portrait | Never introduced | 2 January 1928 | ? | |||
20 złotych | 170×94 | Obverse: brown, turquoise edges of picture; reverse: violet | A female peasant with a bunch of wheat and a male with a spade, denomination, "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | Bank of Poland buildings: the one at the left is the former bank building on the Plac Bankowy; the newer one on the Bielańska street. | Casimir III the Great, 20 ZŁ | 1 March 1926 | 1 March 1926, 20 June 1931 | Zygmunt Kamiński | ||
163×86 | Violet | Portrait of a young girl, denomination, coat of arms, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | Morskie Oko lake | As portrait | Never introduced | 2 January 1928 | ? | |||
170×94 | Obverse: brown, light blue edges of picture; reverse: blue | Fortuna with a bunch of wheat and Hermes with a spade, denomination, "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | Bank of Poland buildings: the one at the left is the former bank building on the Plac Bankowy; the newer one on the Bielańska street. | Casimir III the Great, 20 ZŁ | 1 September 1929 | Zygmunt Kamiński | ||||
163×86 | Blue obverse, light green reverse | Portrait of Emilia Plater, denomination, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | A female peasant with a bunch of wheat and two boys, one of which holding a ship, other a hammer, coat of arms and denomination | Casimir III the Great, 20 ZŁ | 20 June 1931 | Ryszard Kleczewski | ||||
Grey and blue | Emilia Plater, a woman with two daughters on the left with flowers, coat of arms, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | Wawel Castle, Kraków, a figure of an architect and a poet (symbolize knowledge) | As portrait and denomination | 11 November 1936 | Wacław Borowski | |||||
50 złotych | 188×99 | green, blue and brown | Fortuna with a bunch of wheat and Hermes with a rod of Asclepius, denomination, "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | Bank of Poland buildings: the one at the left is the former bank building on the Plac Bankowy; the newer one on the Bielańska street. | Stefan Batory, 50 złotych | 28 August 1925 | 28 August 1925, 1 September 1929, | Zygmunt Kamiński | ||
169×92 | green | Jan Henryk Dąbrowski portrait, coat of arms, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | A peasant with a bunch of wheat, two women holding a ship, a boy with an airplane and a worker with a hammer | As portrait and denomination | Never introduced | 11 November 1936 | Wacław Borowski | |||
100 złotych | 175×98 | Brown | Józef Poniatowski's portrait, denomination, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | A picture of an oak representing the history of Poland | Queen Jadwiga, 100 ZŁ | 2 June 1932 | 2 June 1932, 9 November 1934 | Józef Mehoffer | ||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
Poland's economy weakened further to the point it was evident that the system could no longer function. The crisis climaxed in November 1925 leading to the Sanacja coup d'état.
Piłsudski's reforms
In May 1926 a coup d'état was effected. It resulted in Józef Piłsudski becoming the authoritarian leader of Poland. Almost immediately the budget was stabilised. Tax incomes rose significantly, credits were received from the USA, and the Bank of Poland's policy came more strongly under the government's control. These developments prevented the Polish economy's further deterioration.
As had happened earlier in the case of both Austria and Hungary, a special monitoring commission arrived in Poland to analyse the economic situation. The commission was headed by Edwin W. Kemmerer, an American economist and "money doctor".
The złoty started to stabilise in 1926 (thanks chiefly to significant exports of coal), and was re-set on the dollar-złoty rate 50% higher than in 1924. Up to 1933 złoty was freely exchanged into gold and foreign currencies. Based on these developments, the government made the decision to adopt the gold standard for its currency.
In 1924–1925 the banks experienced large capital outflows, but by 1926 people were investing actively in the banks. The economic progress built on increased demand for and exports of coal slowed down because of an over-valued złoty during 1927. As a result, imports became relatively cheaper as compared to exports, resulting in a negative Balance of Trade. Again, Poland plunged into crisis. Economic growth was weak from 1926 to 1929. The main reason for that was the decline of industry, which was influenced by declining demand for Polish items. The crisis deepened with the Great Crisis of 1929–1932 and lasted until the mid-30s.
Polish złoty in 1930s
Poland entered another economic crisis, causing the government again to attempt reduction of its budget deficit by cutting public expenditure other than for military purposes. Despite cutting spending by a third, the deficit persisted. Tax income that should have been used to lead the country out of crisis was instead financing the debt burden. Money required to stimulate the economy was devoted by the government to creditors and foreign banks. Further spending cuts necessitated Poland importing less and exporting more. Import tariffs were increased again for foreign products, while subsidies were given to exporters.
In 1935 Piłsudski died, and the power passed to the generals. They were very disturbed by the crisis. Poland was still an agrarian country with 61% of the population involved in 1931. To reform the economy, the government was thinking about further intervention. As a result, between 1935 and 1939, Poland nationalised its major industries, initiating the changes the communists completed after 1945. Volumes of produced goods output from state-owned factories exceeded expectations. The result was instant - the economy stabilised, and fears of further złoty devaluation reduced while rapid growth was seen. However, World War II abruptly terminated all prosperity. With the Soviet invasion from the east the government had to flee the country. Already in emigration, the government released new banknotes of the denomination of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 złoty which were dated by 15 or 20 August 1939 and were mostly cyan, blue or blue-green (with the exception of 1, 2, 10 and 100 złoty). These were printed in the USA but never released.
Pictures | Denomination | Size(mm) | Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Watermark | Date of print | Designer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 złoty | 72×45 | Bright red | Denomination, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | Denomination | None | 15 August 1939 | Włodzimierz Vacek | |
2 złote | 82×51 | Bright green | Denomination, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | Denomination, ornament | ||||
5 złotych | 97×60 | Blue to cyan | Denomination, portrait of a woman in the traditional costume, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | Denomination | ||||
10 złotych | 141×67 | Red | Denomination, a picture of a woman with a necklace, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | Płock Cathedral | As portrait | Edouard Meronti | ||
20 złotych | 153×75 | Grey to blue | Denomination, a picture of a female Silesian with a cross, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | A power plant, behind the typically rural landscape, with haystacks | Edmund Dulac | |||
Obverse: different shades of blue, reverse: grey | Denomination, a picture of a girl in the traditional costume, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | Saintmost Trinity Church in Leszczyny(now in Palowice) | - | 20 August 1939 | ? | |||
50 złotych | 163×80 | cyan | A mountain peasant(góral), mountain flowers motive, denomination, | Morskie Oko lake, coat of arms | As portrait and denomination | 15 August 1939 | Clément Serveau | |
50 złotych | A female peasant with a sickle and a bunch of cereals | Dunajec River Gorge | - | 20 August 1939 | ? | |||
100 złotych | 171×86 | Brown | A portrait of a Mazury peasant, denomination, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | Landscape nearby the Tyniec, near Kraków | Portrait of a female on 50 zł(20.08.1939) | 15 August 1939 | Clément Serveau | |
500 złotych | 182×89 | Grey | A portrait of a fisherman with a pipe, denomination, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | Port in Gdynia | Edouard Meronti | |||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
Cities on top mean that some number of coins was minted in a specific city. Mass in grams, diameter in mm. 1 - From Latin: "Long live the rule of Republic". 2 - a) Coins from 1928(7.5 mln) have an error on milling: "SUPRMA..." b)Most of coins from 1932 were withdrawn and melted.
Denomi-nation | Date of release | Metal | Mass | Diameter | In circulation | Edge | Obverse | Reverse | Paris | London | Warsaw | Birming-ham | Phila-delfia | Obverse picture | Reverse picture |
1 złoty | 1924-5 | Silver(75% alloy) | 5 | 23 | 1924-1939 | rifled | A portrait of a woman with bunches of cereal.[15] | Polish Coat of Arms, inscriptions: Rzeczpospolita Polska, year of minting | 16 mln | 24 mln | |||||
2 złote | 1924-5 | Silver(75% alloy) | 10 | 27 | 1924-1939 | rifled | A portrait of a woman with bunches of cereal.[15] | Polish Coat of Arms, inscriptions: Rzeczpospolita Polska, year of minting | 8.2 mln
(1924) |
1.2 mln
(1924) |
8 mln (1924);
5.2 mln (1925) |
||||
2 złote | 1932-4 | Silver(75% alloy) | 4,4 | 22 | 1932-1939 | rifled | Portrait of Polonia - a woman signifying Poland.[16] Often mistaken for "a woman in a wreath", "Queen Jadwiga" or "Wanda" | Polish Coat of Arms, inscriptions: Rzeczpospolita Polska, year of minting | 25.2 mln | ||||||
2 złote | 1934
1936 |
Silver(75% alloy) | 4,4 | 22 | 1932-1939 | rifled | Portrait of Józef Piłsudski.[15] | Polish Coat of Arms, inscriptions: Rzeczpospolita Polska, year of minting | 10.5 mln | ||||||
2 złote | 1936 | Silver(75% alloy) | 4,4 | 22 | 1936-1939 | rifled | A picture of "Dar Pomorza" yacht, to commemorate 15 years of Gdynia port foundation.[17] | Polish Coat of Arms, inscriptions: Rzeczpospolita Polska, year of minting | 3,918,000 | ||||||
5 złotych2 | 1928,
1930-2 |
Silver(75% alloy) | 18 | 33 | 1928-1939 | SALUS REIPUBLICAE SUPREMA LEX1 | From Nika(Win) series.[18] | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscriptions: Rzeczpospolita Polska, year of minting | 28.7 mln | ||||||
5 złotych | 1930 | Silver(75% alloy) | 18 | 33 | 1928-1939 | SALUS REIPUBLICAE SUPREMA LEX1 | Consacred to the 1830 November Uprising.[15] | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscriptions: Rzeczpospolita Polska, year of minting | 1,000,200 | ||||||
5 złotych | 1928,
1930-2 |
Silver(75% alloy) | 11 | 28 | 1932-1939 | rifled | Portrait of Polonia - a woman signifying Poland.[16] Often mistaken for "a woman in a wreath", "Queen Jadwiga" or "Wanda" | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; year of minting | 3 mln | 12,250,000 | |||||
5 złotych | 1934 | Silver(75% alloy) | 11 | 28 | 1934-39 | rifled | Portrait of Józef Piłsudski[15] | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; "orzeł strzelecki"; year of minting | 300,000 | ||||||
5 złotych | 1934-6,
1938 |
Silver(75% alloy) | 11 | 28 | 1934-1939 | rifled | Portrait of Józef Piłsudski.[15] | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; year of minting | 9,599,400 | ||||||
5 złotych | 1936 | Silver(75% alloy) | 11 | 28 | 1936-1939 | rifled | A picture of "Dar Pomorza" yacht, to commemorate 15 years of Gdynia port foundation.[17] | Polish Coat of Arms, inscriptions: Rzeczpospolita Polska, year of minting | 1 mln | ||||||
5 złotych | 1925 | See right | 21.1 | 37 | 1925-1939 | rifled | Two sitting men, holding a Book (Constitution) | Polish Coat of Arms, inscriptions: Rzeczpospolita Polska, year of minting | 100 in pinchbeck, 60 in brass, 2 in gold,
100 in 10% silver alloy |
||||||
10 złotych | 1925 | Gold | 3,23 | 19 | 1925-39 | rifled | Portrait of Bolesław I the Brave.[15] | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; year of minting | 50,350 | ||||||
10 złotych | 1933 | Silver(75% alloy) | 22 | 34 | 1933-39 | rifled | Portrait of Romuald Traugutt | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; year of minting | 200,000 | ||||||
10 złotych | 1932-3 | Silver(75% alloy) | 22 | 34 | 1932-1939 | rifled | Portrait of Polonia - a woman signifying Poland.[16] Often mistaken for "woman in a wreath", "Queen Jadwiga" or "Wanda" | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; year of minting | 6 mln | 5.9 mln | |||||
10 złotych | 1933 | Silver(75% alloy) | 22 | 34 | 1933-1939 | rifled | Portrait of John III Sobieski.[15] | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; year of minting | 300,000 | ||||||
10 złotych | 1934 | Silver(75% alloy) | 22 | 34 | 1934-1939 | rifled | Portrait of Józef Piłsudski.[15] | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; "orzeł strzelecki"; year of minting | 300,000 | ||||||
10 złotych | 1934-9 | Silver(75% alloy) | 22 | 34 | 1934-1939 | rifled | Portrait of Józef Piłsudski.[15] | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; year of minting | 17,142,000 | ||||||
10 złotych | 1934 | Silver(75% alloy); exist in iron and pinchbeck | 22 | 34 | 1934-1939 | rifled | Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska, year of minting; | 100 in each metal | |||||||
10 złotych | 1925 | Bronze or silver | 20,5 | 3,4(bronze)
4,2(silver) |
1925-39 | rifled | Two heads of women | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; year of minting | 100 in bronze, 50 in silver | ||||||
20 złotych | 1925 | Gold; exist in copper and nickel | 6,451 | 21 | 1925-39 | rifled | Portrait of Bolesław I the Brave.[15] | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; year of minting | |||||||
20 złotych | 1925 | Bronze; silver | 6.5(bronze)
5.6(silver) |
21 | 1925-1939 | ? | "RP" design | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; year of minting, denomination | 100 bronze; 50 aluminium | ||||||
20 złotych | 1925 | Bronze, copper or silver; gold | 4.5(copper)
5.85(bronze) 4.32(silver) |
21 | 1925-1939 | ? | Portrait of Polonia - a woman signifying Poland.[16] Often mistaken for "woman in a wreath", "Queen Jadwiga" or "Wanda" | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; year of minting | 105(bronze)
12(silver) 10(copper) 5(gold) |
||||||
50 złotych | 1925 | Copper(exist as well in lead and aluminium) | 10,9 | 25 | 1925-39 | ? | A kneeling knight | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; year of minting | 105 | ||||||
100 złotych | 1925 | Bronze or silver | Bronze: 3.5; Silver: 4.15 | 25 | 1925-39 | ? | Nicolaus Copernicus; denomination | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms(squared), inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; year of minting |
General Government
When German invaders established the General Government, they withdrew the 100 złoty banknotes from 1932 and 1934 and 500 złoty banknotes from 1919. The banknotes had to be accounted on the deposits of the people who gave them to the bank.
The 100 złoty banknotes were overstamped in red with: "Generalgouvernement / für die besetzen polnischen Gebiete" (The General Government / for the occupied Polish territories). It was massively counterfeited.
A little later the bank division of the Główny Zarząd Kas Kredytowych Rzeszy Niemieckiej was organized. It started to print the Reichsmarks, but later, on 15 December 1939, a decision came to create the new Bank Emisyjny (Emissary Bank) in Kraków, as the Bank Polski officials fled to Paris. It started working on 8 April 1940.
In May 1940, old banknotes of 1924–1939 were overstamped by the new entity. Money exchange was limited per individual; the limits varied according to the status of the person. The fixed exchange rate 1 Reichsmark = 2 złoty was established. A new issue of notes appeared in 1940–1941. The General Government also issued coins (1, 5, 10 and 20 grosz in zinc, 50 grosz in nickel-plated iron or iron), using similar designs to earlier types but with cheaper metals (mainly zinc-copper alloy). 1, 5, 10 and 20 grosz coins were dated 1923 and 50 grosz were dated 1938.
Banknotes were also issued, called unofficially "młynarki" (from the name of President Feliks Młynarski) or "krakowiaki" (from the place of release), in the denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 złoty. 1000 złoty did not come into public circulation at all, and only reconstructions survive (although shown below). The total amount of them was approximately 10,183 million złoty. An additional 20 million were manufactured by the conspiratory typography of the Union of Armed Struggle. From summer 1943 the Home Army received the złoty produced in Great Britain.
Pictures | Denomination | Size(mm) | Colour | Averse | Reverse | Date of print | Date of withdrawal | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 złoty | 99×65 | Dark green-gray | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription, date | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription | 1 March 1940, 1 August 1941 | 10 January 1945 | ||
2 złote | 110×68 | Olive | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription, date, a peasant picture | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription | ||||
| |
5 złotych | 150×82 | Dark green | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription, date, peasant on white margin, Doubravka of Bohemia | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription | |||
10 złotych | 170×85 | Brown | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription, date, the saints' pictures, head of a woman | The Chopin Monument in Warsaw | 1 March 1940 | |||
| |
20 złotych | 173×91 | Dark Grey | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription, date; design similar to 20 złotych of 1936 (peasant's picture added in the margin) | See 20 złotych of 1936 | |||
| |
50 złotych | 180×100 | Dark green | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription, date; peasant, a statue and portrait of Emilia Plater | Sukiennice, Kraków | 1 March 1940, 1 August 1941 | ||
100 złotych | 190×106 | Brown | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription, date; peasant | Bank of Poland building in Warsaw | 1 March 1940 | |||
100 złotych | 187×98 | Grey through brown to red | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription, date | Lwów panorama | 1 August 1941 | |||
500 złotych(also called "góral") | 181×100 | Olive | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription, date; góral | Denomination and the Morskie Oko lake in Tatra Mountains | 1 March 1940 | |||
1000 złotych
(reconstruction) |
196×103 | Brown | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription, date; the head of "krakowiak"(not all banknotes) | Wawel Castle, Kraków | 1 August 1941(not released, only clichés left | |||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
Communist Poland (1945-1950)
The advance of the Red Army meant the transition to communism, Poland being no exception.
The first monetary reform of post-war Poland was conducted in 1944, when the initial series of banknotes of socialist Poland was released. This was essential for the recreation of the country, so the Polish Committee of National Liberation signed an act on 24 August 1944 introducing the banknotes. The older General Government banknotes were exchanged at par with the new ones. There were limits, however – 500 złoty only for an individual and 2000 złoty for the private enterprises and small manufacturers. The rest came onto the blocked bank accounts.
The banknotes had a very simple design, with no people or buildings featured. They carried the name of the as yet unformed Narodowy Bank Polski (the National Bank of Poland). Printing was completed at the Goznak mint in Moscow. All the new banknotes of the series I (except for the 50 grosz, and 1000 złoty, which were only released later) had a faulty inscription, containing a russianism.
On 15 January 1945 the National Bank of Poland was finally created. Its first monetary action was the printing of 1000 złoty banknote in the newly built Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych in Łódź. The first Communist series' banknotes were easy to counterfeit, so additional replacement banknotes were printed in 1946–1948. As 500 złoty banknote was very easy to counterfeit, it was fully withdrawn in 1946.
The new (II and III) series were created from the graphic designs of Ryszard Kleczewski and Wacław Borowski.
Obverse | Reverse | Denomination | Size(mm) | Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Date of issue | Date of release | Amount
printed |
Date of withdrawal |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50 groszy | 81×52 | Bright pink | Denomination
"The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms |
Denomination | 1944 | 28 February 1945 | 6,706,000
(3,503,000 zł) |
8 November 1950 | ||
1 złoty | 136×66 | Green | Denomination,
"The National Bank of Poland" inscription |
18 September 1944 | 47,726,000 (47,726,000 zł) | |||||
2 złote | 137×67 | Red | 18,725,000
(37,450,000 zł) | |||||||
5 złotych | 142×71 | Brown | 81,183,000
(405,915,000 zł) | |||||||
10 złotych | 160×80 | Blue | 27 August 1944 | 22,005,000
(220,050,000 zł) | ||||||
20 złotych | 170×83 | Teal | 114,687,000
(2,293,740,000 zł) | |||||||
50 złotych | 180×93 | Blue-violet | 26,342,000
(1,317,100,000 zł) | |||||||
100 złotych | 188×100 | Pink | 71,237,000
(7,123,700,000 zł) | |||||||
500 złotych | 193×102 | Olive | 19,787,000
(9,893,500,000 zł) |
17 December 1946 | ||||||
1000 złotych
(by Ryszard Kleczewski) |
182×97 | Brown | 1945 | 1 September 1945 | ca. 19,000,000
(19,000,000,000 zł) |
8 November 1950 | ||||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
Pictures | Denomination | Size(mm) | Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Date of print | Date of release | Date of withdrawal | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 złoty | 98×54 | Red | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date | Denomination | 15 May 1946 | 2 December 1946 | 8 November 1950 | ||
2 złote | 104×57 | Green | 15 March 1947 | ||||||
5 złotych | 122×66 | Grey-blue | 5 February 1948 | ||||||
10 złotych | 128×70 | Brown, red | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription | 18 August 1947 | ||||
20 złotych | 158×84 | Blue to red | Two planes; denomination | 1 July 1948 | |||||
50 złotych | 164×87 | Brown, violet | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms; a steam boat and a sail boat | Boats on the sea, anchors; denomination | 22 September 1947 | ||||
100 złotych | 170×91 | Red, brown | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms; a female peasant with a bunch of cereals, a male peasant with a bunch of wheat and a sickle | A peasant on a tractor in the field | 2 December 1946 | ||||
500 złotych | 176×94 | Green to blue | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms; a sailor with an anchor and a model of ship; a fisherman | The Old City in Gdańsk | 15 January 1946 | 15 July 1946 | |||
1000 złotych | 182×97 | Brown | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms; miners | Łódź factories panorama | ? | ||||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
Pictures | Denomination | Size(mm) | Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Date of print | Date of release | Date of withdrawal | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20 złotych | 158×84 | Dark green | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms | A globe, a book, a machinery detail, a hammer and ralis, symbolising education and industrial work | 15 July 1947 | 16 June 1949 | 8 November 1950 | ||
100 złotych | 170×91 | Brown-red | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms; a female peasant | Horses in a field | 21 February 1949 | ||||
500 złotych | 176×94 | Blue | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms; a female sailor with an anchor | Gdynia port | 1 July 1947 | 20 January 1949 | |||
1000 złotych | 182×97 | Olive, brown | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms; a miner with a hammer | A picture of a factory | 1 December 1948 | ||||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
The IV series banknotes had a longer life. Mainly due to their underdeveloped security features, the first three series were taken out of circulation in line with legislation signed on 28 October 1950, covering the introduction of the new Polish złoty (PLZ). Older banknotes had to be exchanged within 8 days for the new series IV, which had been designed, printed and distributed in great secrecy.
About in the same time, new coins were introduced, which circulated for more than four decades.
Third złoty
Pictures | Denomination | Size(mm) | Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Date of print | Date of release | Date of withdrawal | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 złote | 120×58 | Pale green | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms (without the crown) | Buildings | 1 July 1948 | 30 October 1950 | 30 September 1960 | ||
5 złotych | 142×67 | Brown | A peasant on a tractor in a field | 31 December 1959 | |||||
10 złotych | 148×70 | Olive-brown | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms (without the crown); portrait of a peasant | Peasants at harvesting cereals | 31 December 1965 | ||||
20 złotych | 160×76 | Blue | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms (without the crown); portrait of a woman | Cloth Hall, Kraków | 30 June 1977 | ||||
50 złotych | 164×78 | Green to olive | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms (without the crown); portrait of a fisherman | Gdynia port | 30 June 1978 | ||||
100 złotych | 172×82 | Red | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms (without the crown); portrait of a miner | A picture of a factory | 30 June 1977 | ||||
500 złotych | 178×85 | Black-brown | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms (without the crown); portrait of a miner | A picture of coal mining | 31 December 1977 | ||||
1000 złotych | 150×74 | Bright yellow, red, brown and grey | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms (without the crown); Mikołaj Kopernik | Nicolaus Copernicus's heliocentric model of the Solar System | 29 October 1965 | 1 June 1966 | 31 December 1978 | ||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
In 1950, a new złoty (PLZ) was introduced, replacing all notes issued up to 1948 at a rate of one hundred to one, while all bank assets were re-denominated in the ratio 100:3. The new banknotes were dated in 1948, while the new coins were dated in 1949. Initially, by law with effect from 1950 1 złoty (zł) was made equal to 0.222168g of pure gold (Dziennik Ustaw 50, 459).
As in all the Warsaw Bloc countries, Poland started nationalizing major industrial and manufacturing businesses. The necessary legislative act was signed in 1946. However, smaller enterprises remained in private hands, in contrast to the USSR. Despite this concession, the whole economy was under firm state control. In the agricultural sector, farmers (still the major source of Polish income) received additional lands from the government. These properties were the result of confiscations from the church, wealthy families as well from farmers who were targeted as counter revolutionaries to Soviet Communist rule.
In the late 1940s, Polish currency became unstable. This was largely due to initial opposition to the new Soviet imposed government and made an already difficult economic situation worse. Eventually things changed and the złoty became stronger in 1948–1949.
Beginning in 1950, the Soviet controlled government started implementing communist collectivization policy on a mass scale. Some farmers were grouped into newly created PGRs (State Agricultural Farms). Others supplied produce to the State for distribution and had to comply with obligatory centralized food deliveries (first of cereals, in 1951; and from 1952 on, of meat, potatoes and milk). Unable to compete with advantaged collective farms, privately owned and individually-run farms went bankrupt. The State bought at extremely low prices designed to impoverish private farms.
Agriculture might have been ruined in a few years if not for the death of President and latterly Secretary General of the Central Committee of the PUWP Bolesław Bierut under mysterious circumstances in 1956. The new government under Władysław Gomułka began relaxing the earlier years' hardline Stalinist policies. State Farms were reformed, enforced obligatory deliveries were reduced and State buying prices were raised. On the whole the structure was little different from that of 1949: industry was state-owned, while agricultural production was State directed but mostly in private hands.
Serious reforms were proposed in the early 1970s by Edward Gierek, which aimed to improve the situation for ordinary citizens. Unfortunately, the government had inadequate funds to initiate these reforms. This explains Poland's growing financial indebtedness to the USSR and other Warsaw Bloc countries, promoting the view that "the investments will upgrade the Poland's potential, which will be aimed at export, so that the country will pay the interest and at the same time maintain a high industrial production". In fact, although the intention was to create employment, it never happened. Poland's debt burden grew too large, forming the main cause of further financial crisis. After a period of prosperity in 1971–1978, Poland entered into a very deep recession, which worsened over time as Poland was unable to meet debt interest obligations. The crisis was to last until 1994. The first indications of the crisis was obvious by the mid-70s, when there began a period of rampant inflation. Złoty devaluation continued. In 1980 Gierek's government was accused of corruption. He was removed from power in 1980.
Financial crisis of 1980s
The first big strikes started in Gdańsk and GOP (Upper Silesian Industrial Area). These restricted industrial production which by then had become the main economic sector. The Communist government's inability to organize production to balance supply and demand resulted in shortages as well as wasteful surpluses. Debt and currency issuance was used to attempt to smooth over the swings and caused inflation and wild moves in interest rates and borrowing conditions. These chaotic market conditions caused by reactionary policies of Communist controls and mandates led to widespead food shortages and government imposed food rationing. martial law of 1981–83 was then imposed to attempt to oppress the public's outrage and desire for reform.
By the early 80s inflation in Poland crossed into outright currency collapse (hyper inflation) – inflation estimated to be over 100% per annum in 1982, which is equivalent to a halving of the value of the currency over 1 year. It was reduced in the mid-80s to about 15% per annum, but was restarted again in late-80s.
Poor economic productivity and a huge public debt burden did not create any salary and pension increases. By 1981 it was admitted that the situation was beyond management. In an effort to escape such situation, Poland started massively printing banknotes, without backing from increased economic output. Thus, deliberately attempting hyper inflation throughout the 80s to resolve the economic stagnation. Banknotes denominated at 5,000 złoty were introduced in 1982, 10,000 złoty in 1988, 20,000 and 50,000 złoty in 1989, and 100,000, 200,000 and 500,000 złoty in 1990. Grosz coins were rendered worthless and coins were mostly made out of aluminum (with the exception of the commemorative ones). The public debt burden doubled over the course of the 80s.
Given the circumstances, the only solution appeared to be the liberalization of the economy. In 1988 Mieczysław Rakowski was forced to accept the possibility of transition of the state enterprises into private hands. In fact, as stated earlier, smaller enterprises were private, and 18% of GDP was made by private sector, additional 10% – by the cooperatives. These were not, however, the Soviet Perestroika cooperatives, but ones with limited experience in the market economy. These were ready to transfer to a market economy. The Communist authorities had to admit they had failed to manage the economy productively, which was another reason to introduce changes.
Leszek Balcerowicz was behind the idea of shifting the economic basis from state-based to free-trade. To achieve this, the following were introduced:
- Liberalisation of prices. This allowed prices to seek market value, revealing the very high inflation of the currency supply throughout the 80s (585.5% hyper inflation in 1990);
- The state gave free access to all areas of economic enterprise (January 1989 - January 1990);
- Fresh budget cuts on the state-owned enterprises and lowering the tempo of inflation by printing less currency and lower public borrowing
- New financing and credit policies as well as the attraction of direct foreign investments from the west;
- Measures to increase the convertibility of the national currency in all operations;
- Liquidation of foreign trade controls (1990).
The worst years of the crisis began in 1988, when the level of inflation rose higher than 60% per annum. Inflation peaked in 1990, characterized as hyperinflation, as the monthly rate was higher than 50%. However, by December 1991 it decreased below 60% per annum, and by 1993 it firmly established below 40%. As a result, the złoty regained the confidence of foreign investors. The remaining issue was the re-denomination of the depreciated złoty.
Polish złoty coins (PLZ)
Diameter(Ø) shown in mm, mass in grams. 1 - Minted both in Budapest and Warsaw in numbers of 300,100,600 coins.
Pictures | Denomination | Ø | Mass | Metal | Edge | Obverse | Reverse | Issued in Budapest | Issued in Warsaw | Issued in Basel | Issued in Kremnica | Issued in Leningrad | Introduced | Issued | Withdrawn | With inscription "... Ludowa"? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 grosz | 14.7 | 0.5 | aluminium | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, leaf ornament | 400,000,000 | 116,000 | 1954 | 1949 | 1 January 1995 | No | ||||
2 grosze1 | 16 | 0.57 | aluminium | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, leaf ornament | 1954 | 1949 | 1 January 1995 | No | ||||||
5 groszy | 20 | 3 | bronze | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, leaf ornament | 300,000,000 | 1950 | 1949 | 1956 | No | |||||
5 groszy | 20 | 1 | aluminium | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, leaf ornament | 200,000,000 | 1960 | 1949 | 1 January 1995 | No | |||||
5 groszy | 16 | 0.6 | aluminium | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, leaf ornament | 310,364,378 | 1958 | 1958-63; 1965; 1967–1968; 1970–1972 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
10 groszy | 17.6 | 2 | cupronickel | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 200,000,000 | 1950 | 1949 | 1 January 1995 | No | |||||
10 groszy | 17.6 | 0,7 | aluminium | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 31,046,685 | 1950 | 1949 | 1 January 1995 | No | |||||
10 groszy | 17.6 | 0,7 | aluminium | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 1,179,713,719 | 100,000,000 | 1961 | 1961-3; 1965–1981; 1983; 1985 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | ||||
20 groszy | 20 | 3 | cupronickel | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 133,383,000 | 1950 | 1949 | 1 January 1995 | No | |||||
20 groszy | 20 | 1 | aluminium | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 197,491,750 | 1950 | 1949 | 1 January 1995 | No | |||||
20 groszy | 20 | 1 | aluminium | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 879,964,867 | 50,000,000 | 1957 | 1957; 1961–1963; 1965–1973; 1975–1978; 1980–1981; 1983; 1985 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | ||||
50 groszy | 23 | 5 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 109,000,000 | 1950 | 1949 | 1 January 1995 | No | |||||
50 groszy | 23 | 1.6 | aluminium | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 59,392,950 | 1950 | 1949 | 1 January 1995 | No | |||||
50 groszy | 23 | 1.6 | aluminium | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 376,793,589 | 66,800,000 | 1957 | 1957; 1965; 1967–1968; 1970–1978; 1982–1985 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | ||||
50 groszy | 23 | 1.6 | aluminium | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 49,052,000 | 1986 | 1986-7 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
1 złoty | 25 | 7 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 87,053,000 | 1950 | 1949 | 1 January 1995 | No | |||||
1 złoty | 25 | 2.12 | aluminium | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 43,000,000 | 1950 | 1949 | 1 January 1995 | No | |||||
1 złoty | 25 | 2.12 | aluminium | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 1,110,555,639 | 60,000,106 | 1957 | 1957, 1965–1978, 1980–1988 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | ||||
1 złoty | 16 | 0.57 | aluminium | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 1989 | 1989-90 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | ||||||
2 złote | 27 | 2.7 | aluminium | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch and cereal ornament | 189,955,432 | 1958 | 1958-60; 1970–1974 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
2 złote | 21 | 3 | brass | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch and cereal ornament | 633,950,957 | 137,600,000 | 1975 | 1975-1988 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | ||||
2 złote | 18 | 0.7 | aluminium | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch and cereal ornament | 132,217,000 | 1989 | 1989-90 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
5 złotych | 29 | 3.45 | aluminium | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, fisher | 126,439,614 | 1958 | 1958-60; 1971; 1973–1974 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
5 złotych | 24 | 5 | brass | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination | 315,831,723 | 135,000,000 | 1975 | 1975-88 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | ||||
5 złotych | 20 | 0.88 | aluminium | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination | 68,501,000 | 1989 | 1989-90 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
10 złotych | 31 | 12.9 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination; Nicolaus Copernicus | 15,558,855 | 1959 | 1959; 1965 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
10 złotych | 28 | 9.5 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination; Nicolaus Copernicus | 20,129,000 | 1967 | 1967-9 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
Analogical to the one lower | 10 złotych | 31 | 12.9 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination; Tadeusz Kościuszko | 44,808,153 | 1959 | 1959-60; 1966 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | ||||
10 złotych | 28 | 9.5 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination; Tadeusz Kościuszko | 45,111,000 | 1969 | 1969-73 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
10 złotych | 25 | 7.7 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, Bolesław Prus | 136,314,606 | 1975 | 1975-8;
1981-4 |
1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
10 złotych | 25 | 7.7 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, | >55,000,000 | 1975 | 1975-7 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
10 złotych | 25 | 7.7 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination | 224,209,255 | 1984 | 1984-8 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
10 złotych | 22 | 4.27 | manganese brass | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination | 187,692,000 | 1989 | 1989-90 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
20 złotych | 29 | 10.15 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination; a skyscraper and cereals | 20,000,000 | 37,000,000 | 1973 | 1973-4; 1976 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | ||||
20 złotych | 29 | 10.15 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination; Marceli Nowotko | 56,152,000 | 30,000,000 | 1974 | 1974-7; 1983 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | ||||
20 złotych | 26.5 | 8.7 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination | 103,383,710 | 1984 | 1984-8 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
20 złotych | 24 | 5.65 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination | 200,686,000 | 1989 | 1989-90 | 1 January 1995 | Yes |
In 1949, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 grosz and 1 złoty coins were issued. The first two denominations were minted only in 1949, the rest also later.
In 1952, Poland's official name was changed from "Republic of Poland" to "People's Republic of Poland". Coins minted in 1949 featured the former name. The 5 grosz brass coin was withdrawn in 1956. The rest circulated until 1994.
The 2, 5 and 10 złoty banknotes were withdrawn in the 1960s to be exchanged for coins.
The coins from 1 grosz to 2 złoty were quite simple designs but the 5, 10 and 20 złoty coins featured people (5 złoty had a fisherman, 10 złoty had Copernicus, Mickiewicz with Prus on its obverse, and 20 złoty, most notably, Marceli Nowotko), until the 1980s. As the Polish złoty became cheaper over time, older coins were rendered worthless (however, they stayed in circulation), and the simple new coins were released only in złoty denominations. All the PRP and 1990 issued coins were withdrawn in 1994, as a result of the monetary reform conducted at that time.
Pictures | Denomination | Diameter | Mass | Metal | Edge | Obverse | Reverse | Number minted | Introduced | Issued | Withdrawn |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50 złotych | 26 | 6.8 | cupronickel | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 28,707,000 | 1990 | 1990 | 1 January 1995 | |
100 złotych | 28.6 | 7.68 | cupronickel | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 37,341,000 | 1990 | 1990 | 1 January 1995 |
Pictures | Value | Diameter(mm) | Mass(g) | Metal | Obverse | Reverse | Number minted | Issued |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 złotych | 31 | 12.9 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Casimir III the Great, "Six hundred years of Jagiellonian University"(in Polish). Inscriptions concave | 2,610,100 | 1964 | |
10 złotych | 31 | 12.9 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Casimir III the Great, "Six hundred years of Jagiellonian University"(in Polish). Inscriptions convex | 2,611,539 | 1964 | |
10 złotych | 31 | 12.9 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | "Seven centuries of Warsaw" in Polish; figure of Nike | 3,492,000 | 1965 | |
10 złotych | 31 | 12.9 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa" | "Seven centuries of Warsaw" in Polish; Sigismund's Column; denomination | 2 mln | 1965 | |
10 złotych | 28 | 9.5 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa" | "Seven centuries of Warsaw" in Polish; Sigismund's Column; denomination | 102,000 | 1966 | |
100 złotych | 35 | 20 | silver(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; coat of arms of the voivoderships of the Rzeczpospolita | Mieszko I and Doubravka of Bohemia; denomination; "Tysiąclecie państwa polskiego"(thousand years of Poland) | 198,000 | 1966 | |
10 złotych | 28 | 9.5 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | General Karol Świerczewski | 2,000,000 | 1967 | |
10 złotych | 28 | 9.5 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa" | Marie Curie; denomination | 2,000,000 | 1967 | |
10 złotych | 28 | 9.5 | cupronickel | Inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; "orzeł strzelecki" | "XXV years of People's Army of Poland"(in Polish); head of a soldier, denomination | 2,000,000 | 1968 | |
10 złotych | 28 | 9.5 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa" | "Dwudziesta piąta rocznica PRL"(Twenty-five years of PPR); cereals, years of communist rule | 2,000,000 | 1969 | |
10 złotych | 28 | 9.5 | cupronickel | Coat of arms(with another one on the shield inside the bigger one), year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | "Byliśmy - Jesteśmy - Będziemy"("We were, we are, we will be"), date(1945-1970); some coat of arms; a pillar with "PRL" written and its coat of arms | 2,000,000 | 1970 | |
10 złotych | 28 | 9.5 | cupronickel | Coat of arms(in a shield), year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | FAO; wheat and fish on a coin | 2,000,000 | 1971 | |
10 złotych | 28 | 9.5 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | "50 years of the III Silesian Uprising"; Virtuti Militari cross | 2,000,000 | 1971 | |
10 złotych | 28 | 9.5 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination, borders of Poland. Writings go along the borders. | "50 years of Gdynia port" | 2,000,000 | 1972 | |
50 złotych | 30 | 12.75 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Fryderyk Chopin | 49,999(1972)
10,375(1974) |
1972
1974 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Mikołaj Kopernik | 51,048(1973)
50,000(1974) |
1973
1974 | |
20 złotych | 29 | 10.15 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | "XXV years of Comecon" | 2,000,000 | 1974 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Marie Curie | 50,000 | 1974 | |
200 złotych | 31 | 14.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | "XXX lat PRL"(30 years of the PPR) | 13,068,041 | 1974 | |
20 złotych | 29 | 10.15 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | "International Year of Women"; a face of a woman | 2,000,000 | 1975 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Royal Castle in Warsaw | 50,177 | 1975 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Helena Modrzejewska | 60,158 | 1975 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Ignacy Jan Paderewski | 60,184 | 1975 | |
200 złotych | 31 | 14.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | "XXX rocznica zwycięstwa nad faszyzmem"(30 years of the victory over fascism); heads of two soldiers | 1,835,600 | 1975 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Tadeusz Kościuszko | 100,148 | 1976 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Kazimierz Pułaski | 100,334 | 1976 | |
500 złotych | 32 | 29.95 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Tadeusz Kościuszko | 2,318 | 1976 | |
200 złotych | 31 | 14.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | XXI Olympic Games | 10,100 | 1976 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | European bison(wisent) | 30,050 | 1977 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Henryk Sienkiewicz | 20,000 | 1977 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Władysław Reymont | 20,150 | 1977 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Wawel Castle, Kraków | 30,000 | 1977 | |
500 złotych | 32 | 29.95 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Kazimierz Pułaski | 2,315 | 1976 | |
2,000 złotych | 21 | 8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Fryderyk Chopin | 4,000 | 1976 | |
20 złotych | 29 | 10.15 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Maria Konopnicka | 2,009,800 | 1978 | |
20 złotych | 29 | 10.15 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Mirosław Hermaszewski(the first Polish man in space); name of spaceship he flew on(Interkosmos-73) | 2,008,900 | 1978 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Moose | 30,000 | 1978 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Adam Mickiewicz | 30,000 | 1978 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Janusz Korczak | 30,000 | 1978 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Beaver | 30,000 | 1978 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Henryk Wieniawski | 30,000 | 1979 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Ludwik Zamenhof | 30,000 | 1979 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Lynx | 20,000 | 1979 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Tatra chamois | 20,000 | 1979 | |
200 złotych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Mieszko I | 12,150 | 1979 | |
20 złotych | 29 | 10.15 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | The International Year of a Child; children dancing in a circle | 2,006,700 | 1979 | |
50 złotych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Mieszko I | 2,640,400 | 1979 | |
2,000 złotych | 21 | 8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Mieszko I | 3,000 | 1979 | |
2,000 złotych | 21 | 8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Mikołaj Kopernik | 5,000 | 1979 | |
2,000 złotych | 21 | 8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Maria Skłodowska-Curie | 5,000 | 1979 | |
20 złotych | 29 | 10.15 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | XXII Olympic Games; a runner and the symbol of Olympic Games | 2,011,700 | 1980 | |
20 złotych | 29 | 10.15 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | 50 years of "Dar Pomorza" yacht and itself | 2,069,200 | 1980 | |
50 złotych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Bolesław I the Brave | 2,564,200 | 1980 | |
50 złotych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Casimir I the Restorer | 2,503,800 | 1980 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | XXII Olympic Games; a runner and the symbol of Olympic Games | 10,000 | 1980 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Jan Kochanowski | 10,000 | 1980 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Western capercaille | 18,000 | 1980 | |
200 złotych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | XIII Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, with the Olympic fire | 32,040 | 1980 | |
200 złotych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | XIII Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, without the Olympic fire | 28,040 | 1980 | |
200 złotych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Bolesław I the Brave | 12,000 | 1980 | |
200 złotych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Casimir I the Restorer | 12,000 | 1980 | |
2,000 złotych | 21 | 8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Bolesław I the Brave | 2,500 | 1980 | |
2,000 złotych | 21 | 8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | XIII Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, without the Olympic fire; with the symbols of the Olympic games | 5,250 | 1980 | |
2,000 złotych | 21 | 8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Casimir I the Restorer | 2,500 | 1980 | |
50 złotych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Bolesław II the Generous | 2,538,400 | 1981 | |
50 złotych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Władysław I Herman | 2,500,000 | 1981 | |
50 złotych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | General Władysław Sikorski | 2,504,500 | 1981 | |
50 złotych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | World Food Day(written in Polish and English); cereal; 16 Oct(in English, too) | 2,523,800 | 1981 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | General Władysław Sikorski | 12,000 | 1981 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Horse | 12,000 | 1981 | |
200 złotych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Bolesław II the Generous | 12,000 | 1981 | |
200 złotych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Władysław I Herman | 12,000 | 1981 | |
2,000 złotych | 21 | 8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Władysław I Herman | 3,113 | 1981 | |
2,000 złotych | 21 | 8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Bolesław II the Generous | 3,000 | 1981 | |
50 złotych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Bolesław III Wrymouth | 2,616,100 | 1982 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | White stork | 12,000 | 1982 | |
100 złotych | 30 | 14.15 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 12,450(1982)
6(1984) 208(1986) |
1982
1983 1986 | |
200 złotych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | 1982 FIFA World Cup; goalkeeper in front of the goal | 21,000 | 1982 | |
200 złotych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Bolesław III Wrymouth | 12,000 | 1982 | |
200 złotych | 40 | 28.3 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 6,650(1982)
6(1984) 107(1986) |
1982
1983 1986 | |
1,000 złotych | 31 | 14.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 1,604,900(1982)
748,160(1983) |
1982
1983 | |
1,000 złotych | 18 | 3.4 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 900 | 1982 | |
1,000 złotych | 40 | 34.5 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 700 | 1982 | |
2,000 złotych | 23 | 6.8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 1,750 | 1982 | |
10,000 złotych | 40 | 34.5 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 900 | 1982 | |
50 złotych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | 300 years of the Battle of Vienna; portrait of John III Sobieski | 2,576,000 | 1983 | |
50 złotych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Ignacy Łukasiewicz | 611,700 | 1983 | |
50 złotych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | 150 years of the Great Theatre, and the Great Theatre itself | 615,000 | 1983 | |
100 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Bear | 8,000 | 1983 | |
200 złotych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John III Sobieski | 11,000 | 1983 | |
100 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Wincenty Witos | 1,530,100 | 1984 | |
100 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | 40 years of the Polish People's Republic, map of Poland | 2,594,500 | 1984 | |
200 złotych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | XXIII Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles | 16,000 | 1984 | |
200 złotych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | XIV Winter Olympics in Sarajewo | 15,000 | 1984 | |
500 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Swan | 10,000 | 1984 | |
100 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Przemysław II | 2,924,300 | 1985 | |
500 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Przemysław II | 8,000 | 1985 | |
500 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Squirrel | 8,000 | 1985 | |
500 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | 40 years of UN | 10,000 | 1985 | |
100 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Władysław Łokietek(the Elbow-High) | 2,539,700 | 1986 | |
500 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | 1986 FIFA World Cup; a football in the goal | 15,500 | 1986 | |
500 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Władysław Łokietek(the Elbow-High) | 8,000 | 1986 | |
500 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Owl | 12,000 | 1986 | |
10,000 złotych | 40 | 28.3 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 8 | 1986 | |
500 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Casimir III the Great | 8,000 | 1987 | |
500 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | XV Winter Olympics in Calgary; a hockey goalkeeper | 8,000 | 1987 | |
500 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul | 15,000 | 1987 | |
500 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | UEFA Euro 1988, a player with a football | 12,000 | 1987 | |
10,000 złotych | 35 | 19.3 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II(design different from all previous) | 923,820 | 1987 | |
100 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Casimir III the Great | 2,479,200 | 1987 | |
1,000 złotych | 18 | 3.1 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 201 | 1987 | |
2,000 złotych | 22 | 7.7 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 201 | 1987 | |
5,000 złotych | 27 | 15.5 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 201 | 1987 | |
10,000 złotych | 32 | 31.1 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 201 | 1987 | |
200,000 złotych | 70 | 373.2 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 101 | 1987 | |
100 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Queen Jadwiga | 2,469,000 | 1988 | |
100 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | 70 years of the Greater Poland Uprising(1918-9); two men with rifles | 2,513,000 | 1988 | |
500 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Queen Jadwiga | 8,000 | 1988 | |
500 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | 1990 FIFA World Cup | 15,000 | 1988 | |
10,000 złotych | 32 | 31.1 | pure silver | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II - 10 years of pontificate | 5,000 | 1988 | |
10,000 złotych | 32 | 31.1 | pure silver | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II with a cross | 5,000 | 1988 | |
50,000 złotych | 35 | 19.3 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Józef Piłsudski - 70 years of independence | 20,000 | 1988 | |
1,000 złotych | 18 | 3.1 | pure gold | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II - 10 years of pontificate | 1,000 | 1988 | |
2,000 złotych | 22 | 7.7 | pure gold | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II - 10 years of pontificate | 1,000 | 1988 | |
5,000 złotych | 27 | 15.5 | pure gold | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II - 10 years of pontificate | 1,000 | 1988 | |
10,000 złotych | 32 | 31.1 | pure gold | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II - 10 years of pontificate | 6,000 | 1988 | |
200,000 złotych | 70 | 373.2 | pure gold | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II - 10 years of pontificate | 300 | 1988 | |
500 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | 50 years of the World War II; soldiers in the battlefield with rifles | 10,135,000 | 1989 | |
500 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Władysław II Jagiełło | 2,544,000 | 1989 | |
5,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Save the historical sights of Toruń | 20,000 | 1989 | |
5,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Toruń buildings; Mikołaj Kopernik | 20,000 | 1989 | |
5,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | A Polish soldier on the fronts of the WWII - Westerplatte | 25,000 | 1989 | |
5,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Władysław II Jagiełło - portrait en face | 8,000 | 1989 | |
5,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Władysław II Jagiełło - bust | 2,500 | 1989 | |
10,000 złotych | 32 | 31.1 | pure silver | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II with a cross | 5,000 | 1989 | |
10,000 złotych | 32 | 31.1 | pure silver | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II(coin in squares) | 5,000 | 1989 | |
20,000 złotych | 35 | 19.3 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | 1990 FIFA World Cup - a ball | 25,000 | 1989 | |
20,000 złotych | 35 | 19.3 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | 1990 FIFA World Cup - a football player | 25,000 | 1989 | |
1,000 złotych | 18 | 3.1 | pure gold | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II(design with grills) | 1,000 | 1989 | |
2,000 złotych | 22 | 7.7 | pure gold | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II(design with grills) | 1,000 | 1989 | |
5,000 złotych | 27 | 15.5 | pure gold | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II(design with grills) | 1,000 | 1989 | |
10,000 złotych | 32 | 31.1 | pure gold | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II(design with grills) | 2,000 | 1989 | |
200,000 złotych | 70 | 373.2 | pure gold | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II(design with grills) | 200 | 1989 |
1 - Means: Number with Tadeusz Kościuszko/Number with Józef Piłsudski/Number with Fryderyk Chopin.
Pictures | Value | Diameter(mm) | Mass(g) | Metal | Edge | Obverse | Reverse | Number minted | Issued |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10,000 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | "Solidarność"; 3 crosses, anchor, some city | 15,164,010 | 1990 | |
200,000 złotych | 65 | 155.5 | pure silver | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Józef Piłsudski | 10,000 | 1990 | |
200,000 złotych | 65 | 155.5 | pure silver | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | The Chopin Monument in Warsaw | 10,000 | 1990 | |
200,000 złotych | 65 | 155.5 | pure silver | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Tadeusz Kościuszko on a horse | 10,000 | 1990 | |
200,000 złotych | 35 | 19.3 | 75% silver alloy | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Stefan Rowecki "Grot" | 25,000 | 1990 | |
200,000 złotych | 35 | 19.3 | 75% silver alloy | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Tadeusz Komorowski "Bór" | 25,000 | 1990 | |
100,000 złotych | 39 | 31.1 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Common: "Solidarność"; 3 crosses, anchor, some city
Type A: "ZŁ" far from "1" in denomination, with letter "L" under the year 1990 Type B: "ZŁ" close to "1" in denomination, without letter "L" under the year 1990 Type C: "ZŁ" close to "1" in denomination, with letter "L" under the year 1990 Type D: other style of letter "S" in SOLIDARNOŚĆ |
Totally 500,000 | 1990 | |
100,000 złotych | 32 | 31.1 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | As type B; flag reversed | 20,000 | 1990 | |
100,000 złotych | 39 | 31.1 | pure silver | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Józef Piłsudski | 10,000 | 1990 | |
100,000 złotych | 39 | 31.1 | pure silver | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | The Chopin Monument in Warsaw | 10,000 | 1990 | |
100,000 złotych | 39 | 31.1 | pure silver | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Tadeusz Kościuszko on a horse | 10,000 | 1990 | |
20,000;
50,000; 100,000 200,000 złotych |
18(20,000)
22(50,000) 27(100,000) 32(200,000) |
3.1(20,000)
2.7(50,000) 15.5(100,000) 31.1(200,000) |
pure gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | "Solidarność"; 3 crosses, anchor, some city | 20,000: 1,004
200,000: 3,001 rest: 1,001 each type |
1990 | |
200,000;
500,000; 1,000,000 złotych |
32(200,000)
39(500,000) 65(1,000,000) |
31.1(200,000)
62.6(500,000) 373.2(1,000,000) |
pure gold | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Tadeusz Kościuszko
Józef Piłsudski Frederyk Chopin(design as in silver coins) |
200,000 złotych:
13/13/101 500,000 złotych: 12/16/16 1,000,000 złotych: 1/1/1 |
1990 | |
100,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | The Polish soldier on the fronts of the World War II - Narvik | 12,000 | 1991 | |
100,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | The Polish soldier on the fronts of the World War II - Major Henryk Dobrzański "Hubal" | 12,000 | 1991 | |
100,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | The Polish soldier on the fronts of the World War II - the Battle of Britain | 12,000 | 1991 | |
100,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | The Polish soldier on the fronts of the World War II - Tobruk | 12,000 | 1991 | |
200,000 złotych | 40 | 31.1 | 92.5% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 1992 Summer Olympics - a heavyweight athlete | 20,000 | 1991 | |
200,000 złotych | 40 | 31.1 | 92.5% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 1992 Summer Olympics - a sailing boat | 20,000 | 1991 | |
200,000 złotych | 35 | 19.3 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | General Michał Tokarzewski-Karaszewicz | 25,000 | 1991 | |
200,000 złotych | 35 | 19.3 | 92.5% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 70 ears of the International Poznań Fairs, some building; logo | 20,000 | 1991 | |
200,000 złotych | 40 | 31.1 | 92.5% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 1992 Winter Olympics - a slalomist | 20,000 | 1991 | |
200,000 złotych | 35 | 19.3 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | General Leopold Okulicki | 25,000 | 1991 | |
200,000 złotych | 40 | 38.9 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 200 years of the 3rd May Constitution, "Ustawa Rządowa" | 100,000 | 1991 | |
10,000 złotych | 29.5 | 9.47 | ferronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 200th Anniversary of the 3rd May Constitution | 2,604,601 | 1991 | |
20,000 złotych | 32.1 | 9.45 | bimetallic; ring:
manganese brass; centre - cupronickel |
mixed | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 225th Anniversary of the Warsaw Mint | 100,000 | 1991 | |
200,000 złotych | 40 | 31.1 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Seville Expo '92 | 45,000 | 1992 | |
100,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Wojciech Korfanty, his signature; 70 years of unity of the Upper Silesia with Poland | 30,000 | 1992 | |
10,000 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Władysław III Warneńczyk | 2,500,000 | 1992 | |
50,000 złotych | Shape: regular octagon,
side - 16 mm |
11.3 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 200 years of the Virtuti Militari Order | 125,000 | 1992 | |
200,000 złotych | 40 | 31.1 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 500 years of the discovery of the New World; Christopher Columbus and a ship | 20,000 | 1992 | |
200,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Stanisław Staszic | 20,000 | 1992 | |
200,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | The Polish soldier on the fronts of the World War II - convoys; ships on the coin | 15,000 | 1992 | |
200,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Władysław III Warneńczyk en face | 15,000 | 1992 | |
200,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Władysław III Warneńczyk bust | 5,000 | 1992 | |
20,000 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Łańcut castle | 500,000 | 1993 | |
20,000 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Swallow | 520,000 | 1993 | |
20,000 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Kazimierz IV Jagiellończyk | 1,500,000 | 1993 | |
20,000 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 1994 Winter Olympics; biathlonist | 988,000 | 1993 | |
200,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | The Polish soldier on the fronts of the World War II - resistance against occupants | 10,000 | 1993 | |
200,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Kazimierz IV Jagiellończyk en face | 15,000 | 1993 | |
200,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Kazimierz IV Jagiellończyk bust | 5,000 | 1993 | |
200,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 750 years of the town rights of Szczecin | 20,000 | 1993 | |
300,000 złotych | 40 | 31.1 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 1994 Winter Olympics - ice skaters | 20,000 | 1993 | |
300,000 złotych | 40 | 31.1 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | The UNESCO World Heritage Site - Zamość - plan of Zamość | 20,000 | 1993 | |
300,000 złotych | 40 | 31.1 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 50 years of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising | 30,000 | 1993 | |
300,000 złotych | 40 | 31.1 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Łańcut castle | 20,000 | 1993 | |
300,000 złotych | 40 | 31.1 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Swallows | 20,000 | 1993 | |
20,000 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 75 years of the "Związek Inwalidów Wojennych Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej" | 76,000 | 1994 | |
20,000 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Sigismund I the Old | 1,500,000 | 1994 | |
20,000 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | "Opening of the new building of the State Mint", the building itself | 252,000 | 1994 | |
20,000 złotych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 200 years of Kościuszko Insurrection | 100,000 | 1994 | |
1,000 złotych | 38.61 | 28.28 | 92.5% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 1994 FIFA World Cup; a football stadium | 10,480 | 1994 | |
100,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 90% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 50 years of Warsaw Uprising, soldier | 150,000 | 1994 | |
200,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 75 years of the Związek Inwalidów Wojennych | 15,000 | 1994 | |
200,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | The Polish soldier on the fronts of the World War II - Monte Cassino; soldiers storming the mountain | 15,000 | 1994 | |
200,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Sigismund I the Old en face | 15,000 | 1994 | |
200,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Sigismund I the Old bust | 5,000 | 1994 | |
200,000 złotych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 200 years of the Kościuszko Uprising | 15,000 | 1994 | |
300,000 złotych | 40 | 31.1 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 100 years from the birth of St. Maximilian Kolbe | 15,000 | 1994 | |
300,000 złotych | 40 | 31.1 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 50 years of Warsaw Uprising, soldiers with rifles and ruins | 30,000 | 1994 | |
300,000 złotych | 40 | 31.1
shape heptagonal |
pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 70 years of the Bank of Poland rebirth | 20,880 | 1994 |
Polish złoty banknotes (PLZ)
Normal złoty
The banknotes issued in 1948 were already stable version. They were taken out of circulation in 1978 completely.
From 1974 the new banknotes featuring "Great Polish people", and comprising the fifth series, were issued. Previous series were withdrawn from circulation. However, the replacement banknotes rapidly lost their real value. New larger denominations were necessary and printed.
In 1982, the 10 and 20 złoty banknotes were released instead of billon.
The last banknote released in Polish People's Republic was 200,000 złoty note, issued on 1 December 1989, which, because of its inadequate security features, was withdrawn from circulation. Starting on 27 December 1989 new banknotes were issued in the name of "Rzeczpospolita Polska", i.e. omitting the word "Ludowa" (People's), and from the coat of arms were altered to show the eagle wearing a crown restoring the situation that existed before World War II.
Banknotes of this series were redenominated at the rate of 10,000 PLZ to 1 PLN (new złoty). All the existing PLZ denominations were legal tender and exchangeable into the PLN until the date of each value's withdrawal. After 31 December 2010, no PLZ banknote could be exchanged into PLN.
From 50,000 PLZ on, there were two versions released: older ones (dated differently) and the newer ones (all dated 16 November 1993). The older banknotes had less efficient security features than the new ones. Newer printings had the denomination printed in red which shone under ultraviolet light instead of the previous grey-blue (which did not).
Pictures | Denomination | Size(mm) | Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Dates of print | Date of introduction | Date of withdrawal | Date of lapse |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 złotych | 139×63 | Blue to green | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Józef Bem | Denomination | 1 June 1982 | 11 June 1982 | 31 December 1994 | 31 December 2010 | |
20 złotych | Mainly red to blue | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Romuald Traugutt | Denomination | 1 June 1982 | 11 June 1982 | ||||
50 złotych | Green | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Karol Świerczewski | Order of the Cross of Grunwald | 9 May 1975; 1 June 1979; 1 June 1982; 1 June 1986; 1 December 1988 | 25 November 1975 | ||||
100 złotych | Red | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Ludwik Waryński | "Proletaryat" | 15 January 1975; 17 May 1976; 1 June 1979; 1 June 1982; 1 June 1986; 1 December 1988 | 1 July 1975 | 31 December 1996 | |||
200 złotych | Violet | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Jarosław Dąbrowski | Communards' Wall; "Za waszą wolność i naszą"(For our liberty and yours). | 25 May 1976;
1 June 1979; 1 June 1982; 1 June 1986; 1 December 1988 |
26 July 1976 | ||||
500 złotych | Brown | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Tadeusz Kościuszko | The insurrection flag | 16 December 1974; 15 June 1976; 1 June 1979; 1 June 1982 | 1 January 1975 | ||||
1,000 złotych | Blue | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Mikołaj Kopernik | Nicolaus Copernicus's heliocentric model of the Solar System | 2 July 1975; 1 June 1979; 1 June 1982 | 1 September 1975 | ||||
2,000 złotych | Dark brown | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Mieszko I | Bolesław I the Brave with a sword | 1 May 1977; 1 June 1979; 1 June 1982 | 27 July 1977 | ||||
5,000 złotych | Green | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Fryderyk Chopin | Polonaise in notes(author: Fryderyk Chopin) | 1 June 1982; 1 June 1986; 1 December 1988 | 11 June 1982 | ||||
10,000 złotych | Green and violet | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Stanisław Wyspiański | Kraków(Planty) | 1 February 1987; 1 December 1988 | 4 February 1987 | ||||
20,000 złotych | Orange | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Marie Curie | Ewa reactor | 1 February 1989 | 26 February 1989 | ||||
50,000 złotych | Brown | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Stanisław Staszic | Staszic Palace in Warsaw | 1 December 1989 | 11 December 1989 | 15 October 1994 | |||
16 November 1993 | 11 April 1994 | 31 December 1996 | |||||||
100,000 złotych | Blue | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(with the crown); Stanisław Moniuszko | The Grand Theatre in Warsaw | 15 February 1990 | 26 February 1990 | 15 October 1994 | |||
16 November 1993 | 11 April 1994 | 31 December 1996 | |||||||
200,000 złotych | Brown | Denomination, date, coat of arms(without the crown) | Warsaw, coat of arms of Warsaw, the "National Bank of Poland" inscription | 1 December 1989 | 7 December 1989 | 17 May 1991 | |||
500,000 złotych | Cyan and brown | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(with the crown); Henryk Sienkiewicz | "The Trilogy", flags | 15 April 1990 | 1 August 1990 | 15 October 1994 | |||
16 November 1993 | 24 January 1994 | 31 December 1996 | |||||||
1,000,000 złotych | Light brown | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(with the crown); Władysław Reymont | A rural landscape | 15 February 1991 | 22 April 1991 | 15 October 1994 | |||
16 November 1993 | 24 January 1994 | 31 December 1996 | |||||||
2,000,000 złotych | Multi-coloured | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(with the crown); Ignacy Jan Paderewski | Coat of arms as of 1919 | 14 August 1992 | 10 November 1992 | 15 October 1994 | |||
16 November 1993 | 11 April 1994 | 31 December 1996 | |||||||
5,000,000 złotych | Gray and yellow | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(with the crown); Józef Piłsudski | Józef Piłsudski's orders | 12 May 1995 | 24 April 2006(only as collection banknote) | Never withdrawn | Never lapsed | ||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
Złoty dewizowy
Between 1950 and 1990, a unit known as the złoty dewizowy (which may be roughly translated as the "foreign exchange złoty") was used as an artificial currency for calculation purposes only. It existed because at the time the złoty was not convertible (like most Warsaw Bloc currencies) and its official rate of exchange was set by the government. Additionally several exchange rates existed depending on the purpose of the transaction and who was exchanging; for example, złoty could be exchanged for, say, US dollars at one of several official exchange rates depending on what was to be bought with the hard currency and the entity that was buying. In reverse, it worked when an individual or a business had western currency earnings and wanted (or needed) to convert them into złoty. The exchange rate did not depend on the amount being converted. Visitors from countries outside of the Soviet Bloc were offered a particularly poor exchange rate. Concurrently, the private black-market exchange rate contrasted sharply with the official government exchange rate until the end of communist rule in 1989, when official rates were tied to market rates.
There were special banknotes, denominated in cents and dollars (as the US dollar), which were legal tender only for goods imported to Poland. They were issued by two authorities only: Pekao S.A. (from 1 cent to $100) and Baltona (from 1979 for 1 cent to $20).
From 1 January 1990, Polish złoty became a fully convertible currency, with market-set, rather than state-determined, rates against foreign currencies.
Fourth złoty
Normal coins and banknotes
On 17 July 1990 Władysław Baka (the then head of the National Bank of Poland) (NBP) stated that development work upon złoty denomination would start soon. At the same time PLN coins were minted (bearing dates 1990–1994) and released into circulation in 1995. This influenced the further process of money exchange in 1995, as exchanging low-value banknotes became considerably easier.
The banknotes posed a bigger problem. In 1990, a new series of banknotes from 1 to 500 zł was created by Waldemar Andrzejewski, was proposed, but failed acceptance testing due to weak counterfeiting protection features. The designs featured buildings and structures from Greater Poland cities and proofs produced. Additionally 1,000 zł (Kalisz) and 2,000 zł (Biskupin) banknotes were proposed (but not essayed) to facilitate an exchange rate of 1 new zloty to 1000 old zlotys).
Obverse | Reverse | Denomination | Size(mm) | Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Date of print |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 złoty | 138×63 | blue | Gdynia Shipyard | "Dar Pomorza" yacht | 1 March 1990 | ||
2 złote | dark red to brown | A mining tower in Katowice | The Silesian Uprising monument, by Gustaw Zemła | ||||
5 złotych | dark green | City hall in Zamość | The Grunwald Cross Medal | ||||
10 złotych | dark red | Royal Castle in Warsaw | Mermaid of Warsaw | ||||
20 złotych | yellow | Żuraw Gate in Gdańsk (seen from the Motława) | Neptune's statue on the Neptune's fountain | ||||
50 złotych | violet | Town hall in Wrocław | Picture of the 16th-century seal of the city magistrate in Wrocław | ||||
100 złotych | orange | Town hall in Poznań | Picture of the old seal of the city magistrate in Poznań | ||||
200 złotych | light blue | Wawel Castle | Picture of the Piastsdynastyeal | ||||
500 złotych | teal | Gniezno Cathedral | Picture of the seal of Gniezno in Piast dynasty times | ||||
1,000 złotych | multicoloured -
mainly yellow |
Kalisz | Picture of the seal of Kalisz city authorities | ||||
2,000 złotych | brown | Biskupin archaeological site - fortress | Dishes from the site | ||||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
At the same time, to conduct redenomination, the inflation had to be stable and below 10% per annum. Balcerowicz plan helped very much to achieve that in four years' time. On 11 May 1994 the Economical Committee of the Council of Ministers accepted the denominalization project from the NBP. The act allowing the project to come into force was ratified on 7 July 1994 (Dziennik Ustaw Nr 84, 386).
At the same time, new banknotes were printed (dated 25 March 1994), which are still legal tender today. These feature the most prominent Polish monarchs. Their author is Andrzej Heidrich.
Obverse picture | Reverse picture | Value | Dimensions | Colour | Watermark | Obverse | Reverse | printing | issue | annul |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 zł | 120 × 60 mm | Green and brown | As portrait | Mieszko I | Silver denar coin during the reign of Mieszko I | 25 March 1994 | 1 January 1995 | current | ||
20 zł | 126 × 63 mm | Pink, violet and blue | Bolesław I the Brave | Silver denar coin during the reign of Bolesław I the Brave; St. Nicholas Church in Cieszyn | ||||||
50 zł | 132 × 66 mm | Mainly blue | Casimir III the Great | White Eagle from the royal seal of Casimir III the Great and the regalia of Poland: sceptre and globus cruciger;
Kraków drawing from a medieval book | ||||||
100 zł | 138 × 69 mm | Mainly green | Władysław II Jagiełło | Shield bearing a White Eagle from the tombstone of Władysław II Jagiełło, coat of the Teutonic Knights and the Grunwald Swords; Malbork castle on the left | 1 June 1995 | |||||
200 zł | 144 × 72 mm | Mainly yellow | Sigismund I the Old | Eagle intertwined with the letter S in a hexagon, from the Sigismund's Chapel in Kraków | ||||||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
These designs were revealed to the public on 21 November 1994. The following day TVP, (Polish television), began publicising the designs on TV in a campaign that lasted until 1 January 1995 when the redenomination took place. 10,000 PLZ became 1 PLN. Unlike previous redenominations there were no restrictions on where the money was or who owned it.
When the new Polish złoty (PLN) was released, it co-existed with the PLZ for two years. All prices had to be indicated in both PLZ and PLN. The priority was to take the low-denomination PLZ to convert them to coinage. After 31 December 1996, PLZ was no longer legal tender. Between then and 31 December 2010, any PLZ banknotes and could only be exchanged into PLN by the NBP, its affiliates, or any bank. The sum for exchange had to be the multiple of 100 PLZ, which were worth 0.01 PLN. As of 31 December 2009, NBP estimate that some 1,748,000,000,000 PLZ (178,400,000 PLN) had not yet been exchanged.
There was one thing that did not change: the official name of the currency. Although the ISO 4217 was altered the relevant legislation made the point that the official name of the currency is still the złoty. New Polish złoty is an unofficial way to address the Polish currency (Dziennik Ustaw nr 50, 459, with later changes).
Obverse pictures | Reverse pictures | Denomination | Diameter(mm) | Mass(g) | Composition | Edge | Obverse | Reverse | Issued | Producer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 grosz | 15.5 | 1.64 | manganese brass | rifled | denomination with a leaf ornament | Polish coat of arms', inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | 1990-3
1995 1997-2005 2007-14 |
Mennica Warszawska | ||
1 grosz | 15.5 | 1.64 | steel galvanized by brass | rifled | denomination with a leaf ornament | Polish coat of arms', inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting (design different from the one of earlier issues) | 2013-6 | The Royal Mint | ||
2 grosze | 17.5 | 2.13 | manganese brass | smooth | denomination with a leaf ornament | Polish coat of arms', inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | 1990-2
1997-2005 2007-14 |
Mennica Warszawska | ||
2 grosze | 17.5 | 2.13 | steel galvanized by brass | smooth | denomination with a leaf ornament | Polish coat of arms', inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting (design different from the one of earlier issues) | 2013-6 | The Royal Mint | ||
5 groszy | 19.5 | 2.59 | manganese brass | milled: 4 rows, each has 12 dents | denomination with a leaf ornament | Polish coat of arms', inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | 1990-3
1998-2005 2007-14 |
Mennica Warszawska | ||
19.5 | 2.59 | steel galvanized by brass | milled: 4 rows, each has 12 dents | denomination with a leaf ornament | Polish coat of arms', inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting (design different from the one of earlier issues) | 2013-6 | The Royal Mint | |||
10 groszy | 16.5 | 2.51 | cupronickel | milled: 4 rows, each has 10 dents | denomination with a bush ornament | Polish coat of arms', inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | 1990-3
1998-2005 2007-15 |
Mennica Warszawska | ||
20 groszy | 18.5 | 3.22 | cupronickel | rifled | denomination with a leaf ornament | Polish coat of arms', inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | 1990-2
1996-2016 |
Mennica Warszawska | ||
50 groszy | 20.5 | 3.94 | cupronickel | rifled | denomination with a leaf ornament | Polish coat of arms', inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | 1990-2
1995 2006 2008-15 |
Mennica Warszawska | ||
1 złoty | 23 | 5.00 | cupronickel | milled: 2 rows, each has 16 dents | denomination with a leaf ornament, in a circle | Polish coat of arms', inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | 1990-5
2008-10 2012-5 |
Mennica Warszawska | ||
2 złote | 21.5
the centre diameter: 12 |
5.21 | Centre: cupronickel;
Ring: aluminium bronze |
smooth | denomination | Polish coat of arms', inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | 1994-5
2005-10 2014-5 |
Mennica Warszawska | ||
5 złotych | 24
the centre diameter: 16 |
6.54 | Ring: cupronickel;
Centre: aluminium bronze |
irregularly rifled | denomination | Polish coat of arms', inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska" and the year of minting | 1994
1996 2008-10 2015 |
Mennica Warszawska |
Issue details of zloty and grosz coins are shown in the table below:[20]
Year\coin | 5 zł | 2 zł | 1 zł | 50 gr | 20 gr | 10 gr | 5 gr | 2 gr | 1 gr | Total amount | Worth |
1990 | 20,240,000 | 29,152,000 | 25,100,000 | 43,055,000 | 70,240,000 | 34,400,000 | 29,140,000 | 251,327,000 | 48,632,900 PLN | ||
1991 | 60,080,000 | 99,120,000 | 75,400,000 | 123,164,300 | 171,040,000 | 97,410,000 | 79,000,000 | 705,214,300 | 148,326,630 PLN | ||
1992 | 102,240,000 | 116,000,000 | 106,100,001 | 210,000,005 | 103,784,000 | 157,000,003 | 362,000,000 | 1,157,124,009 | 214,409,200.76 PLN | ||
1993 | 20,904,000 | 84,240,008 | 20,280,101 | 80,780,000 | 206,204,109 | 31,149,805.85 PLN | |||||
1994 | 112,896,033 | 79,644,000 | 69,956,000 | 262,496,033 | 793,724,165 PLN | ||||||
1995 | 122,880,020 | 99,740,122 | 101,600,113 | 102,280,109 | 426,500,364 | 377,323,019.59 PLN | |||||
1996 | 52,940,003 | 29,745,000 | 82,685,003 | 270,649,015 PLN | |||||||
1997 | 59,755,000 | 92,400,002 | 103,080,002 | 255,235,004 | 14,829,800.06 PLN | ||||||
1998 | 52,500,000 | 62,695,000 | 93,472,002 | 154,840,050 | 257,640,003 | 621,147,055 | 27,116,301.13 PLN | ||||
1999 | 25,985,000 | 47,040,000 | 99,024,000 | 187,900,000 | 203,970,000 | 563,919,000 | 20,649,900 PLN | ||||
2000 | 52,135,000 | 104,060,000 | 75,600,000 | 94,500,000 | 210,100,000 | 536,395,000 | 28,604,000 PLN | ||||
2001 | 41,980,001 | 62,820,000 | 67,368,000 | 84,000,000 | 210,000,020 | 466,168,021 | 21,826,400.40 PLN | ||||
2002 | 10,500,000 | 10,500,000 | 67,200,000 | 83,910,000 | 240,000,000 | 412,110,000 | 10,588,200 PLN | ||||
2003 | 20,400,000 | 31,500,000 | 48,000,000 | 80,000,000 | 250,000,000 | 429,900,000 | 13,730,000 PLN | ||||
2004 | 40,000,025 | 70,500,000 | 62,500,000 | 100,000,000 | 300,000,000 | 573,000,025 | 23,175,005 PLN | ||||
2005 | 5,000,000 | 37,000,025 | 94,000,000 | 113,000,000 | 163,003,250 | 375,000,000 | 787,003,275 | 39,460,070 PLN | |||
2006 | 5,000,000 | 35,000,000 | 40,000,000 | 80,000,000 | 35,500,000 PLN | ||||||
2007 | 20,000,000 | 68,000,000 | 100,000,000 | 116,000,000 | 160,000,000 | 330,000,000 | 794,000,000 | 75,900,000 PLN | |||
2008 | 5,000,000 | 15,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 13,000,000 | 91,000,000 | 103,000,000 | 107,000,000 | 172,000,000 | 316,000,000 | 827,000,000 | 106,950,000 PLN |
2009 | 59,000,000 | 62,000,000 | 34,000,000 | 57,000,000 | 133,000,000 | 146,000,000 | 160,000,000 | 222,000,000 | 338,000,000 | 1,211,000,000 | 538,520,000 PLN |
2010 | 30,000,000 | 15,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 12,000,000 | 45,000,000 | 62,000,000 | 100,000,000 | 120,000,000 | 150,000,000 | 537,000,000 | 213,100,000 PLN |
2011 | 10,000,000 | 15,000,000 | 80,000,000 | 90,000,000 | 150,000,000 | 270,000,000 | 615,000,000 | 26,200,200 PLN | |||
2012 | 10,000,000 | 12,000,000 | 38,000,000 | 136,000,000 | 60,000,000 | 100,000,000 | 365,000,000 | 721,000,000 | 45,850,000 PLN | ||
2013 | 21,000,000 | 30,000,000 | 36,000,000 | 142,000,000 | 88,000,000 | 150,000,000 | 323,000,000 | 790,000,000 | 68,030,000 PLN | ||
2014 | 28,000,000 | 35,250,000 | 28,400,000 | 46,000,000 | 88,000,000 | 96,004,500 | 137,084,750 | 420,924,900 | 879,664,150 | 135,201,169 PLN | |
2015 | 38,040,000 | 34,350,000 | 39,000,000 | 44,010,000 | 78,030,000 | 112,050,000 | 115,050,000 | 129,870,000 | 388,560,000 | 978,960,000 | 358,951,500 PLN |
Total | 297,876,036 | 386,874,020 | 520,410,122 | 587,282,113 | 1,166,630,052 | 1,912,624,313 | 1,923,562,003 | 2,670,318,055 | 5,704,475,034 | 15,170,052,718 | - |
Worth | 1,489,380,180 zł | 773,748,040 zł | 520,410,122 zł | 293,641,056.50 zł | 233,326,010.40 zł | 191,262,431.30 zł | 96,178,100.15 zł | 53,406,361.10 zł | 57,044,750.34 zł | - | 3,708,396,951.79 zł |
In 2012 new banknotes were printed, with added security features. They do not differ greatly from the first version (except for the 200zł note), but may be distinguished by the colour of the field with the watermark on the obverse. In the original banknotes, these correspond to the note's main colour, while they are white on the newer ones. Starting from 50 złoty, the new security features differ from those on the older banknotes. Newer banknotes also have some randomly arranged dots, which are part of the EURion constellation.
A 500 złoty banknote will be also produced in this series, currently scheduled for introduction in February 2017.[21]
Obverse picture | Reverse picture | Colour | Value | Dimensions | Watermark | Obverse | Reverse | printing | issue | annul |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green and brown | 10 zł | 120 × 60 mm | As portrait | Mieszko I | Silver denar coin during the reign of Mieszko I | 5 January 2012 | 7 April 2014 | current | ||
Pink, violet and blue | 20 zł | 126 × 63 mm | Bolesław I the Brave | Silver denar coin during the reign of Bolesław I Chrobry; St. Nicholas Church in Cieszyn | ||||||
Mainly blue | 50 zł | 132 × 66 mm | Casimir III the Great | White Eagle from the royal seal of Casimir III the Great and the regalia of Poland: sceptre and globus cruciger;
Kraków drawing from a medieval book | ||||||
Mainly green | 100 zł | 138 × 69 mm | Władysław II Jagiełło | Shield bearing a White Eagle from the tombstone of Władysław II Jagiełło, coat of the Teutonic Knights and the Grunwald Swords; Malbork castle on the left | ||||||
Mainly yellow | 200 zł | 144 × 72 mm | Sigismund I the Old | Eagle intertwined with the letter S in a hexagon, from the Sigismund's Chapel on Wawel | 30 March 2015 | February 2016 | ||||
Multicoloured | 500 zł[22] | 150 × 75 mm | John III Sobieski | Wilanow Palace, coat of arms from the reign of John III Sobieski | 16 February 2016 | 10 February 2017 | ||||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
Commemorative coins and banknotes
Poland has released commemorative banknotes since 2006. As of July 2018, nine have been issued. On 31 August 2018 the next 20 zloty commemorative note (100th Anniversary of Poland Regaining Independence) will be released by National Bank of Poland. It was also already announced that in 2019 next commemorative note will be released to commemorate 100th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Polish Security Printing Works (PWPW - Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych). It will be the first Polish commemorative banknote with an odd face value - 19 zloty.
Obverse | Reverse | Value | Dimensions
(mm) |
Main Color | Obverse | Reverse | Watermark | Emission | Issue date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 zł | 138×69 | Pink, orange | Polish coat of arms, Belweder Palace, Commander Józef Piłsudski | White eagle, Monument of the Heroic Deed of Polish Legions in Kielce. | Józef Piłsudski, electrotype denomination | 80,000 | 3 November 2008 | ||
20 zł | 138×69 | Orange, yellow, brown | Polish coat of arms, Chalet in Krzemieniec, Juliusz Słowacki | Cranes, an excerpt of the poem Sedation, Statue of Sigismund III Vasa at Castle Square in Warsaw. | Juliusz Słowacki, electrotype denomination | 80,000 | 23 September 2009 | ||
20 zł | 138×69 | Light blue, Light brown, black | Frédéric Chopin, the mansion in Żelazowa Wola where the composer was born, reproduction of the first edition of Mazurka in B-flat major, Opus 7 No 1, Chopin's autograph. | Facsimile of a fragment of Étude in f-minor, Opus 10, No 9; landscape in Central Poland with Masovian willows. | Chopin | 120,000 | 26 February 2010 | ||
20 zł | 138×69 | Brown and green | Maria Skłodowska-Curie, Sorbona w Paryżu (Sorbonne school building in Paris), Coat of arms, Ra (atomic symbol for radium) in SPARK patch in concentric circles. | Curie quotation ("I have detected the radium, but not created it; the glory does not belong to me, but it is the property of the whole mankind."), Instytut Radowy w Warszawie (Radium Institute building in Warsaw); Nobel Prize medal for chemistry. | Marie Skłodowska Curie and electrotype denomination | 60,000 | 12 December 2011 | ||
20 zł | 147×67 | Green, brown, yellow and blue | Belvedere Palace hologram; coat of arms with crowned eagle; Commander Józef Klemens Piłsudski wearing military uniform. | Eagle badge of the Polish Legions; Grand Cross (with Star) of the Order of Virtuti Militari; badge of the First Brigade of the Polish Legions; Belvedere Palace hologram. | None | 50,000 | 5 August 2014 | ||
20 zł | 138×69 | Brown, green, gold and violet | 1415 as registration device; open book; coat of arms with crowned eagle; Jan Długosz | Wieniawa coat of arms; Wawel cathedral in Kraków; stained glass window | Shield with crowned eagle | 30,000 | 24 August 2015 | ||
20 zł | 144×77 | Blue and red | Coat of arms with crowned eagle; Dobrawa (Doubravka of Bohemia) and King Miezko I; ornate cross; floor plan of church as registration device | Floor plan of church; Gniezno Cathedral; royal chalice of Trzemeszno | Unknown with electrotype 20 | 35,000 | 12 April 2016 | ||
50 zł | 144×72 | Blue, yellow | Pope John Paul II, Polish coat of arms | Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, a quotation from Letter to Poles, Jasna Góra Monastery and church | Papal arms of John Paul II | 2,000,000 | 16 October 2006 | ||
These images are to scale at 0.7 pixel per millimetre. For table standards, see the banknote specification table. |
There are also very many commemorative coins (listed below). These are legal tender in all payments, but such use is not recommended by the National Bank of Poland (NBP).
Pictures | Value | Diameter(mm) | Mass(g) | Composition | Edge | Obverse | Reverse(designer's name) | Amount | Year of minting |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 złote | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | mixed | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | A cemetery with a lot of crosses; Katyń - Miednoje - Charków(places of execution of Polish soldiers); (Roussanka Nowakowska) | 300,000 | 1995 | |
2 złote | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | mixed | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Catfish(Roussanka Nowakowska) | 300,000 | 1995 | |
2 złote | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | mixed | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 75 years of the Battle of Warsaw(1920); (Ewa-Tyc Karpińska) | 300,000 | 1995 | |
2 złote | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | mixed | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Łazienki Palace; (Ewa-Tyc Karpińska) | 287,300 | 1995 | |
2 złote | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | mixed | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 100 years of the modern Olympic Games(Robert Kotowicz) | 350,000 | 1995 | |
2 złote | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | mixed | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 1996 Summer Olympics - wrestlers(Robert Kotowicz) | 350,000 | 1995 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Sigismund II Augustus (Ewa-Tyc Karpińska) | 200,000 | 1996 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Erinaceus europaeus (Roussanka Nowakowska) | 300,000 | 1996 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Castle in Lidzbark Warmiński(Andrzej Nowakowski) | 300,000 | 1996 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Henryk Sienkiewicz (Robert Kotowicz) | 300,000 | 1996 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Stephen Báthory (Ewa-Tyc Karpińska) | 315,000 | 1997 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Lucanus cervus (Andrzej Nowakowski) | 315,000 | 1997 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Pieskowa Skała castle(Roussanka Nowakowska) | 315,000 | 1997 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 200 years from the birth of Paweł Edmund Strzelecki; Australia and its endemite animals(Roussanka Nowakowska) | 420,000 | 1997 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 1998 Winter Olympics - snowboarder(Robert Kotowicz) | 400,000 | 1998 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Sigismund III Vasa (Ewa-Tyc Karpińska) | 400,000 | 1998 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Bufo calamita (Ewa-Tyc Karpińska) | 400,000 | 1998 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 100 years of polonium and radium discovery; Marie and Pierre Curie (Robert Kotowicz) | 400,000 | 1998 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Kórnik Castle(Ewa Olszewska-Borys) | 400,000 | 1998 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 80 years of independence(Ewa-Tyc Karpińska) | 400,000 | 1998 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 200 years from the birth of Adam Mickiewicz (Ewa-Tyc Karpińska) | 420,000 | 1998 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 100 years of Ernest Malinowski's death, inscription: "The creator of the Ferrocarril Central Andino"(Robert Kotowicz) | 420,000 | 1999 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 150 years of Julisz Słowacki's death(Robert Kotowicz) | 420,000 | 1999 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | NARODOWY BANK POLSKI ★ | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Wolf(Canis lupus)(Roussanka Nowakowska) | 420,000 | 1999 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | NARODOWY BANK POLSKI ★ | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 150 years of Fryderyk Chopin's death(Roussanka Nowakowska) | 420,000 | 1999 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | NARODOWY BANK POLSKI ★ | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Poland's admission to NATO; soldiers going out of a helicopter; a globe (Ewa-Tyc Karpińska) | 450,000 | 1999 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | NARODOWY BANK POLSKI ★ | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Jan Łaski - the Church reformer(Ewa-Tyc Karpińska) | 450,000 | 1999 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | NARODOWY BANK POLSKI ★ | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Radzyń Podlaski Castle (Ewa-Tyc Karpińska) | 450,000 | 1999 | |
2 złote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | NARODOWY BANK POLSKI ★ | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Władysław IV Vasa (Ewa-Tyc Karpińska) | 500,000 | 1999 | |
Future of złoty
One of the conditions of Poland's joining the European Union in May 2004 obliges the country to eventually adopt the euro, though not at any specific date and only after Poland meets the necessary stability criteria. Serious discussions regarding joining the Eurozone have ensued.[24][25][26] However, article 227[27] of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland will need to be amended first,[28] so it was considered unlikely that Poland would adopt the euro before 2019.[29] Public opinion research by CBOS from March 2011 shows that 60% of Poles are against changing their currency. Only 32% of Poles want to adopt the euro, compared to 41% in April 2010.[30]
Exchange rates
Year | USD | EUR | DEM | GBP | CHF | JPY |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1990 | 9500.00 | 12070.50 | 5864.19 | 16862.50 | 6884.05 | 65.45 |
1991 | 10584.26 | 13088.29 | 6378.62 | 18652.81 | 7379.05 | 78.7235 |
1992 | 13630.12 | 17662.35 | 8761.51 | 24009.90 | 9742.76 | 107.7766 |
1993 | 18164.84 | 21204.91 | 10975.20 | 27274.86 | 12308.00 | 164.16 |
1994 | 22726.95 | 26913.49 | 14049.60 | 34772.23 | 16670.93 | 224.16 |
Re-denomination(10000:1) | ||||||
1995 | 2.4244 | 3.1358 | 1.6928 | 3.8257 | 2.0545 | 0.0258 |
1996 | 2.6965 | 3.3774 | 1.7920 | 4.2154 | 2.1826 | 0.0248 |
1997 | 3.2808 | 3.7055 | 1.8918 | 5.3751 | 2.2627 | 0.0272 |
1998 | 3.4937 | 3.9231 | 1.9888 | 5.7907 | 2.4149 | 0.0268 |
1999 | 3.9675 | 4.2270 | 2.1612 | 6.4197 | 2.6413 | 0.0350 |
2000 | 4.3464 | 4.0110 | 2.0508 | 6.5787 | 2.5747 | 0.0403 |
2001 | 4.0939 | 3.6685 | end 1.9558 | 5.8971 | 2.4298 | 0.0337 |
2002 | 4.0795 | 3.8557 | – | 6.1293 | 2.6288 | 0.0329 |
2003 | 3.8889 | 4.3978 | 6.3570 | 2.8911 | 0.0339 | |
2004 | 3.6540 | 4.5340 | 6.6904 | 2.9370 | 0.0337 | |
2005 | 3.2348 | 4.0254 | 5.8833 | 2.5999 | 0.0294 | |
2006 | 3.1025 | 3.8951 | 5.7116 | 2.4761 | 0.0266 | |
2007 | 2.7667 | 3.7829 | 5.5310 | 2.3035 | 0.0235 | |
2008 | 2.3708 | 3.4908 | 4.2200 | 2.2291 | 0.0234 | |
2009 | 3.1175 | 4.3276 | 4.8563 | 2.8665 | 0.0333 | |
2010 | 3.0179 | 3.9939 | 4.6587 | 2.8983 | 0.0345 | |
2011 | 2.9636 | 4.1190 | 4.7463 | 3.3474 | 0.0373 | |
2012 | 3.2581 | 4.1852 | 5.1605 | 3.4724 | 0.0409 | |
2013 | 3.1608 | 4.1975 | 4.9437 | 3.4100 | 0.0324 | |
2014 | 3.0315 | 4.1631 | 5.0167 | 3.3816 | 0.028778 | |
2015 | 3.5725 | 4.3078 | 5.5296 | 3.5833 | 0.029671 | |
2016 | 3.9011 | 4.2615 | 5.7862 | 3.9394 | 0.032411 |
Current PLN exchange rates | |
---|---|
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Name and plural forms
The term złoty closely resembles zwoti, although the letter y in złoty is pronounced in a hard manner. The accurate pronunciation is [ˈzwɔtɨ]. There are two plural forms: złote (zwoteh [ˈzwɔtɛ]) and złotych (zwotikh [ˈzwɔtɨx]). The correct usage of the plural forms is as follows:[31]
- 1 złoty/grosz [ˈzwɔtɨ] / [ˈɡrɔʂ]
- 2...4; 22...24; 32...34 (...), 102...104, 122...124, 132...134, (...) złote/grosze [ˈzwɔtɛ] / [ˈɡrɔʂɛ]
- 0, 5...21; 25...31; 35...41 (...); 95...101; 105...121; 125...131; (...) złotych/groszy [ˈzwɔtɨx] / [ˈɡrɔʂɨ]
The rules are the same for larger numbers, e.g. 1,000,000 złotych (milion złotych); 1,000,002 złote (milion dwa złote); 1,000,011 złotych (milion jedenaście złotych); 1,000,024 złote (milion dwadzieścia cztery złote). Fractions should be rendered with złotego [zwɔˈtɛɡɔ] and grosza [ˈɡrɔʂa], e.g. 0.1 złotego; 2.5 złotego, etc. It is customary in Poland to use a space (non-breaking) for digit grouping (the "thousands separator") and a comma for separating fractions from whole numbers (1 000 000 złotych; 0,1 złotego); cf. decimal mark.
Here one can find general rules for the declension of cardinal numerals (among others) in Polish; the classes one
, few
, many
and other
are złoty, złote, złotych, and złotego, respectively, for "złoty", and grosz, grosze, groszy, and grosza, respectively, for "grosz".
See also
Footnotes
- "Narodowy Bank Polski - Internetowy Serwis Informacyjny".
- The nominative plural, used for numbers ending in 2, 3 and 4 (except those in 12, 13 and 14), is złote [ˈzwɔtɛ]; the genitive plural, used for all other numbers, is złotych [ˈzwɔtɘx]
- American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 3rd ed., p. 2078.
- "Dollar (USD) to Polish złoty (PLN) Currency Converter". www.currency-calc.com.
- "Few gains for central Europe's currencies in the coming year: Reuters poll". 5 December 2019 – via www.reuters.com.
- "Golden oldie! After centuries of identity crisis, Złoty is named Poland's official currency". www.thefirstnews.com.
- "Subscribe to read | Financial Times". www.ft.com.
- "Sondaż: Czy Polska powinna wkrótce znaleźć się w strefie euro". www.rp.pl.
- НС 1980, "Копа".
- НС 1980, "Гривна польская (марка)".
- НС 1980, "Грош краковский (польский)".
- СН 1993, "Золотой".
- Рябцевич В. Н. (1995). "Глава VII. Денежное обращение Беларуси в конце XV – 2-й трети XVII века". Нумизматика Беларуси в конце 2-й трети XVII – середине 90-х гг. XVIII в. Мн.: Полымя. pp. 173, 687. ISBN 5-345-00737-3.
- НС 1980, "Злотый".
- "монеты 1-й Польской Республики 1923-1939 гг.(Coins of II Rzeczpospolita)". site coins.lave.ru. Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- "Katalog monet". Centrum numizmatyczne. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- "5 злотых 1936 г. яхта "Дар Поморья"". сайт ww2.ru. Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- "5 злотых серии Ника". сайт coins.su/forum. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
- "Narodowy Bank Polski".
- "Narodowy Bank Polski".
- "Poland new 500-zloty note (B864) confirmed". Banknote News. 10 February 2017.
- Grupa Wirtualna Polska. "500 zł jednak powstanie. Jest deklaracja NBP". biztok.pl.
- "Narodowy Bank Polski - Internet Information Service".
- "Poland may hold euro referendum in 2010-Deputy PM". Forbes. 18 September 2008. Archived from the original on 8 March 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
- "Poland may push back euro rollout to 2012". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 18 May 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
- "Poland may push back euro rollout to 2012". BizPoland. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
- "Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 2nd April 1997, as published in Dziennik Ustaw (Journal of Laws) No. 78, item 483". Parliament of the Republic of Poland. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
- "Polish charter must change before ERM-2". fxstreet.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
- Sobczyk, Marcin (18 May 2011). "Poland Backtracks on Euro Adoption". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- "CBOS za przyjęciem euro 32 proc. Polaków, przeciw 60 proc". bankier.pl. 28 March 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- "Złoty, złote czy złotych?". www.prosteprzecinki.pl. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
- Singular: grosz, alternative plural forms: groszy, grosze.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Money of Poland. |
- Banknotes from the 1970s in the case if Poland invaded western countries or the Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych were ruined(video, in Polish)
- Polish złoty in 1939-1945(in Polish)
- Banknotes issued by the NBP
- Coins issued by the NBP
- A fan-shaped 10 złoty commemorative coin released in 2004
- National Bank of Poland – Schedule of exchange rates
- "English" counterfeit banknote 500 zloty 1940 issued by Bank Emisyjny
- Chosen Polish banknotes
- Polish Zloty coins catalog information
- A numismatic catalog with over 650 Polish coins
- "NBP Safe" - official app dedicated to Polish money
- Trial banknotes of the third Polish złoty(in Polish)
- The Banknotes of Poland (in English and German)