Poland 50 Złotych (Pope John Paul II)

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 50 złotych commemorative note front design presents the illustration of Pope John Paul II (1920 –2005), who was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until 2005, wearing his pontifical robes, holding his pastoral cross, and making a gesture of greeting, against the background of a stylized globe; the design is completed with the crowned White Eagle (Emblem of the Polish Republic), and a sketch of the St Peter’s keys (two crossed keys). The reverse of the note illustrates an episode that occurred during the Holy Mass for the inauguration of the pontificate, between Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński (1901 – 1981); While the cardinal paid homage to him, John Paul II stood up and made a memorable gesture to express his respect for the Primate of Poland; the bands under his feet bear his episcopal mottos, namely Totus Tuus, the motto of John Paul II, and Soli Deo, the motto of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński; followed by the scene, is presented a quote from the Letter to the Poles read by John Paul II in the Paul VI Room of the Vatican. The design is completed with a sketch of the Jasna Góra monastery and a sketch of the St Peter’s keys (two crossed keys).The lettering of the note is presented in the Polish language. This note is part of the 2006 commemorative series ‘’The anniversary of Karol Wojtyła’s election to the papacy’’. Its color is light blue and yellow.

Text: 50, PIĘĆDZIESIĄT ZŁOTYCH, NARODOWY BANK POLSKI, WARSZAWA 16 RADZIERNA 2006 PREZES, GŁÓWNY SKARBNIK, JAN PAWEŁ II, 16 X 1978 – 2 IV 2005, NIE BYŁOBY NA STOLICY PIOTROWEJ TEGO PAPIEŻA POLAKA, GDYBY NIE BYŁO TWOJEJ WIARY, NIE COFAJĄCEJ SIĘ PRZED WIEZIENIEM I CIERPIENIEM, TWOJEJ HEROICZNEJ NADZIEI’, TOTUS TUUS, SOLI DEO, PIECDZIESIAT ZŁOTYCH, NBP, BANKNOTY EMITOWANE PRZEZ NARODOWY BANK POLSKI SĄ PRAWNYM ŚRODKIEM PŁATNICZYM W POLSCE.