Poland 20 Złotych (100th Anniversary of Polish Legion)

Description

The złoty is the official currency of Poland. The name is derived from the Polish adjective “golden”. The official currency symbol: zł. The złoty (golden) in Poland dated back to the midden ages, from the 14th and 15th centuries when the name was used for all foreign gold coins used in Poland. In 1496, the Sejm (Sejm of the Republic of Poland) approved creating a national currency known as the first złoty.  A second złoty was introduced in 1924, replacing the marka (currency of the Kingdom of Poland and the Republic of Poland between 1917 and 1924). In 1939, the government introduced banknotes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 złoty. After German established the General Government and the Communist Poland periods, a third złoty (PLZ) was introduced, replacing all the notes issued before 1948; from there, the banknotes issued were a stable version. The banknotes issued in these third series were redenominated at a rate of 10,000 PLZ to a 1 PLN (new złoty), and all the legal tenders previously emitted as PLZ denominations were exchangeable into the PLN until the date of each value’s withdrawal. After 31 December 2010. Currently are circulating banknotes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 złoty.

The 20 złotych commemorative note front design features the portrait of Józef Klemens Piłsudski wearing the Polish Legions uniform (1867 – 1935), a Polish statesman who served as the Chief of State and First Marshal of Poland; a sketch of the insignia of the Order of Poland Restituta with the engraved date of 1918, the inscription “niepodległa” (independent), reproduced from Piłsudski’s manuscript, the commemorative insignia of the 1st Brigade of the Polish Legions, the insignia of the Polish military organization, and the crowned White Eagle (Emblem of the Polish Republic). The reverse of the note presents the eagle of the Polish legions, which holding in its claws a pelta shield with the capital letter “S” about “strzelcy” (riflemen); Above the eagle is the inscription: RZECZPOSPOLITA POLSKA (THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND). The figure is superimposed on the flag of Poland. The lettering of the note is presented in the Polish language. This note is part of the 2018 commemorative series ‘’Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Restoration of Polish Independence’’. Its color is grey and multicolor.

Text: 1918, Narodowy Bank Polski, WARSZAWA, 13 LUTEGO 2018 R. DWADZIESCIA ZŁOTYCH PREZES, GŁÓWNY SKARBNIK, POLSKA STULECIE ODZYSKANIA NIEPODLEGŁOŚCI, BANKNOTY EMITOWANE PRZEZ NARODOWY BANK POLSKI SĄ PRAWNYM ŚRODKIEM PŁATNICZYM W POLSCE, RZECZPOSPOLITA POLSKA.