Polish z?oty | |
---|---|
Polski z?oty (Polish) | |
ISO 4217 | |
Code | PLN |
Number | 985 |
Exponent | 2 |
Denominations | |
Subunit | |
| 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 | z? |
grosz | gr |
Banknotes | 10 z?, 20 z?, 50 z?, 100 z?, 200 z?, 500 z? |
Coins | 1 gr, 2 gr, 5 gr, 10 gr, 20 gr, 50 gr, 1 z?, 2 z?, 5 z? |
Demographics | |
User(s) | ![]() |
Issuance | |
National Bank of Poland | |
Website | www |
Mint | Mennica Polska |
Website | www |
Valuation | |
Inflation | 3.7% (2020) |
Source | Narodowy Bank Polski[1] |
Method | CPI |
The z?oty (Polish: ['zw?t?] ;[2]sign: z?; code: PLN) is the official currency and legal tender of Poland. It is subdivided into 100 grosz (gr).[a] The widely recognised English form of the currency is the Polish zloty.[3] It is the most traded currency in Central Europe and ranks 22nd in the foreign exchange market.[4][5][6]
The word z?oty 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 (cognate to the English word "groat"). 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 z?oty 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 z?oty (PLZ) became one new z?oty (PLN). Since then, the currency has been relatively stable, with an exchange rate fluctuating between 3 and 4 z?oty for a United States dollar. Though Poland is a member of the European Union, nearly 60% of Poles are strongly against replacing the z?oty with the euro.[7][8]
The predecessors of the z?oty 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]
The z?oty (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 ? (zolotiy) - golden).[12] One z?oty 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 z?oty, 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 z?oty.[13] The 1:30 proportion stayed ( 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 z?oty was worth 32 grosz; by the middle of the same century it was 50 grosz;[14] by the reign of Sigismund III Vasa 1 z?oty was worth 90 grosz while a ducat was worth 180 grosz.
The name z?oty (sometimes referred to as the florin) was used for a number of different coins, including the 30-grosz coin called the polski z?oty, the czerwony z?oty (red z?oty) and the z?oty re?ski (the Rhine guilder), which were in circulation at the time. However, the value of the Polish z?oty dropped over time relative to these foreign coins, and it became a silver coin, with the foreign ducats eventually circulating at approximately 5 z?oty.
The matters were complicated by the extremely intricate system of coins, with denominations as low as 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 Gda?sk, Elbl?g and Kurland (Riga) separate mints which did not produce the same denomination coins with the same materials. For example, the szel?g had 1.3g of copper while minted in either Kraków or Warsaw, but the local Gda?sk and Elbl?g 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 Stanis?aw II Augustus which aimed to simplify the system, the z?oty became Poland's official currency and the exchange rate of 1 z?oty 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 z?oty (consequently, 1 z?oty 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 z?oty 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 | - grosza | Boles?aw 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 | grosza | W?adys?aw II Jagieo | 14th century - 1407 (1414); 1526-1529; 1545-1548; 1623 | 1526 coins: silver(18%) alloy;
1623 coins: silver(7.8%) alloy; |
0.57 g | ||
szel?g | grosza | Stefan Batory | 1579-1627; 1659-1666; 1749-1792 | Silver alloy (15.929%); copper from 1658 | 1.13 g (Stefan Batory szel?g);
1.3 g (boratynka) 0.62 g(local coins, such as the Gda?sk grosz) |
The John Casimir szel?g is also called boratynka | |
pó?grosz | grosza | W?adys?aw II Jagieo | 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);
Stanis?aw II Augustus: 1.95 g |
||
grosz srebrny | 1 grosz srebrny = groszy miednych | Stanis?aw II Augustus | 1764-1795 | 36.7% silver alloy | 1.99 g | ? | |
grosz
(grosz miedziany from Stanis?aw 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(Stanis?aw II Augustus) |
![]() Grosz of Sigismund III Vasa, 1626 ![]() Latin: "GROSI CRACOVIENSESS" ("Kraków grosz"); Casimir III the Great |
The base of the currency |
pó?torak | 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 Stanis?aw II: 58.7% silver alloy |
1.8 g (Sigismund I the Old)
ca. 3.5 g (Sigismund II Augustus); 3.4 g(Stanis?aw II Augustus) |
||
trojak | 3 grosze | Sigismund I the Old | 1528-1849 | Silver, most copper from Stanis?aw II Augustus' reign;
some Gda?sk coins are copper |
2.16 g("Kingdom" trojak)
1.53 g(Gda?sk trojak); 11.69 g(Stanis?aw Augustus) 1.52 g(silver Gda?sk and Toru? trojak) |
Also called "dutka", "babka", "dydek" in Lithuania | |
czworak | 4 grosze | Sigismund II Augustus | 1565-1568; 1614; 1766-1795 | Silver;
55% silver alloy(Stanis?aw II Augustus) |
4.29 g;
5.51 g(Stanis?aw II Augustus) |
||
szóstak | 6 groszy | Sigismund I the Old | 1528-1795 | Silver | 2.34 g(Toru? szóstak)
2.94 g(Gda?sk and Elbl?g szóstak); 3.7 g(Kurland szóstak) 4.32 g("Kingdom" szóstak); in 1794-1795 1.52 g |
||
2 z?ote [Stanis?aw II and Augustus III] | 8 groszy | Augustus III | 1753-1795 | 62.67% silver alloy | 9.35 g(Stanis?aw II)
7.31 g(Augustus III) |
||
pó?urcie | 9 groszy | ? | ? | ? | ? | ||
10 copper Kingdom groszy | 10 groszy | Stanis?aw 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 (Gda?sk) |
Obverse, Sigismund III Vasa; Gda?sk mint, 1618 |
Coins of 1618 were minted by Stanis?aw Berman |
pó?kopek | 30 groszy;
Stanis?aw II Augustus' z?oty - 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(Gda?sk) tymf; z?otówka gda?ska: 9.85 g |
From 1663 on also called tymf | |
kopa | 60 groszy = 2 z?ote | ? | ? | Silver | ? | ||
pó?talar | 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(Stanis?aw II Augustus) |
||
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 | ![]() Stefan Batory talar, 1578 |
|
2 talars | 480 groszy(de facto 1160 groszy) | Augustus III | 1740 | Silver | 58 g | ||
dukat (florin) | 45-1,080 groszy | W?adys?aw ?okietek | Early 14th century-1831 | Gold;
98.6% gold alloy(1766-95) |
3.46-3.5 g in the second half of the 18th century | The first red z?oty of W?adys?aw I the Elbow-high was issued in the 1320s. 40 ducats of Sigismund III Vasa; Latin: "Poloniæ et Suegiæ rex"(The King of Poland and Sweden) | |
2 ducats | Augustus III | 1753-4 | Gold | 7 g | |||
6 ducats | Augustus III | 1742 | Gold | 21 g | |||
portuga? | 10 ducats | Sigismund II Augustus | 1562-1652 | Gold | 35 g(Augustus III) | Riga portuga? of Stefan Batory | |
12 ducats | Augustus III | 1740 | Gold | 29.17 g | |||
pó?augustdor | 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(pó?stanislasdor) | 27 z?otych | Stanis?aw II Augustus | 1794-1795 | Gold | 6.17 g | ||
stanislasdor | 54 z?otych | Stanis?aw II Augustus | 1794-1795 | Gold (83%) | 12.35 g |
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 z?oty banknotes were released to public. At the day there was more than 6.65 million z?oty given out by the rebels. There were banknotes with the denomination of 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 z?oty (dated as of 8 June 1794), as well as 5 and 10 grosz, and 1 and 4 z?oty 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 Ko?ciuszko banknotes, but the division on z?oty 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 ? (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."
The z?oty remained in circulation after the Partitions of Poland and the Duchy of Warsaw issued coins denominated in grosz, z?oty and talar (plurals talary and talarów), worth 6 z?oty. Talar banknotes were also issued. In 1813, while Zamo was under siege, Zamo authorities issued 6 grosz and 2 z?oty coins.
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 z?oty stayed, but there was a fixed ratio of the ruble to the z?oty: 1 z?oty was worth 30 silver grosz, while 1 grosz was worth silver kopeck. From 1816, the z?oty started being issued by the Warsaw mint, denominated in grosz and z?oty in the Polish language, as well as the portrait of Alexander I and/or the Russian Empire's coat of arms:
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 z?oty 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 z?oty, 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 of banknotes in circulation.
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 z?oty, with the revolutionary coat of arms, and the copper 3 and 10 grosz. The 1-z?oty 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 z?oty banknote. They released the 5, 50 and 100 z? banknotes as well, all yellow. By August 1831 735 thousand z?oty 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.
At the same time the question arose about the future of the Polish z?oty, as well as drastically limiting Polish banking autonomy. Russian finance minister Georg von Cancrin suggested to "value everything in rubles, not florins [z?oty]".
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 z?oty to 15 kopecks.
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 z?oty-to-ruble ratio changed again: 1 ruble was now worth only 2 z?oty.
The Warsaw mint still issued three coin types: double currency coins (up to 1850), z?oty 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.
Between 1835 and 1846, the Free City of Kraków also used a currency, the Kraków z?oty, with the coins actually being made in Vienna. There were 5 and 10 grosz coins and 1 z?oty 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.
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 ?winka, 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.
New Poland started releasing new currency - Polish marks, after the defeat of the German Empire and Austro-Hungary. The first banknotes had either Tadeusz Ko?ciuszko (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 Stanis?aw 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 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. W?adys?aw Grabski was invited to stop the pending hyperinflation. As a result, the second Polish z?oty was created.
The z?oty 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 z?oty = 1,800,000 marek and was subdivided into 100 grosz, instead of 30 grosz, as it had been earlier. 1 z?oty was worth 0.2903 grams of gold, and 1 US dollar cost 5.18 z?oty. 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.
When the second z?oty 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 z?oty banknotes printed in 1919.
Picture | Denomination | Size | Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Watermark | Date of print | Date of withdrawal |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
1 z?oty | 93×63 | Yellow | Tadeusz Ko?ciuszko, denomination in words, date of print | Coat of arms, denomination in number | -- | 28 February 1919 | 31 January 1940 |
![]() |
2 z?ote | 115×80 | Blue | Denomination in number | -- | |||
![]() |
5 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 150×88 | Yellow | Tadeusz Ko?ciuszko, denomination in words, date of print | Some agricultural products[dubious ] | As portrait | 28 February 1919 (not released in public) | ||
![]() |
Pink | 28 February 1919, 15 July 1924 | ||||||
20 z?otych | 160×97 | White, red around the coat of arms and watermark | Denomination in numbers, coat of arms | |||||
![]() |
50 z?otych | 165×102 | Brown, yellow around denomination in words | 28 February 1919 | ||||
![]() |
100 z?otych | 172×103 | Blue | |||||
![]() |
500 z?otych | 180×110 | Violet and olive | |||||
![]() |
1000 z?otych | 183×111 | Brown | 28 February 1919 (extremely rare, not released in public) | ||||
![]() |
5000 z?otych | 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 z?ote | 113×80 | Olive | Denomination, date of print; image of the 2 z? 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 z?otych | 130×80 | Olive and yellow | Denomination, date of print; image of the 5 z? 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 z?oty 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 z?oty 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 | |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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1 z?oty | 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 z?oty | 108×60 | brown | Boles?aw 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 | ||
2 z?ote | 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 z?) | 26 February 1936 | Zdzis?aw Eichler | |||
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5 z?otych | 127×83 | Olive, yellow edges | Portrait of a man[who?], denomination, place and date of issue | A miner in the tunnel, denomination | - | 1 May 1925 | 1 May 1925, 25 October 1926 | Wac?aw Borowski | |
144×78 | Blue | Denomination, portrait of a woman[who?], 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 | |||
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10 z?otych | 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 | Boles?aw I the Brave, 10 Z? | 20 July 1926 | 20 July 1926, 20 July 1929 | Zdzis?aw Eichler | |
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158×80 | Green | Denomination, a picture of a woman[who?], 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 | ? | ||
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20 z?otych | 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 Biela?ska street. | Casimir III the Great, 20 Z? | 1 March 1926 | 1 March 1926, 20 June 1931 | Zygmunt Kami?ski | |
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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 | ? | ||
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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 Biela?ska street. | Casimir III the Great, 20 Z? | 1 September 1929 | Zygmunt Kami?ski | |||
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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 Z? | 20 June 1931 | Ryszard Kleczewski | |||
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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 | Wac?aw Borowski | ||||
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50 z?otych | 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 Biela?ska street. | Stefan Batory, 50 z?otych | 28 August 1925 | 28 August 1925, 1 September 1929, | Zygmunt Kami?ski | |
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169×92 | green | Jan Henryk D?browski 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 | Wac?aw Borowski | ||
100 z?otych | 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 Z? | 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.
In May 1926 a coup d'état was effected. It resulted in Józef Pi?sudski 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 z?oty started to stabilise in 1926 (thanks chiefly to significant exports of coal), and was re-set on the dollar-z?oty rate 50% higher than in 1924. Up to 1933 z?oty 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 z?oty 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.
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 Pi?sudski 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 z?oty 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 z?oty 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 z?oty). These were printed in the USA but never released.
Pictures | Denomination | Size(mm) | Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Watermark | Date of print | Designer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 z?oty | 72×45 | Bright red | Denomination, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | Denomination | None | 15 August 1939 | W?odzimierz Vacek | |
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2 z?ote | 82×51 | Bright green | Denomination, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | Denomination, ornament[which?] | |||
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5 z?otych | 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 | |||
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10 z?otych | 141×67 | Red | Denomination, a picture of a woman with a necklace, the "Bank of Poland" inscription, date and place of issue | P?ock Cathedral | As portrait | Edouard Meronti | |
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20 z?otych | 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 | ||
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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 | ? | ||
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50 z?otych | 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 |
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50 z?otych | A female peasant with a sickle and a bunch of cereals | Dunajec River Gorge | - | 20 August 1939 | ? | ||
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100 z?otych | 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 z?(20.08.1939) | 15 August 1939 | Clément Serveau |
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500 z?otych | 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 z?oty | 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 z?ote | 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) |
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2 z?ote | 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 | ![]() |
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2 z?ote | 1934
1936 |
Silver(75% alloy) | 4,4 | 22 | 1932-1939 | rifled | Portrait of Józef Pi?sudski.[15] | Polish Coat of Arms, inscriptions: Rzeczpospolita Polska, year of minting | 10.5 mln | ![]() |
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2 z?ote | 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 | ![]() |
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5 z?otych2 | 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 | ![]() |
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5 z?otych | 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 | ![]() |
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5 z?otych | 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 | ![]() |
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5 z?otych | 1934 | Silver(75% alloy) | 11 | 28 | 1934-39 | rifled | Portrait of Józef Pi?sudski[15] | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; "orze? strzelecki"; year of minting | 300,000 | ![]() |
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5 z?otych | 1934-6,
1938 |
Silver(75% alloy) | 11 | 28 | 1934-1939 | rifled | Portrait of Józef Pi?sudski.[15] | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; year of minting | 9,599,400 | ![]() |
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5 z?otych | 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 | ![]() |
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5 z?otych | 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 |
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10 z?otych | 1925 | Gold | 3,23 | 19 | 1925-39 | rifled | Portrait of Boles?aw I the Brave.[15] | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; year of minting | 50,350 | ![]() |
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10 z?otych | 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 | ![]() |
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10 z?otych | 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 | ![]() |
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10 z?otych | 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 | ![]() |
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10 z?otych | 1934 | Silver(75% alloy) | 22 | 34 | 1934-1939 | rifled | Portrait of Józef Pi?sudski.[15] | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; "orze? strzelecki"; year of minting | 300,000 | ![]() |
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10 z?otych | 1934-9 | Silver(75% alloy) | 22 | 34 | 1934-1939 | rifled | Portrait of Józef Pi?sudski.[15] | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; year of minting | 17,142,000 | ![]() |
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10 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 1925 | Gold; exist in copper and nickel | 6,451 | 21 | 1925-39 | rifled | Portrait of Boles?aw I the Brave.[15] | Denomination, Polish Coat of Arms, inscription: Rzeczpospolita Polska; year of minting | |||||||
20 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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) |
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50 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 |
When German invaders established the General Government, they withdrew the 100 z?oty banknotes from 1932 and 1934 and 500 z?oty banknotes from 1919. The banknotes had to be accounted on the deposits of the people who gave them to the bank.
The 100 z?oty 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 G?ówny Zarz?d 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 z?oty 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 "m?ynarki" (from the name of President Feliks M?ynarski) or "krakowiaki" (from the place of release), in the denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 z?oty. 1000 z?oty 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 z?oty. An additional 20 million were manufactured by the conspiratory typography of the Union of Armed Struggle. From summer 1943 the Home Army received the z?oty produced in Great Britain.
Pictures | Denomination | Size(mm) | Colour | Averse | Reverse | Date of print | Date of withdrawal | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 z?oty | 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 | ||
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2 z?ote | 110×68 | Olive | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription, date, a peasant picture | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription | ||
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5 z?otych | 150×82 | Dark green | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription, date, peasant on white margin, Doubravka of Bohemia | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription | |||
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10 z?otych | 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 | ||
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20 z?otych | 173×91 | Dark Grey | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription, date; design similar to 20 z?otych of 1936 (peasant's picture added in the margin) | See 20 z?otych of 1936 | ||
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50 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 190×106 | Brown | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription, date; peasant | Bank of Poland building in Warsaw | 1 March 1940 | |||
100 z?otych | 187×98 | Grey through brown to red | Denomination, "Bank Emisyjny w Polsce" inscription, date | Lwów panorama | 1 August 1941 | |||
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500 z?otych(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 | |
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1000 z?otych
(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. |
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 z?oty only for an individual and 2000 z?oty 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 z?oty, 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 z?oty banknote in the newly built Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Warto?ciowych in ?ód?. The first Communist series' banknotes were easy to counterfeit, so additional replacement banknotes were printed in 1946-1948. As 500 z?oty 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 Wac?aw 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 z?) |
8 November 1950 | ||
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1 z?oty | 136×66 | Green | Denomination,
"The National Bank of Poland" inscription |
18 September 1944 | 47,726,000 (47,726,000 z?) | ||||
2 z?ote | 137×67 | Red | 18,725,000
(37,450,000 z?) | |||||||
5 z?otych | 142×71 | Brown | 81,183,000
(405,915,000 z?) | |||||||
10 z?otych | 160×80 | Blue | 27 August 1944 | 22,005,000
(220,050,000 z?) | ||||||
20 z?otych | 170×83 | Teal | 114,687,000
(2,293,740,000 z?) | |||||||
50 z?otych | 180×93 | Blue-violet | 26,342,000
(1,317,100,000 z?) | |||||||
100 z?otych | 188×100 | Pink | 71,237,000
(7,123,700,000 z?) | |||||||
500 z?otych | 193×102 | Olive | 19,787,000
(9,893,500,000 z?) |
17 December 1946 | ||||||
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1000 z?otych
(by Ryszard Kleczewski) |
182×97 | Brown | 1945 | 1 September 1945 | ca. 19,000,000
(19,000,000,000 z?) |
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 | |
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1 z?oty | 98×54 | Red | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date | Denomination | 15 May 1946 | 2 December 1946 | 8 November 1950 |
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2 z?ote | 104×57 | Green | 15 March 1947 | ||||
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5 z?otych | 122×66 | Grey-blue | 5 February 1948 | ||||
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10 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 158×84 | Blue to red | Two planes; denomination | 1 July 1948 | |||||
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50 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 | ||||
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500 z?otych | 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 Gda?sk | 15 January 1946 | 15 July 1946 | |
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1000 z?otych | 182×97 | Brown | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms; miners | ?ód? 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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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20 z?otych | 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 | |
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100 z?otych | 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 | |||
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500 z?otych | 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 | ||
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1000 z?otych | 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 z?oty (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.
Pictures | Denomination | Size(mm) | Colour | Obverse | Reverse | Date of print | Date of release | Date of withdrawal | |
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2 z?ote | 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 |
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5 z?otych | 142×67 | Brown | A peasant on a tractor in a field | 31 December 1959 | |||
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10 z?otych | 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 | ||
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20 z?otych | 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 | ||
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50 z?otych | 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 | ||
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100 z?otych | 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 | ||
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500 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 150×74 | Bright yellow, red, brown and grey | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms (without the crown); Miko?aj 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 z?oty (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 z?oty (z?) 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 z?oty 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 Boles?aw Bierut under mysterious circumstances in 1956. The new government under W?adys?aw Gomu?ka 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. Z?oty devaluation continued. In 1980 Gierek's government was accused of corruption. He was removed from power in 1980.
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The first big strikes started in Gda?sk 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 z?oty were introduced in 1982, 10,000 z?oty in 1988, 20,000 and 50,000 z?oty in 1989, and 100,000, 200,000 and 500,000 z?oty 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 Mieczys?aw 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:
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 z?oty regained the confidence of foreign investors. The remaining issue was the re-denomination of the depreciated z?oty.
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"? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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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 | |||
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2 grosze1 | 16 | 0.57 | aluminium | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, leaf ornament | 1954 | 1949 | 1 January 1995 | No | |||||
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5 groszy | 20 | 3 | bronze | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, leaf ornament | 300,000,000 | 1950 | 1949 | 1956 | No | ||||
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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 | |||||
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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 | ||||
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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 | ||||
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20 groszy | 20 | 3 | cupronickel | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 133,383,000 | 1950 | 1949 | 1 January 1995 | No | ||||
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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 | ||||
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50 groszy | 23 | 5 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 109,000,000 | 1950 | 1949 | 1 January 1995 | No | ||||
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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 | |||||
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1 z?oty | 25 | 7 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 87,053,000 | 1950 | 1949 | 1 January 1995 | No | ||||
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1 z?oty | 25 | 2.12 | aluminium | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 43,000,000 | 1950 | 1949 | 1 January 1995 | No | ||||
1 z?oty | 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 z?oty | 16 | 0.57 | aluminium | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 1989 | 1989-90 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | ||||||
2 z?ote | 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 z?ote | 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 z?ote | 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 | |||||
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5 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 20 | 0.88 | aluminium | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination | 68,501,000 | 1989 | 1989-90 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
10 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 31 | 12.9 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination; Tadeusz Ko?ciuszko | 44,808,153 | 1959 | 1959-60; 1966 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | ||||
10 z?otych | 28 | 9.5 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination; Tadeusz Ko?ciuszko | 45,111,000 | 1969 | 1969-73 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
10 z?otych | 25 | 7.7 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, Boles?aw Prus | 136,314,606 | 1975 | 1975-8;
1981-4 |
1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
10 z?otych | 25 | 7.7 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, | >55,000,000 | 1975 | 1975-7 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
10 z?otych | 25 | 7.7 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination | 224,209,255 | 1984 | 1984-8 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
10 z?otych | 22 | 4.27 | manganese brass | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination | 187,692,000 | 1989 | 1989-90 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
20 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 26.5 | 8.7 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination | 103,383,710 | 1984 | 1984-8 | 1 January 1995 | Yes | |||||
20 z?otych | 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 z?oty 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 z?oty banknotes were withdrawn in the 1960s to be exchanged for coins.
The coins from 1 grosz to 2 z?oty were quite simple designs but the 5, 10 and 20 z?oty coins featured people (5 z?oty had a fisherman, 10 z?oty had Copernicus, Mickiewicz with Prus on its obverse, and 20 z?oty, most notably, Marceli Nowotko), until the 1980s. As the Polish z?oty became cheaper over time, older coins were rendered worthless (however, they stayed in circulation), and the simple new coins were released only in z?oty 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 z?otych | 26 | 6.8 | cupronickel | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting | Denomination, branch ornament | 28,707,000 | 1990 | 1990 | 1 January 1995 | |
100 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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; "Tysi?clecie pa?stwa polskiego"(thousand years of Poland) | 198,000 | 1966 | |
10 z?otych | 28 | 9.5 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | General Karol ?wierczewski | 2,000,000 | 1967 | |
10 z?otych | 28 | 9.5 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa" | Marie Curie; denomination | 2,000,000 | 1967 | |
10 z?otych | 28 | 9.5 | cupronickel | Inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; "orze? strzelecki" | "XXV years of People's Army of Poland"(in Polish); head of a soldier, denomination | 2,000,000 | 1968 | |
10 z?otych | 28 | 9.5 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa" | "Dwudziesta pi?ta rocznica PRL"(Twenty-five years of PPR); cereals, years of communist rule | 2,000,000 | 1969 | |
10 z?otych | 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 | "Byli?my - Jeste?my - B?dziemy"("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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Miko?aj Kopernik | 51,048(1973)
50,000(1974) |
1973
1974 | |
20 z?otych | 29 | 10.15 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | "XXV years of Comecon" | 2,000,000 | 1974 | |
100 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Marie Curie | 50,000 | 1974 | |
200 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Helena Modrzejewska | 60,158 | 1975 | |
100 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 31 | 14.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | "XXX rocznica zwyci?stwa nad faszyzmem"(30 years of the victory over fascism); heads of two soldiers | 1,835,600 | 1975 | |
100 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Tadeusz Ko?ciuszko | 100,148 | 1976 | |
100 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Kazimierz Pu?aski | 100,334 | 1976 | |
500 z?otych | 32 | 29.95 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Tadeusz Ko?ciuszko | 2,318 | 1976 | |
200 z?otych | 31 | 14.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | XXI Olympic Games | 10,100 | 1976 | |
100 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Henryk Sienkiewicz | 20,000 | 1977 | |
100 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | W?adys?aw Reymont | 20,150 | 1977 | |
100 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 32 | 29.95 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Kazimierz Pu?aski | 2,315 | 1976 | |
2,000 z?otych | 21 | 8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Fryderyk Chopin | 4,000 | 1976 | |
20 z?otych | 29 | 10.15 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Maria Konopnicka | 2,009,800 | 1978 | |
20 z?otych | 29 | 10.15 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Miros?aw Hermaszewski(the first Polish man in space); name of spaceship he flew on(Interkosmos-73) | 2,008,900 | 1978 | |
100 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Moose | 30,000 | 1978 | |
100 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Adam Mickiewicz | 30,000 | 1978 | |
100 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Janusz Korczak | 30,000 | 1978 | |
100 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Beaver | 30,000 | 1978 | |
100 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Henryk Wieniawski | 30,000 | 1979 | |
100 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Ludwik Zamenhof | 30,000 | 1979 | |
100 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Lynx | 20,000 | 1979 | |
100 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Tatra chamois | 20,000 | 1979 | |
200 z?otych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Mieszko I | 12,150 | 1979 | |
20 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Mieszko I | 2,640,400 | 1979 | |
2,000 z?otych | 21 | 8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Mieszko I | 3,000 | 1979 | |
2,000 z?otych | 21 | 8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Miko?aj Kopernik | 5,000 | 1979 | |
2,000 z?otych | 21 | 8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Maria Sk?odowska-Curie | 5,000 | 1979 | |
20 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Boles?aw I the Brave | 2,564,200 | 1980 | |
50 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Jan Kochanowski | 10,000 | 1980 | |
100 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Western capercaille | 18,000 | 1980 | |
200 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Boles?aw I the Brave | 12,000 | 1980 | |
200 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 21 | 8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Boles?aw I the Brave | 2,500 | 1980 | |
2,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 21 | 8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Casimir I the Restorer | 2,500 | 1980 | |
50 z?otych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Boles?aw II the Generous | 2,538,400 | 1981 | |
50 z?otych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | W?adys?aw I Herman | 2,500,000 | 1981 | |
50 z?otych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | General W?adys?aw Sikorski | 2,504,500 | 1981 | |
50 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | General W?adys?aw Sikorski | 12,000 | 1981 | |
100 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Horse | 12,000 | 1981 | |
200 z?otych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Boles?aw II the Generous | 12,000 | 1981 | |
200 z?otych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | W?adys?aw I Herman | 12,000 | 1981 | |
2,000 z?otych | 21 | 8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | W?adys?aw I Herman | 3,113 | 1981 | |
2,000 z?otych | 21 | 8 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Boles?aw II the Generous | 3,000 | 1981 | |
50 z?otych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Boles?aw III Wrymouth | 2,616,100 | 1982 | |
100 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | White stork | 12,000 | 1982 | |
100 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Boles?aw III Wrymouth | 12,000 | 1982 | |
200 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 18 | 3.4 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 900 | 1982 | |
1,000 z?otych | 40 | 34.5 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 700 | 1982 | |
2,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 40 | 34.5 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 900 | 1982 | |
50 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 30.5 | 11.7 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Ignacy ?ukasiewicz | 611,700 | 1983 | |
50 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Bear | 8,000 | 1983 | |
200 z?otych | 33 | 17.6 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John III Sobieski | 11,000 | 1983 | |
100 z?otych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Wincenty Witos | 1,530,100 | 1984 | |
100 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(62.5% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Swan | 10,000 | 1984 | |
100 z?otych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Przemys?aw II[dubious ] | 2,924,300 | 1985 | |
500 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Przemys?aw II | 8,000 | 1985 | |
500 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Squirrel | 8,000 | 1985 | |
500 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | W?adys?aw ?okietek(the Elbow-High) | 2,539,700 | 1986 | |
500 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | W?adys?aw ?okietek(the Elbow-High) | 8,000 | 1986 | |
500 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Owl | 12,000 | 1986 | |
10,000 z?otych | 40 | 28.3 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 8 | 1986 | |
500 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 18 | 3.1 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 201 | 1987 | |
2,000 z?otych | 22 | 7.7 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 201 | 1987 | |
5,000 z?otych | 27 | 15.5 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 201 | 1987 | |
10,000 z?otych | 32 | 31.1 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 201 | 1987 | |
200,000 z?otych | 70 | 373.2 | gold(90% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | John Paul II | 101 | 1987 | |
100 z?otych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Queen Jadwiga | 2,469,000 | 1988 | |
100 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Queen Jadwiga | 8,000 | 1988 | |
500 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 35 | 19.3 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Józef Pi?sudski - 70 years of independence | 20,000 | 1988 | |
1,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | W?adys?aw II Jagieo | 2,544,000 | 1989 | |
5,000 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Save the historical sights of Toru? | 20,000 | 1989 | |
5,000 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | Toru? buildings; Miko?aj Kopernik | 20,000 | 1989 | |
5,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | W?adys?aw II Jagieo - portrait en face | 8,000 | 1989 | |
5,000 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | silver(75% alloy) | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa"; denomination | W?adys?aw II Jagieo - bust | 2,500 | 1989 | |
10,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 Ko?ciuszko/Number with Józef Pi?sudski/Number with Fryderyk Chopin.
Pictures | Value | Diameter(mm) | Mass(g) | Metal | Edge | Obverse | Reverse | Number minted | Issued |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10,000 z?otych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | "Solidarno"; 3 crosses, anchor, some city[which?] | 15,164,010 | 1990 | |
200,000 z?otych | 65 | 155.5 | pure silver | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Józef Pi?sudski | 10,000 | 1990 | |
200,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 65 | 155.5 | pure silver | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Tadeusz Ko?ciuszko on a horse | 10,000 | 1990 | |
200,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 39 | 31.1 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Common: "Solidarno"; 3 crosses, anchor, some city[which?] Type A: "Z?" far from "1" in denomination, with letter "L" under the year 1990 Type B: "Z?" close to "1" in denomination, without letter "L" under the year 1990 Type C: "Z?" close to "1" in denomination, with letter "L" under the year 1990 Type D: other style of letter "S" in SOLIDARNO |
Totally 500,000 | 1990 | |
100,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 39 | 31.1 | pure silver | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Józef Pi?sudski | 10,000 | 1990 | |
100,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 39 | 31.1 | pure silver | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Tadeusz Ko?ciuszko on a horse | 10,000 | 1990 | |
20,000;
50,000; 100,000 200,000 z?otych |
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 | "Solidarno"; 3 crosses, anchor, some city[which?] | 20,000: 1,004
200,000: 3,001 rest: 1,001 each type |
1990 | |
200,000;
500,000; 1,000,000 z?otych |
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 Ko?ciuszko
Józef Pi?sudski Frederyk Chopin(design as in silver coins) |
200,000 z?otych:
13/13/101 500,000 z?otych: 12/16/16 1,000,000 z?otych: 1/1/1 |
1990 | |
100,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 Dobrza?ski "Hubal" | 12,000 | 1991 | |
100,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 35 | 19.3 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | General Micha? Tokarzewski-Karaszewicz | 25,000 | 1991 | |
200,000 z?otych | 35 | 19.3 | 92.5% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 70 ears of the International Pozna? Fairs, some building[which?]; logo | 20,000 | 1991 | |
200,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 40 | 38.9 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 200 years of the 3rd May Constitution, "Ustawa Rz?dowa" | 100,000 | 1991 | |
10,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 40 | 31.1 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Seville Expo '92 | 45,000 | 1992 | |
100,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | W?adys?aw III Warne?czyk | 2,500,000 | 1992 | |
50,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Stanis?aw Staszic | 20,000 | 1992 | |
200,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | W?adys?aw III Warne?czyk en face | 15,000 | 1992 | |
200,000 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | W?adys?aw III Warne?czyk bust | 5,000 | 1992 | |
20,000 z?otych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | ?a?cut castle | 500,000 | 1993 | |
20,000 z?otych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Swallow | 520,000 | 1993 | |
20,000 z?otych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Kazimierz IV Jagiello?czyk | 1,500,000 | 1993 | |
20,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Kazimierz IV Jagiello?czyk en face | 15,000 | 1993 | |
200,000 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Kazimierz IV Jagiello?czyk bust | 5,000 | 1993 | |
200,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 40 | 31.1 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | The UNESCO World Heritage Site - Zamo - plan of Zamo | 20,000 | 1993 | |
300,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 40 | 31.1 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | ?a?cut castle | 20,000 | 1993 | |
300,000 z?otych | 40 | 31.1 | pure silver | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Swallows | 20,000 | 1993 | |
20,000 z?otych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 75 years of the "Zwi?zek Inwalidów Wojennych Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej" | 76,000 | 1994 | |
20,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | rifled | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 200 years of Ko?ciuszko Insurrection | 100,000 | 1994 | |
1,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 75 years of the Zwi?zek Inwalidów Wojennych | 15,000 | 1994 | |
200,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 32 | 16.5 | 75% silver alloy | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 200 years of the Ko?ciuszko Uprising | 15,000 | 1994 | |
300,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 |
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 z?oty banknotes were released instead of billon.
The last banknote released in Polish People's Republic was 200,000 z?oty 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 z?oty). 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | Green | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Karol ?wierczewski | 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 z?otych | Red | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Ludwik Wary?ski | "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 z?otych | Violet | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Jaros?aw D?browski | Communards' Wall; "Za wasz? wolno i nasz?"(For our liberty and yours). | 25 May 1976;
1 June 1979; 1 June 1982; 1 June 1986; 1 December 1988 |
26 July 1976 | ||||
500 z?otych | Brown | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Tadeusz Ko?ciuszko | The insurrection flag | 16 December 1974; 15 June 1976; 1 June 1979; 1 June 1982 | 1 January 1975 | ||||
1,000 z?otych | Blue | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Miko?aj Kopernik | Nicolaus Copernicus's heliocentric model of the Solar System | 2 July 1975; 1 June 1979; 1 June 1982 | 1 September 1975 | ||||
2,000 z?otych | Dark brown | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Mieszko I | Boles?aw I the Brave with a sword | 1 May 1977; 1 June 1979; 1 June 1982 | 27 July 1977 | ||||
5,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | Green and violet | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Stanis?aw Wyspia?ski | Kraków(Planty) | 1 February 1987; 1 December 1988 | 4 February 1987 | ||||
20,000 z?otych | 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 z?otych | Brown | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(without the crown); Stanis?aw 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 z?otych | Blue | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(with the crown); Stanis?aw 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | Light brown | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(with the crown); W?adys?aw 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 z?otych | 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 z?otych | Gray and yellow | Denomination, "The National Bank of Poland" inscription, date, coat of arms(with the crown); Józef Pi?sudski | Józef Pi?sudski'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. |
Between 1950 and 1990, a unit known as the z?oty dewizowy (which may be roughly translated as the "foreign exchange z?oty") was used as an artificial currency for calculation purposes only. It existed because at the time the z?oty 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, z?oty 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 z?oty. 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 z?oty became a fully convertible currency, with market-set, rather than state-determined, rates against foreign currencies.
On 17 July 1990 W?adys?aw Baka (the then head of the National Bank of Poland) (NBP) stated that development work upon z?oty 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 z? 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 z? (Kalisz) and 2,000 z? (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 z?oty | 138×63 | blue | Gdynia Shipyard | "Dar Pomorza" yacht | 1 March 1990 | ||
2 z?ote | dark red to brown | A mining tower in Katowice | The Silesian Uprising monument, by Gustaw Zem?a | ||||
5 z?otych | dark green | City hall in Zamo | The Grunwald Cross Medal | ||||
10 z?otych | dark red | Royal Castle in Warsaw | Mermaid of Warsaw | ||||
20 z?otych | yellow | ?uraw Gate in Gda?sk (seen from the Mot?awa) | Neptune's statue on the Neptune's fountain | ||||
50 z?otych | violet | Town hall in Wroc?aw | Picture of the 16th-century seal of the city magistrate in Wroc?aw | ||||
100 z?otych | orange | Town hall in Pozna? | Picture of the old seal of the city magistrate in Pozna? | ||||
200 z?otych | light blue | Wawel Castle | Picture of the Piastsdynastyeal | ||||
500 z?otych | teal | Gniezno Cathedral | Picture of the seal of Gniezno in Piast dynasty times | ||||
1,000 z?otych | multicoloured -
mainly yellow |
Kalisz | Picture of the seal of Kalisz city authorities | ||||
2,000 z?otych | 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 z? | 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 z? | 126 × 63 mm | Pink, violet and blue | Boles?aw I the Brave | Silver denar coin during the reign of Boles?aw I the Brave; St. Nicholas Church in Cieszyn | ||||||
50 z? | 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 z? | 138 × 69 mm | Mainly green | W?adys?aw II Jagieo | Shield bearing a White Eagle from the tombstone of W?adys?aw II Jagieo, coat of the Teutonic Knights and the Grunwald Swords; Malbork castle on the left | 1 June 1995 | |||||
200 z? | 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 z?oty (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 (174,800,000 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 z?oty. New Polish z?oty 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 z?oty | 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 z?ote | 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 z?otych | 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 z? | 2 z? | 1 z? | 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 z? | 773,748,040 z? | 520,410,122 z? | 293,641,056.50 z? | 233,326,010.40 z? | 191,262,431.30 z? | 96,178,100.15 z? | 53,406,361.10 z? | 57,044,750.34 z? | - | 3,708,396,951.79 z? |
In 2012 new banknotes were printed, with added security features. They do not differ greatly from the first version (except for the 200z? 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 z?oty, 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 z?oty banknote will be also produced in this series, currently scheduled for introduction in February 2017.[21]
In 2021 a new banknote, 1000 z? was announced to introduce by Adam Glapi?ski, president of National Bank of Poland.[22]
Obverse picture | Reverse picture | Colour | Value | Dimensions | Watermark | Obverse | Reverse | printing | issue | annul |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Green and brown | 10 z? | 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 z? | 126 × 63 mm | Boles?aw I the Brave | Silver denar coin during the reign of Boles?aw I Chrobry; St. Nicholas Church in Cieszyn | ||||||
Mainly blue | 50 z? | 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 z? | 138 × 69 mm | W?adys?aw II Jagieo | Shield bearing a White Eagle from the tombstone of W?adys?aw II Jagieo, coat of the Teutonic Knights and the Grunwald Swords; Malbork castle on the left | ||||||
Mainly yellow | 200 z? | 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 z?[23] | 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. |
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 Warto?ciowych). 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 z? | 138×69 | Pink, orange | Polish coat of arms, Belweder Palace, Commander Józef Pi?sudski | White eagle, Monument of the Heroic Deed of Polish Legions in Kielce. | Józef Pi?sudski, electrotype denomination | 80,000 | 3 November 2008 | ||
20 z? | 138×69 | Orange, yellow, brown | Polish coat of arms, Chalet in Krzemieniec, Juliusz S?owacki | Cranes, an excerpt of the poem Sedation, Statue of Sigismund III Vasa at Castle Square in Warsaw. | Juliusz S?owacki, electrotype denomination | 80,000 | 23 September 2009 | ||
20 z? | 138×69 | Light blue, Light brown, black | Frédéric Chopin, the mansion in ?elazowa 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 z? | 138×69 | Brown and green | Maria Sk?odowska-Curie, Sorbona w Pary?u (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 Sk?odowska Curie and electrotype denomination | 60,000 | 12 December 2011 | ||
20 z? | 147×67 | Green, brown, yellow and blue | Belvedere Palace hologram; coat of arms with crowned eagle; Commander Józef Klemens Pi?sudski 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 z? | 138×69 | Brown, green, gold and violet | 1415 as registration device; open book; coat of arms with crowned eagle; Jan D?ugosz | Wieniawa coat of arms; Wawel cathedral in Kraków; stained glass window | Shield with crowned eagle | 30,000 | 24 August 2015 | ||
20 z? | 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 z? | 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 z?ote | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | mixed | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | A cemetery with a lot of crosses; Katy? - Miednoje - Charków(places of execution of Polish soldiers); (Roussanka Nowakowska) | 300,000 | 1995 | |
2 z?ote | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | mixed | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Catfish(Roussanka Nowakowska) | 300,000 | 1995 | |
2 z?ote | 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 Karpi?ska) | 300,000 | 1995 | |
2 z?ote | 29.5 | 10.8 | cupronickel | mixed | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | ?azienki Palace; (Ewa-Tyc Karpi?ska) | 287,300 | 1995 | |
2 z?ote | 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 z?ote | 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 z?ote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Sigismund II Augustus (Ewa-Tyc Karpi?ska) | 200,000 | 1996 | |
2 z?ote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Erinaceus europaeus (Roussanka Nowakowska) | 300,000 | 1996 | |
2 z?ote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Castle in Lidzbark Warmi?ski(Andrzej Nowakowski) | 300,000 | 1996 | |
2 z?ote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Henryk Sienkiewicz (Robert Kotowicz) | 300,000 | 1996 | |
2 z?ote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Stephen Báthory (Ewa-Tyc Karpi?ska) | 315,000 | 1997 | |
2 z?ote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Lucanus cervus (Andrzej Nowakowski) | 315,000 | 1997 | |
2 z?ote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Pieskowa Ska?a castle(Roussanka Nowakowska) | 315,000 | 1997 | |
2 z?ote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 200 years from the birth of Pawe? Edmund Strzelecki; Australia and its endemite animals(Roussanka Nowakowska) | 420,000 | 1997 | |
2 z?ote | 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 z?ote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Sigismund III Vasa (Ewa-Tyc Karpi?ska) | 400,000 | 1998 | |
2 z?ote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Bufo calamita (Ewa-Tyc Karpi?ska) | 400,000 | 1998 | |
2 z?ote | 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 z?ote | 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 z?ote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 80 years of independence(Ewa-Tyc Karpi?ska) | 400,000 | 1998 | |
2 z?ote | 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 Karpi?ska) | 420,000 | 1998 | |
2 z?ote | 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 z?ote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | smooth | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | 150 years of Julisz S?owacki's death(Robert Kotowicz) | 420,000 | 1999 | |
2 z?ote | 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 z?ote | 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 z?ote | 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 Karpi?ska) | 450,000 | 1999 | |
2 z?ote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | NARODOWY BANK POLSKI ? | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Jan ?aski - the Church reformer(Ewa-Tyc Karpi?ska) | 450,000 | 1999 | |
2 z?ote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | NARODOWY BANK POLSKI ? | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | Radzy? Podlaski Castle (Ewa-Tyc Karpi?ska) | 450,000 | 1999 | |
2 z?ote | 27 | 8.15 | Nordic gold | NARODOWY BANK POLSKI ? | Coat of arms, year of minting; inscription: "Rzeczpospolita Polska"; denomination | W?adys?aw IV Vasa (Ewa-Tyc Karpi?ska) | 500,000 | 1999 | |
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.[25][26][27] However, article 227[28] of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland will need to be amended first.[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]
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 |
The term z?oty closely resembles zwoti, although the letter y in z?oty is pronounced in a hard manner. The accurate pronunciation is ['zw?t?]. There are two plural forms: z?ote (zwoteh ['zw?t?]) and z?otych (zwotikh ['zw?t?x]). The correct usage of the plural forms is as follows:[31]
The rules are the same for larger numbers, e.g. 1,000,000 z?otych (milion z?otych); 1,000,002 z?ote (milion dwa z?ote); 1,000,011 z?otych (milion jedena?cie z?otych); 1,000,024 z?ote (milion dwadzie?cia cztery z?ote). Fractions should be rendered with z?otego [zw?'t] and grosza ['?ra], e.g. 0.1 z?otego; 2.5 z?otego, 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 z?otych; 0,1 z?otego); 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 z?oty, z?ote, z?otych, and z?otego, respectively, for "z?oty", and grosz, grosze, groszy, and grosza, respectively, for "grosz".