“The 20 Złoty Note” A new NBP collector coin

Narodowy Bank Polski has announced the issue of a gold collector coin of the series “Banknotes in Circulation in Poland” – “The 20 Złoty Note”. This is the second coin of the series “Banknotes in Circulation in Poland”, which Narodowy Bank Polski inaugurated in 2023.

The rectangle-shaped coin is made of 999.9 purity gold. It measures 50.00 x 25.00 mm and weights 31.10 grams. Its mintage is up to 1,500 pieces and the coin is available at the price of PLN 10,500.

The coin features a contemporary circulation banknote with a face value of 20 złoty of “The Polish Rulers” series. On the reverse, in a centrally located decorative roundel, a portrait of King Boleslaus the Brave is depicted. An outline of a Romanesque portal can be seen in the background of the inscriptions. On the right side of the portrait, there is an oval with fragments of a crown, and a stylized oak tree underneath.

In the centre of the obverse, there is an image of a silver denarius, a coin from the period of the reign of Boleslaus the Brave. On the left of the denarius, there is an image of a rotunda, and an oval with fragments of the crown can be seen above. On the right, a lion climbing a plant strand is depicted. Next to it, there is an image of the Eagle established as the state emblem of the Republic of Poland and the notation of the year of issue of the coin and the purity of gold (Au 999.9).

Circulation banknotes of the series “The Polish Rulers” were put into circulation on
1 January 1995, when a redenomination of the Polish złoty was carried out (the old złoty was exchanged for the new złoty on a 10,000/1 basis). Poles then started to carry banknotes of the denominations of 10 zł, 20 zł, 50 zł, 100 zł and 200 zł in their wallets. In 2017, a 500-złoty banknote was introduced into circulation.

The series of banknotes with the images of Polish rulers was designed by Andrzej Heidrich (1928–2019). This outstanding graphic artist began to collaborate with Narodowy Bank Polski in 1960. At that time, he was invited to take part in a closed competition for the design of a new 1,000 złoty banknote. His design and two others won awards.

Over the years, Andrzej Heidrich was commissioned by NBP to make dozes of banknote drawings and designs, but I wasn’t until 1975 that the first banknote designed by him was put into circulation. It was a 500 złoty banknote depicting Tadeusz Kościuszko. Andrzej Heidrich designed two series of circulation banknotes: “The Great Poles” (designs made in the years 1974-1993, in circulation in the years 1975-1996) and “The Polish Rulers” (designs made in 1994, in circulation from 1995 till the present day). He is also the author of the designs of three collector banknotes issued by NBP.

The gold coin “The 20 Złoty Note” of the series “Banknotes in Circulation in Poland” can be purchased at NBP regional branches and in the NBP online shop Kolekcjoner.

More information can be found in the brochure.

NBP collector coins and banknotes are sold in commercial packaging with an attached certificate.

The next issue is scheduled for 13 February 2024. On that date Narodowy Bank Polski will be putting into circulation a silver collector coin “Major Henryk Dobrzański ‘Hubal’”.

Contact:

Contact for collectors: e-mail kolekcjoner@nbp.pl, tel. +48 22 185 17 05

Contact for the media: e-mail press@nbp.pl, tel. +48 22 185 2012

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About NBP

Narodowy Bank Polski holds the exclusive right to issue banknotes and coins in Poland. All currency issued by NBP, including collector banknotes and coins, is legal tender in Poland. Issuing collector items is an occasion to commemorate historic figures and anniversaries as well as to develop the interest of the public in Polish culture, science and tradition.