„The Battle of Vienna” NBP’s new collector coins

The gold and silver collector coins “The Battle of Vienna” will be available for sale from 10 October 2023.

The 100 zł coin is made of 900 purity gold, has a diameter of 21.00 mm and weighs 8.00 g. Its mintage will be up to 1,200 pieces. The 50 zł coin is made of 999 purity silver, has the dimensions of 32.00×50.00 mm and weighs 62.20 g. Its mintage will be up to 6,000 pieces.

The obverse of the gold coin bears an image of Jan III Sobieski, Commander-in-Chief at the Battle of Vienna. The king is depicted in right semi-profile, in Polish attire, in accordance with his image from the time. The reverse features hussars in gallop with their lances lowered for attack. The figures commemorate the decisive role of the charge of the Polish cavalry.

The obverse of the silver coin shows hussar wings, while the reverse — a stylised equestrian portrait of Jan III Sobieski as the victor, holding a standard in his left hand and a sabre in his right hand, knocking down the defeated enemies. The image is modelled on the memorial plaque from 1883, put up on the wall of St Mary’s Basilica in Kraków.

The Battle of Vienna in 1683 was in many respects a breakthrough in the history of Europe and one of the largest military operations for both its sides: the Ottoman Empire and the Polish-Imperial army.

The Turks fielded an army of over 100,000 men (of whom approximately 65,000 actually fought in the battle), while the allied forces amounted to some 70,000 soldiers, including 27,000 Poles. The clash was a rare example of effective coordination between the large forces of the Empire and Poland. Commander-in-Chief Jan III Sobieski concentrated his troops close to the enemy’s forces and brought the Ottomans to a decisive battle, fought in accordance with the old Polish art of war, in which he defeated the enemy and freed Vienna, previously besieged for two months. The effective cooperation of Christians against the Ottomans was an event unprecedented in history — and one of the reasons for the success.

The victorious battle on 12 September 1683 saved the imperial capital, broke the fear of the Ottoman army and initiated an agreement between the neighbouring Christian states. As a result, a peace was made in 1699, liberating almost all of Hungary from the Turks, while  Podolia and Right-Bank Ukraine, lost in 1672, returned to Poland. It was also the last victorious treaty the Commonwealth concluded before its downfall. It permanently normalised Polish-Turkish relations, ushering in good relations and friendship in the age of partitions.

“The Battle of Vienna” coins can be purchased at NBP regional branches and in the NBP online shop Kolekcjoner – the gold coin at the price of PLN 2,500 and the silver coin at the price of 950 zł.

For more information, go to the brochure.

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

The next issue of collector coins is scheduled for 12 October 2023. On this day, Narodowy Bank Polski will be putting into circulation a silver coin with a face value of 10 złoty – “250^th Anniversary of the Commission of National Education”.

Contact data:

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 important 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/