Poland 20 Złotych (1050th Anniversary of Baptism of Poland)

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 portraits of the Royal Couple; Prince Mieszko I (c. 930 – 992) and his Bohemian wife Dobrawa (c. 940/45 – 977), on a background that illustrates stag among the foliage, looking as if it has jumped straight out of the rondeaux of the Gniezno Doors (Christian symbolism) and a sketch of the royal chalice from Trzemeszno; next to the Prince Mieszko is the staurotheke from Ostrów Lednicki (a cross-shaped reliquary). The design is completed with the crowned White Eagle (Emblem of the Polish Republic) and a sketch plan of the Gniezno Cathedral. The reverse of the note presents an illustration of Gniezno Cathedral in its present Gothic-Baroque form, the royal chalice from Trzemeszno, and a sketch plan of the Gniezno Cathedral. The lettering of the note is presented in the Polish language. This note is part of the 2015 commemorative series ‘’1050th Anniversary of the Baptism of Poland’’. Its color is slate, grey, and light rose.

Text: 1050 rocznica CHRZTU POLSKI, 20, DWADZIEŚCIA ZŁOTYCH, 1415, Narodowy Bank Polski, DOBRAWA, MIESZKO I, WARSZAWA 23 LISTOPADA 2015 r, PREZES, GŁOWNY SKARBNIK, BANKNOTY EMITOWANE PRZEZ NARODOWY BANK POLSKI SĄ PRAWNYM ŚRODKIEM PŁATNICZYM W POLSCE.