“The 50 Złoty Note”: a new NBP collector coin
Narodowy Bank Polski is putting into circulation a gold coin “The 50 Złoty Note” of the series “Banknotes in Circulation in Poland”.
Narodowy Bank Polski has announced that the gold collector coin “The 50 Złoty Note” will be available on sale as of 6 March 2025. This is the third coin in the “Banknotes in Circulation in Poland” series inaugurated by Narodowy Bank Polski in 2023.
The coin, minted of 999.9 proof gold, is an oblong measuring 50.00 x 25.00 mm and weighing 31.10 grams. The mintage is up to 1,500 pieces. The coins will be sold in all the NBP Regional Branches and in the NBP online shop Kolekcjoner at the price of PLN 14,500.
The coin features a stylised image of the contemporary circulation banknote with a face value of 50 złoty from the “Polish Rulers” series. On the reverse, in the central part, a portrait of King Casimir the Great can be seen in a decorative medallion. A stylised Gothic rosetteis depicted in the background of the inscriptions on the left. To the right of the portrait, there is an oval with fragments of a crown and, below it, a crowned letter “K”. An ornament with a crown is placed in an oval underneath.
In the centre of the obverse, there is an image of the White Eagle from the imperial seal of King Casimir the Great, and his regalia – the sceptre and the orb – beneath. On the left, there is a stylised fragment of the panorama of Kazimierz with the inscription: CASMIRVS, an oval with fragments of a crown can be seen above. On the right, a stylised fragment of the panorama of Kraków with the inscription CRACOVIA is depicted.
Banknotes of the “Polish Rulers” series were put into circulation on 1 January 1995, when the redenomination of the złoty was carried out (the old złotys were replaced with new ones at the rate of 10,000 to 1). Then, banknotes of the 10 zł, 20 zł, 50 zł, 100 zł and 200 zł denominations appeared in the wallets of Poles. The 500 zł banknote followed suit in 2017.
The new series of banknotes with the images of Polish rulers was designed by Andrzej Heidrich (1928–2019). The renowned 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 were awarded.
Over the years, he was commissioned by NBP to make dozens of banknote drawings and designs; however, only in 1975 was the first banknote designed by him put into circulation. It was a 500 złoty note depicting Tadeusz Kościuszko. Andrzej Heidrich designed two series of banknotes: “The Great Poles” (designs made in the years 1974–1993, in circulation from 1975 till 1996) and “The Polish Rulers” (designs made in 1994, in circulation from 1995 till the present day). He is also the designer of three collector banknotes issued by NBP.
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 26 March 2025. On that day, Narodowy Bank Polski will be putting into circulation a gold collector coin with a face value of 10 zł and 500 zł “Hetmans of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth – “Stanisław Koniecpolski”, inaugurating the “Hetmans of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth” collector series.
Contact:
Contact for collectors: e-mail kolekcjoner@nbp.pl, tel. +48 22 185 17 05
Contact for the press: 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.
High-resolution images of the coins: https://nbp.pl/en/coins-and-banknotes/collector-coins/catalogue/