50 złoty
Characteristics of the 50 złoty banknoteCharacteristics of the 50 złoty banknote
Description of modernised 50 złoty banknote
The 50 złoty banknote features the portrait of King Casimir III the Great. On the right, there is a crowned letter “K”, taken from the King’s monogram on the door to the Wawel Cathedral; in the background – a Gothic ornament.
The reverse side features an image of the White Eagle from the seal of King Casimir III the Great and his regalia: the sceptre and the orb. The background presents a panorama of Kraków and Kazimierz taken from the wood engraving by Hartmann Schedel, a German traveller from the end of the 15th century.
Characteristic elements of the modernised banknote:
- banknote size: 132 x 66 mm,
- Watermark showing value numeral may be seen against the light in the field free from print (1),
- Letter “K”, smoothly changing colour from green to blue (3),
- In an oval – a crown, the complete image of which can be seen when the banknote is held against the light (4),
- Face value, portrait of the sovereign, emblem of the Republic of Poland and the signatures of the NBP Governor and the NBP General Treasurer are in raised print that is easy to feel, also for the visually impaired.
Watermark
When you examine the banknote against the light the watermark depicting the sovereign and the value numeral “50” can be seen.
The watermark field is free from print.
Security thread
When you hold a banknote against the light, a dark vertical line with the value numeral “50” and the currency abbreviation “ZŁ” is visible. Both features are legible in a mirror as well. The typeface of the microlettering has been modified. The security thread has been incorporated in the paper substrate.
The royal letter changing colour (colour-shifting ink)
As you change the angle at which you look at the banknote, the colour of the “K” letter smoothly changes from green to blue.
See-through register (recto-verso)
When the banknote is held against the light, the elements of the graphic design printed on each side combine perfectly to form a complete image – a crown in an oval.
Latent image
A crown or the value numeral “50” appears in a single latent image when tilting the banknote – depending on the angle that the note is held at.
Microlettering
Tiny inscriptions made with high precision in offset or intaglio printing techniques. The smallest inscription on the banknote should be sharp and readable when magnified.
Banknote under UV-light
A square with the value numeral “50” and symbol “ZŁ”, the banknote serial number and other selected elements appear under UV light.
Description of 50 złoty banknote
Format: 132 × 66 mm
Paper: white
Security features:
- watermark
portrait of King Casimir III the Great - security thread
on left-hand side of note, with repeated inscription comprising denomination, “50 ZŁ”, and its mirror image - microlettering
front: repeated vertical inscription, “RZECZPOSPOLITA POLSKA”, to right of watermark; repeated letters “RP” within separate field in background of number “50” on top right-hand side, with repeated inscription, “RZECZPOSPOLITA POLSKA”, above field
back: repeated inscription, “NARODOWY BANK POLSKI”, above and below seal depicting eagle, in semicircles separated by lines, and repeated inscription, “RZECZPOSPOLITA POLSKA”, above lower field giving note’s denomination in numbers and words - fluorescence under UV light
front: square with inscription, “50 ZŁ”, in top left-hand corner, metallised ink in bottom right-hand corner in separate window, and fragment of guilloche background on right-hand side of note (all in willow green); serial number printed vertically in orange on right of note
back: fragments of graphic design on upper left- and right-hand sides of note and initials “NBP” in bottom right-hand corner (all in light willow green) - see-through register (recto-verso)
a crown in an oval next to the value numeral printed on both sides of the banknote as a combined image obtained when the banknotes are held against the light - latent image (angle effect)
crown in oval or number “50” become visible on front of note, in separate field on lower right-hand side, depending on angle of vision - metallised ink
on front of note, grey and light blue colours in separate field in bottom right-hand corner - optically variable ink
on front of note, to right of portrait, crowned letter “K” changes colour from pink to olive-green depending on angle of vision
Serial number:
two upper-case letters and seven digits on front of note, printed horizontally in black on lower left-hand side and vertically in red on right-hand side
Predominant colours: navy blue, blue, light green
Front design:
Portrait of King Casimir III the Great in centre area, with inscription, “KAZIMIERZ I WIELKI”, in decorative medallion. Left of portrait – at top, inscription, “NARODOWY BANK POLSKI”; below that – depiction of eagle, emblem of Polish Republic; below that – inscription, “WARSZAWA 25 MARCA 1994 r.”; below that – inscription, “PREZES”, and signature; below that – inscription, “GŁÓWNY SKARBNIK”, and signature. In background of inscriptions and emblem – stylised Gothic rosette. On left-hand side of note, in area of watermark – composition of guilloche lines. In top left-hand corner, arranged vertically – number “50”, with line underneath and inscription below, “PIĘĆDZIESIĄT ZŁOTYCH”. In bottom left-hand corner – marking for the visually impaired, consisting of diamond with raised edges. Right-hand side of note contains two separate fields, upper and lower. Upper field bears number “50”, with drawing of crown in oval below and four “50”s around crown, and monogram, crowned letter “K”, underneath. Number “50” in top left-hand corner, line below that, marking for the visually impaired and upper right-hand field are all filled with white ornamentation. Background of note consists of guilloche mesh with intersecting lines of blue, light violet and beige.
Back design:
Depiction of eagle from royal seal of Casimir III the Great in centre area, with royal insignia, orb and sceptre, underneath. At top – inscription, “NARODOWY BANK POLSKI”. Below seal – rectangular field of ornamentation bearing number “50” to left and inscription, “PIĘĆDZIESIĄT ZŁOTYCH”, to right. To left of eagle, on decorative guilloche ribbon – drawing of crown in oval and four “50”s around crown, with fragment below of panorama of town of Kazimierz. On right-hand side – fragment of panorama of Cracow, constituting background for legend, “BANKNOTY EMITOWANE PRZEZ NARODOWY BANK POLSKI SĄ PRAWNYM ŚRODKIEM PŁATNICZYM W POLSCE”. Below legend – composition of guilloche lines making up repeated number “50”. In top right-hand corner – number “50” filled with white ornamentation, and in bottom corner – initials “NBP”. In area of watermark – composition of guilloche lines.