...Poland - 20 Zlotych 2025 Commemorative 1000th Year Coronation of Boleslaw I First King of Poland Hybrid

Rzeczpospolita Polska
(Republic of Poland)

Naradowy Bank Polski
(National Bank of Poland, Est.1945)
Currency - Zloty (PLN)

 

Here is another commemorative note of 20 zlotych officially released on 05.11.2025. Like all previous commemorative notes issued, this one is also released in a simple folder and is not intended for general circulation, as this note is sold at a premium. In addition to these banknotes, commemorative coins minted in gold and silver were also released in April 2025 honoring the reign and coronation of Boleslaw the Brave. 

This is the 17th commemorative banknote issued by the National Bank of Poland since 2006. The bank has the ability to issue commemorative banknotes as the country has not adopted the Euro Currency system yet. The country has not set a target to do so, and as long as they have their own currency, we may see more commemorative notes coming out of the central bank. 

At the moment, the only country that has issued more commemorative banknotes than Poland is Transnistria. However, Transnistria is not a recognised nation, so technically, Poland is the only country in Europe that has released the most commemorative banknotes so far. 

I must say that I was a bit surprised when I received this note as to me, this is a large size note for a face value of 20 zlotych. I am just wondering why they decided to print this commemorative note in such a large size as all previous commemorative notes issued since 2006 are all much smaller. 

 

Twenty Zlotych (Hybrid)

Front - This note commemorates the 1000th year of the Coronation of Boleslaw I, King of Poland. According to legend, he died two months after his coronation on 17.06.1025. At the time of this death, he was 58 years old. The front of the note depicts the portrait of Boleslaw I the Brave (b.967-1025) with his right hand clutching a sword. I believe this image is derived from a portrait painting by Marcello Baciarelli completed in c.1770. Boleslaw I is also known as Boleslaw the Great and was the first King of Poland. The current 20 zlotych circulating note is also printed with his image on the front. Boleslaw was the son of Poland's first Christian ruler Duke Mieszko. Boleslaw inherited his father's realm in 992. 

Whilst to me it is a bit strange to see a country which is now a Republic, yet celebrating a past Monarch figure on a banknote. However, this is not the first time that this is happening as many previous issues were the same including many commemorative coins issued too.

Signatures

President (Prezes) - Adam Glapinski (since 2016)

Chief Treasurer (Główny Skarbnik) - Barbara Jaroszek (since 2017)

Sizes - 171mm x 85mm

Watermarks - im­age of a fragment of the bordure of the Gniezno Doors and the notation of the coronation year of Boleslaus the Brave (electrotype 1025)

Quantity - 70,000 sets

Issue price - 160 zlotych

Period of sale - until 05.11.2028 unless all sold out prior

Hybrid

Back - To the left is an image of a silver coin struct under Boleslaw I the Brave. The design of this coin depicts the silhouette of a crowned eagle bird and the inscription Prince Polonie. To the right it features the Lance of Saint Maurice. In the middle it depicts a section of the Gniezno doors, which adorn the entrance to the cathedral in Gniezno.

Full list of all commemorative note folder issues since 2006

2006 - 50zl Pope John Paul ll First Death Anniv : qty 2.0M (i/p 90zl)

2008 - 10zl Regaining Independence 90th Anniv : qty 80,000 (i/p 15zl)

2009 - 20zl Poet Julius Slowacki 200th Anniversary : qty 80,000 (i/p 80zl)

2009 - 20zl Frederic Francois Chopin 200th Birth Anniv : qty 120,000 (i/p 50zl)

2011 - 20zl Marie Sklodowska Curie Nobel Price 100th Anniv : qty 60,000 (i/p 60zl)

2014 - 20zl Polish Legions 100th Anniv [polymer] : qty 60,000 (i/p 50zl)

2015 - 20zl Jan Dlugosz 600th Birth Anniv : qty 30,000 (i/p 72zl)

2016 - 20zl Baptism of Poland 1050th Anniv : qty 35,000 (i/p 75zl)

2017 - 20zl Mother of God 300th Coronation Anniv : qty 55,000 (i/p 60zl)

2018 - 20zl 100th Year of Independence : qty 50,000 (i/p 75zl)

2019 - 19zl Polska Wytwornia Papierow Wartosciowych 100th Anniv [hybrid] : qty 55,000 (i/p 80zl)

2020 - 20zl Battle of Warsaw 100th Anniv : qty 60,000 (i/p 80zl)

2021 - 20zl It's Worth Being A Pole : qty 80,000 (i/p 100zl)

2022 - 20zl Protection of the Eastern Front : qty 80,000 (i/p 50zl)

2023 - 20zl Nicolaus Copernicus 550th Birth Anniv [polymer]: qty 100,000 (i/p 160zl) 

2024 - 20zl 80th Anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising 1944: qty 80,000 (i/p 140zl)

2025 - 20zl 1000th Anni. [hybrid] of the Coronation of Boleslaus the Brave: qty 70,000 (i/p 160zl)

...Poland - 20 Zlotych Commemorative - 80th Anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising 1944-2024 Folder

Rzeczpospolita Polska
(Republic of Poland)

Naradowy Bank Polski
(National Bank of Poland, Est.1945)
Currency - Zloty (PLN)

 

This commemorative note was released on 26.07.2024 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising. According to the official website, a total of 80,000 sets have been issued and like all commemorative notes issued, this note also comes in a simple folder and is sold at 140 zlotych each. This is a numismatic collectible banknote of 20 zlotych and is legal tender in Poland as face value.

 

The Warsaw Uprising was a failed operation and is referred to the Polish underground resistance group to liberate Warsaw from the German Nazi occupation during the Second World War (1939-1945). The uprising carried out by the pro-Western Polish Home Army was started on 01.08.1944 and only lasted for 63 days to 02.10.1944. At the time of the uprising, the Germans were losing the war and were about to retreat, ahead of the Soviet advance into Poland. However, the advancing Soviet army deliberately halted their advances from the eastern side of Warsaw, and this gave the Germans time to regroup and defeat the Polish resistance. The Warsaw Uprising is also sometimes referred to as the August Uprising. The casualties for this uprising were very high with an estimated 16,000 members of the Polish resistance killed (averaging 253+ killed per day) plus another 200,000 civilians lost their life, mainly due to mass executions carried out by the German as punishment against those resisted. The uprising destroyed about 85% of Warsaw. The Polish leader who gave the order for the uprising at that time was led by Generał Tadeusz Komorowski (b.1895-1966). After the war, General Tadeusz Komorowski went on to serve as the 3rd Prime Minister of the Polish Government in Exile from 1947 to 1949. He died in exile at the age of 71 years old. Many historians would say that the Warsaw Uprising was premature and that is why it failed with loss of so many lives.

 

This is the 16th commemorative banknote issued by the National Bank of Poland since 2006. Since 2014, the bank has been releasing commemorative banknotes on a yearly basis and sold them as numismatic collectables at a premium. Although all notes issued are legal tender, it is very unlikely that you will ever find them circulating as legal tender notes for goods and services rendered. However, is this going to be an annual event in releasing numismatic collectable commemorative notes going forward? I personally would like to see them releasing them as commemorative circulating types as it might be cheaper to acquire as a collector. The face value for this 20 zlotych is worth about US$5 and the official selling price is 7 times the value of the note.

 

Commemorative banknotes issued by the bank have become popular among collectors over the past few years. Apart from the first issue of the 2006 John Paul II note (50 zlotych - 2.0 million sets issued), the value for all other collectable notes have gone up in value, with a few now getting a bit expensive to collect. 

Twenty Zlotych

 

Front - This is according to the information printed on the folder back cover, showing insurgents on a barricade watching the PAST (Polish Telephone Joint Stock Company) buildings in flames and in the center, a group of German prisoners of war. Below that is a billowing Polish flag of white and red colours, which is also visible under UV light. The denomination of '20' is printed with brick wall rolling effect colour. The note is printed with the Polish date of Warszawa 10 stycznia 2024 r. (Warsaw January 10, 2024). This note is printed by the Polish Security Works (PWPW S.A.) with the prefix of PW.

Signatures

President (Prezes) - Adam Glapinski (since 2016)

Chief Treasurer (Główny Skarbnik) - Barbara Jaroszek (since 2017)

Watermark - Fighting Poland symbol against a stylised  brick wall and electrotype 1944

Quantity - 80,000 sets

Official issue price - 140 zlotych (face value 20 zlotych)

Dimensions - 151.5mm x 78mm

Back - On the left are two resistance fighters with rifles in hands positioning themselves against the background of a destroyed building captured from the interiors of the Church of the Holy Cross, as well as a field mass celebrated in the courtyard at 12 Poznanska Street. To the far right are two-colour graphic elements symbolising brick ruins. 

Note - I believe the two images depicting the insurgents in the front and the resistance fighters in the back both derived from actual photos taken during the time of the uprising. No doubt these are historical images of the war during the German occupation in Poland. I wonder if the Polish authority has ever identified who they are?

 

Below are the full list of all commemorative notes issued since 2006;-

2006 - 50zl Karol Wojtyla aka Pope John Paul ll : qty 2.0M (i/p 90zl)

2008 - 10zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 80,000 (i/p 15zl)

2009 - 20zl Poet Julius Slowacki : qty 80,000 (i/p 80zl)

2009 - 20zl Frederic Francois Chopin : qty 120,000 (i/p 50zl)

2011 - 20zl Marie Sklodowska Curie : qty 60,000 (i/p 60zl)

2014 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski [polymer] : qty 60,000 (i/p 50zl)

2015 - 20zl Jan Dlugosz : qty 30,000 (i/p 72zl)

2016 - 20zl Doubravka of Bohemia & King Miezko : qty 35,000 (i/p 75zl)

2017 - 20zl Our Lady of Czestochowa : qty 55,000 (i/p 60zl)

2018 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 50,000 (i/p 75zl)

2019 - 19zl Polska Wytwornia Papierow Wartosciowych [hybrid] : qty 55,000 (i/p 80zl)

2020 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 60,000 (i/p 80zl)

2021 - 20zl Lech Kaczynski : qty 80,000 (i/p 100zl)

2022 - 20zl Protection of the Eastern Front : qty 80,000 (i/p 50zl)

2023 - 20zl Nicolaus Copernicus [polymer] : qty 100,000 (i/p 160zl)

2024 - 20zl, 80th Anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising : qty 80,000 (i/p 140zl) 

...Poland - 20 Zlotych Nicolaus Copernicus Commemorative 2023 Polymer Note

 Rzeczpospolita Polska
(Republic of Poland)

Naradowy Bank Polski
(National Bank of Poland)
Currency - Zlotych (PLN)

 

Another Polish commemorative note released on 09.02.2023. This note was originally scheduled to be released in November 2022, but was then delayed until February 2023. 

This note is issued in honor of the 550th birth of Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicolaus Copernicus was born in the historical city of Torun (about 220 km north-east of Warsaw) on 19.02.1473, and died on 12.05.1543, at the age of 70 years old. During his lifetime, he was a Renaissance polymath, a mathematician, an astronomer, and also a Catholic canon.

 

This is also the same guy that tried to tell the world that the sun was the center of the universe, rather than the earth, in 1514, when he hand wrote a book explaining this to his friends. However, according to another source, this theory of having the sun as the center of the universe was already raised 18 centuries earlier by a Greek guy called Aristarch of Samos (b.310BC-230BC).

Like all previous commemorative banknotes issued, this note came with a simple card folder, and sold for 160 zlotych each. A total of 100,000 sets have been issued. As this is a legal tender banknote, and is sold as a numismatic product with a premium, it is very unlikely any of these notes will be used as face value transactions. This note is printed on polymer substrate, and is also the second polymer note issued by the bank. To date, this is the 15th commemorative note issued by the National Bank of Poland since the 50 zlotych Pope John Paul ll commemorative issued in 2006.

Twenty Zlotych

Nicolaus Copernicus (b.1473-1543)

Front - Nicolaus Copernicus (b.1473-1543) at far right, the heliocentric model showing the Earth and other planets revolving around the Sun at the center of the universe. This note is quite unique. According to the text printed on the back of the folder, it contains a security feature which produces visual 3D and motion effects. I believe this is refers to the round feature in blue to the left of the note. It's quite cool when you look at it. I have seen such features before, but it is usually printed as a security thread, I think.

Signatures

President - Adam Glapinski (tenure 21.06.2016 - 22.06.2022)

Chief Treasurer - Barbara Jaroszek

Quantity - 100,000 sets

Issue price - 160 zlotych

Imprinter - Polish Security Printing Works

Watermark - N/A

Dimensions - 151mm x 78mm

 

Back - Ancient coin with Zygmunt I Stary, three smaller coins, the heliocentric model showing the Earth and other planets  revolve around the Sun at the center of the universe.

 

Ancient coin, heliocentric model

Front folder cover

Below are the full list of all commemorative notes issued since 2006;-

2006 - 50zl Karol Wojtyla aka Pope John Paul ll : qty 2.0M (i/p 90zl)

2008 - 10zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 80,000 (i/p 15zl)

2009 - 20zl Poet Julius Slowacki : qty 80,000 (i/p 80zl)

2009 - 20zl Frederic Francois Chopin : qty 120,000 (i/p 50zl)

2011 - 20zl Marie Sklodowska Curie : qty 60,000 (i/p 60zl)

2014 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski [polymer] : qty 60,000 (i/p 50zl)

2015 - 20zl Jan Dlugosz : qty 30,000 (i/p 72zl)

2016 - 20zl Doubravka of Bohemia & King Miezko : qty 35,000 (i/p 75zl)

2017 - 20zl Our Lady of Czestochowa : qty 55,000 (i/p 60zl)

2018 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 50,000 (i/p 75zl)

2019 - 19zl Polska Wytwornia Papierow Wartosciowych [hybrid] : qty 55,000 (i/p 80zl)

2020 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 60,000 (i/p 80zl)

2021 - 20zl Lech Kaczynski : qty 80,000 (i/p 100zl)

2022 - 20zl Protection of the Eastern Front : qty 80,000 (i/p 50zl)

2023 - 20zl Nicolaus Copernicus [polymer]: qty 100,000 (i/p 160zl)

2024 - 20zl Warsaw Uprising 1944-2024: qty 80,000 (i/p 140zl) 

 

...Poland - 20 Zlotych 2022 Protection Of Poland's Eastern Border Collector Note

 Rzeczpospolita Polska
(Republic of Poland)

Naradowy Bank Polski
(National Bank of Poland)
Currency - Zloty (PLN)

 

Here is another Polish numismatic legal tender banknote of 20 zlotych, released on 19.07.2022. Since 2014, Poland has been releasing numismatic, and commemorative/collector banknotes every year, and there are more to come too. So, please get ready for more.

Now, I must first point out that technically, this is not a commemorative note, but rather a collector's banknote. I do not believe that it mentioned the word commemorative on the note or on the folder that comes with the note. This note is issued highlighting the importance of protecting its eastern common border sharing with countries that are not a member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation).

 

Poland, together with nine other European nations joined the European Union on the first of May in 2004. Since becoming a member of the EU, it has not decided when the country will officially adopt the Euro currency. At the moment there is no fixed date or any known intention to replace the current Zloty currency with the Euro. Knowing that when this happens, it will have to give up its rights to release its own Zloty banknotes, just like this new issue.

Obviously this note is all about the eastern front aiming at those non NATO members sharing a common boundary with Poland. Poland became a full member of NATO on 12.03.1999, and the countries that are sharing a common border with them, which is a non NATO member, are Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. Ukraine has recently expressed their intention to join the EU, and NATO. As for NATO's policy when it comes to defending its members, it is 'All For One, and One For All'; and it is very unlikely that they will have to worry about other NATO's neighbouring members, such as Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, and Lithuania. Most conflicts are usually land disputes related, and despite there is unlikely any issues with the western or southern fronts, all you need is just one crazy loose cannon leader, and then all hell breaks loose, just like those past great, and stupid wars that happened not too long ago. Many of these were merely disputes among distant relatives.

 

Like most of the previous issues, this note is also printed with a face value of 20 zlotych, and sold as a numismatic product in a simple folder at a price of 130 zlotych per set. A total of 80,000 has been issued, and given that this is sold above face value, it is very unlikely anyone would rush out and spend it at face value.

 

As a commemorative note, the design on both sides are completely new, and this note is printed on cotton based paper material.

 

Twenty Zloty

A Polish Border Officer and a Polish Army looking over the eastern border

Front - On the left-hand side, it depicts a Polish Border Guard Officer observing with a binocular presumably looking over the eastern front and a soldier of the Polish Army standing next to him. To the right is a map of Poland's eastern front, bordering part of Russia in the north, Lithuania, Belarus in the east and Ukraine in the south-east.   

Signatures

President - Adam Glapinski (tenure 21.06.2016 - 22.06.2022)

Chief Treasurer - Barbara Jaroszek

Imprinter - Polish Security Printing Works (PWPW S.A.)

Designer: Agnieszka Próchniak

Quantity - 80,000 sets in a simple folder at 130 zlotych each

Watermark - A round shape object with NBP in the center (see folder front cover)

Dimensions - 152mm x 78mm

 

Back - On the back is a S-70i Black Hawk (police helicopter) flying over the clouded sky, over the areas located near the eastern border of Poland, presumably patrolling and safe guarding its border. I have been told that this Black Hawk helicopter is now made in Poland. On the top of the note is an image of a F-16 aircraft (registration device printed on both front and back of the note), and to the right, an outline map of Poland's eastern front, just like the one on the front. The large State emblem of Poland, Eagle, is also printed on the note. 

 

This note is predominately printed in brown colour both front and back.

 

A S-70i Black Hawk (police helicopter) flying, an outline map of Poland's eastern front, State emblem of Poland Eagle

 

The two notes I have in my collection

Folder front cover

Back folder cover with info both in Polish and English

Information sheet with security features detailed inside (not shown)

Below are the full list of all commemorative notes issued since 2006;-

2006 - 50zl Karol Wojtyla aka Pope John Paul ll : qty 2.0M (i/p 90zl)

2008 - 10zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 80,000 (i/p 15zl)

2009 - 20zl Poet Julius Slowacki : qty 80,000 (i/p 80zl)

2009 - 20zl Frederic Francois Chopin : qty 120,000 (i/p 50zl)

2011 - 20zl Marie Sklodowska Curie : qty 60,000 (i/p 60zl)

2014 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski [polymer] : qty 60,000 (i/p 50zl)

2015 - 20zl Jan Dlugosz : qty 30,000 (i/p 72zl)

2016 - 20zl Doubravka of Bohemia & King Miezko : qty 35,000 (i/p 75zl)

2017 - 20zl Our Lady of Czestochowa : qty 55,000 (i/p 60zl)

2018 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 50,000 (i/p 75zl)

2019 - 19zl Polska Wytwornia Papierow Wartosciowych [hybrid] : qty 55,000 (i/p 80zl)

2020 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 60,000 (i/p 80zl)

2021 - 20zl Lech Kaczynski : qty 80,000 (i/p 100zl)

2022 - 20zl Protection of the Eastern Front : qty 80,000 (i/p 50zl)

2023 - 20zl Nicolaus Copernicus [polymer]: qty 100,000 (i/p 160zl)

2024 - 20zl Warsaw Uprising 1944-2024: qty 80,000 (i/p 140zl)  

...Poland - 20 Zloty It Is Worth Being A Pole Commemorative 2021

 Rzeczpospolita Polska
(Republic of Poland)

Naradowy Bank Polski
(National Bank of Poland)
Currency - Zloty (PLN)

 

This is a 20 zloty paper commemorative note released on 09.11.2021. The theme for this issue is "It Is Worth Being A Pole". A total quantity of 80,000 sets all issued in a simple cover/folder. The issue price for this series is 100 zloty.

The design for this note is to honor the late Polish President Lech Aleksander Kaczynski (b.1949-2010). Kaczynski was born in 1949, and became the President of Poland in 2005. However, his Presidency only lasted for 5 years as he was killed in an air crash while flying to Russia to attend the Katyn massacre memorial service in 2010, aged 60. The Katyn massacre was a series of mass executions of some 22,000 Polish military officers by the Russians during the second world war in Russia. All 96 passengers on board the Soviet made Tupolev Tu-154M plane were killed while attempting to land on the Russian's Smolensk Air Base. The death toll included his wife and some high ranking military officers and civilian leaders. Suspicion rose quickly that the plane was deliberately or accidentally shot down by the Russians. Prior to that, Kaczynski served as the Mayor of Warsaw between 2002 and 2005. 

During his Presidency, Kaczynski appointed his twin brother Jaroslaw Kaczynski as the Prime Minister from 2006 to 2007 and at that time, the two brothers were the world's first brothers to serve in a government as President and Prime Minister. Jaroslaw Kaczynski is now the Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, since October 2020.

Other designs featured on the front of the note are the Presidential palace, the text Warto byç Polakiem (It is worth being a Pole) and the signature of Lech Aleksander Kaczynski next to it. Behind the portrait of Lech Aleksander Kaczynski is the Polish National Arms.

On the back, it depicts the main image of the Polish world famous shipyard workers strike at Lenin Shipyards in 1980 staged by the non-government trade union founded on 14.08.1980, thus starting the trade union called Solidarity led by their leader Lech Walesa. Other designs featuring three hands showing the Victory signs, the entrance to the Polish military cemetery in Katyn, the Warsaw Rising museum. As we all know, that Lech Walesa later went on and became the President of Poland from 1990 to 1995.

 

This note is legal tender and is printed with the date of 10 Kwjetnia 2021 (10.04.2021).

 

Twenty Zloty

President Lech Aleksander Kaczynski (b.1949-2010)

 

Signatures

Prezes (President) - Adam Glapinski

Gtowny Skarbnik (Honorable Treasurer) - Barbara Jaroszek 

Dimensions - 150mm x 77mm

Imprinter - Polish Security Printing Works (PWPW S.A.)

Quantity - 80,000 sets at 100 zloty each

1980 Solidarity activity at the Gdansk Shipyard

Front Cover

Folder front cover

This is the front and back of the simple folder that comes with this commemorative note. On the back, there are details of this issue printed in both Polish and English. Here I have repeated word for word that are printed on this folder in English: -

Lech Kaczynski. It is Worth Being a Pole

In 2021, Narodowy Bank Polski issued a commemorative banknote "Lech Kaczynski. It is Worth Being a Pole", with the face value of 20 zloty.

The front of the note features a portrait of Prof. Lech Kaczynski, the late President of the Republic of Poland, a stylised image of the order of the White Eagle, and an image of the Presidential Palace. A security feature in the form of a latent image has been placed below the Order of the White Eagle, and the top left-hand corner of the front of the note bears the value numeral made in foil foil with a motion effect. In the paper, a watermark with a filigree - which features the Presidential Couple, Maria and Lech Kaczynski - and two-coloured windowed security thread, have been applied.

The back of the note displays an image of the building of the Warsaw Rising Museum, an image of the bell dedicated to the memory of Antoni Chrusciel, alias "Monter", Commander of the Warsaw Uprising, which contains a security feature made in colour-shifting ink, a crowd of strikers in the Gdansk Shipyard in the 1980s with the inscription SOLODARNOSC (Solidarity), and a part of the view of the Polish War Cemetery in Katyn.

Face Value: 20 zl

Dimensions: 150mm x 77mm

Designer: Justyna Kopecka

Issuer: Narodowy Bank Polski

Manufacturer: Polish Security Printing Works, on behalf of NBP

Date of issue: 9 November 2021

(the only information missing here are the name of the signatures on the note and also the price and quantity issued)

Folder back cover

Below are the full list of all commemorative notes issued since 2006;-

2006 - 50zl Karol Wojtyla aka Pope John Paul ll : qty 2.0M (i/p 90zl)

2008 - 10zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 80,000 (i/p 15zl)

2009 - 20zl Poet Julius Slowacki : qty 80,000 (i/p 80zl)

2009 - 20zl Frederic Francois Chopin : qty 120,000 (i/p 50zl)

2011 - 20zl Marie Sklodowska Curie : qty 60,000 (i/p 60zl)

2014 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski [polymer] : qty 60,000 (i/p 50zl)

2015 - 20zl Jan Dlugosz : qty 30,000 (i/p 72zl)

2016 - 20zl Doubravka of Bohemia & King Miezko : qty 35,000 (i/p 75zl)

2017 - 20zl Our Lady of Czestochowa : qty 55,000 (i/p 60zl)

2018 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 50,000 (i/p 75zl)

2019 - 19zl Polska Wytwornia Papierow Wartosciowych [hybrid] : qty 55,000 (i/p 80zl)

2020 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 60,000 (i/p 80zl)

2021 - 20zl Lech Kaczynski : qty 80,000 (i/p 100zl)

2022 - 20zl Protection of the Eastern Front : qty 80,000 (i/p 50zl)

2023 - 20zl Nicolaus Copernicus [polymer]: qty 100,000 (i/p 160zl)

2024 - 20zl Warsaw Uprising 1944-2024: qty 80,000 (i/p 140zl)  

...Poland - 20 Zloty 2020 Centennial Of The Battle Of Warsaw 1920-2020

Rzeczpospolita Polska
(Republic of Poland)

Naradowy Bank Polski
(National Bank of Poland)
Currency - Zloty (PLN)

This is the 12th Polish commemorative note issued since 2006. This note is printed on paper material and not polymer like the last issue of 19 zloty in 2019 celebrating the 100th Year of Polish Security Printing Works. This note was issued on 11.08.2020.

This note celebrates the centenary of the Battle of Warsaw (aka Miracle of the Vistula). The battle was fought between Poland and the invading Russia Red army near Warsaw which started on 12/08/1920 and went on for 13 days until 25/08/1920 when the Polish army successfully defeated the Russian Red army with heavy casualties. The battle was led by Marshal Józef Klemens Piłsudski (b.1867-1935) who was then the First Chief of State of Poland. The success of this battle along with a few other battles led to the securing of independence of Poland until 1939 when the country was once again invaded by a foreign power and this time by Hitler Germany.

On the front of the note, it depicts the image of Józef Piłsudski drawing his ceremonial military sword and on the back, a scene of the Battle of Warsaw with the Polish advancing troops. This is the second time since 2014 that the image of Józef Piłsudski is printed on a Polish banknote. In 2014, a commemorative note of 20 zloty was issued commemorating the Centenary of Formation of the Polish Legions.

Quantity - 60,000 sets in simple card folder
Issue Price - 80 zloty
Dimensions - 150.5mm x 77mm

Twenty Zloty

nd2020

Reverse

Brochure

Below are the full list of all commemorative notes issued since 2006;-

2006 - 50zl Karol Wojtyla aka Pope John Paul ll : qty 2.0M (i/p 90zl)

2008 - 10zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 80,000 (i/p 15zl)

2009 - 20zl Poet Julius Slowacki : qty 80,000 (i/p 80zl)

2009 - 20zl Frederic Francois Chopin : qty 120,000 (i/p 50zl)

2011 - 20zl Marie Sklodowska Curie : qty 60,000 (i/p 60zl)

2014 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski [polymer] : qty 60,000 (i/p 50zl)

2015 - 20zl Jan Dlugosz : qty 30,000 (i/p 72zl)

2016 - 20zl Doubravka of Bohemia & King Miezko : qty 35,000 (i/p 75zl)

2017 - 20zl Our Lady of Czestochowa : qty 55,000 (i/p 60zl)

2018 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 50,000 (i/p 75zl)

2019 - 19zl Polska Wytwornia Papierow Wartosciowych [hybrid] : qty 55,000 (i/p 80zl)

2020 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 60,000 (i/p 80zl)

2021 - 20zl Lech Kaczynski : qty 80,000 (i/p 100zl)

2022 - 20zl Protection of the Eastern Front : qty 80,000 (i/p 50zl)

2023 - 20zl Nicolaus Copernicus [polymer]: qty 100,000 (i/p 160zl)

2024 - 20zl Warsaw Uprising 1944-2024: qty 80,000 (i/p 140zl)  

"in my opinion - *"⇨
The entire series was sold out a few days after it was released. In general, 60,000 sets is quite a lot especially this is not the first time a numismatic commemorative note is issued. However I believe that the "sold out" was not due to high demand but merely the National Bank distributed the notes to various dealers for distributions. In another word, to get one, you will have to pay a much higher asking price from a reseller.

...Poland - 19 Zloty Dated 2019 Hybrid Commemorative 100th Year of Polish Security Printing Works (PWPW)

Rzeczpospolita Polska

(Republic of Poland)

Naradowy Bank Polski
(National Bank of Poland)
Currency : Zloty (PLN)

This is a rather unusual commemorative note with a face value of 19 zloty. This note was issued on 02.10.2019, for the purpose of celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Polish Security Printing Works (PWPW). A total of 55,000 pieces/sets were issued at an issue price of 80 zloty per set. Whilst this note is legal tender, it is not intended for circulation due to the premium on the issue price. It is unlikely anyone will cash this in at face value.

The PWPW (Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych) was established on 25.01.1919 and was originally operated under the name of State Graphics Works (Państwowe Zakłady Graficzne) until 10.07.2016. In addition to printing banknotes, PWPW is also involved in printing identification documents, postage stamps and many other types of security prints.

This note is printed on Hybrid material.

Designs
Front: Portrait of Ignacy Jan Paderewski (b.1860-1941, Polish pianist, composer, freemason, politician, statesman and spokesman for Polish independence), Order of the White Eagle, inscription "niepodlegla" (independent) in red;
Reverse: Image of the PWPW building, with the backdrop of a panoramic view of Warsaw, the capital of Poland.

The face value of 19 zloty represents the year (1919) of which PWPW was founded.

Nineteen Zloty

Dated 2019

Revesre

Front Cover

Front Cover

Back Cover

Back Cover

This is the 11th commemorative banknotes issued since 2006.

Below are the full list of all commemorative notes issued since 2006;-

2006 - 50zl Karol Wojtyla aka Pope John Paul ll : qty 2.0M (i/p 90zl)

2008 - 10zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 80,000 (i/p 15zl)

2009 - 20zl Poet Julius Slowacki : qty 80,000 (i/p 80zl)

2009 - 20zl Frederic Francois Chopin : qty 120,000 (i/p 50zl)

2011 - 20zl Marie Sklodowska Curie : qty 60,000 (i/p 60zl)

2014 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski [polymer] : qty 60,000 (i/p 50zl)

2015 - 20zl Jan Dlugosz : qty 30,000 (i/p 72zl)

2016 - 20zl Doubravka of Bohemia & King Miezko : qty 35,000 (i/p 75zl)

2017 - 20zl Our Lady of Czestochowa : qty 55,000 (i/p 60zl)

2018 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 50,000 (i/p 75zl)

2019 - 19zl Polska Wytwornia Papierow Wartosciowych [hybrid] : qty 55,000 (i/p 80zl)

2020 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 60,000 (i/p 80zl)

2021 - 20zl Lech Kaczynski : qty 80,000 (i/p 100zl)

2022 - 20zl Protection of the Eastern Front : qty 80,000 (i/p 50zl)

2023 - 20zl Nicolaus Copernicus [polymer]: qty 100,000 (i/p 160zl)

2024 - 20zl Warsaw Uprising 1944-2024: qty 80,000 (i/p 140zl)  

...Poland - 20 Zloty 100th Year of Indepedence 1918-2018

Rzeczpospolita Polska
Republic of Poland

This new 20 Zloty commemorative note was issued on 31.08.2018, celebrating the nation's 100th Year of Independence. Whilst the face value of this note is only 20 Zloty, the official issued price was 75 Zloty with a total quantity of 50,000 issued in a simple folder/cover format.

The design of this note shows the portrait of Marshal Josef Klemens Pilsudski (1867-1935), who was the national hero for the Polish Independence campaign and the nation's premiere statesmen from 1918 to until his death on 12.05.1935. The year date of 1918-2018 is printed to the left of Marshal Pilsudski. The polish word "niepodlegla" (my spelling could be wrong) means independent is also printed in red vertically on the front. The main features on the back are the Polish Legions eagle and a large Polish flag. All notes are printed with the letter prefix of RP (Rzeczpospolita Polska or The Republic of Poland).

This note is issued in a simple card folder.

Twenty Zloty

Dated 2018

Reverse

Folder Front

Folder Back

Brochure 1

Brochure 2

Brochure 3

Brochure 4

Below are the full list of all commemorative notes issued since 2006;-

2006 - 50zl Karol Wojtyla aka Pope John Paul ll : qty 2.0M (i/p 90zl)

2008 - 10zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 80,000 (i/p 15zl)

2009 - 20zl Poet Julius Slowacki : qty 80,000 (i/p 80zl)

2009 - 20zl Frederic Francois Chopin : qty 120,000 (i/p 50zl)

2011 - 20zl Marie Sklodowska Curie : qty 60,000 (i/p 60zl)

2014 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski [polymer] : qty 60,000 (i/p 50zl)

2015 - 20zl Jan Dlugosz : qty 30,000 (i/p 72zl)

2016 - 20zl Doubravka of Bohemia & King Miezko : qty 35,000 (i/p 75zl)

2017 - 20zl Our Lady of Czestochowa : qty 55,000 (i/p 60zl)

2018 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 50,000 (i/p 75zl)

2019 - 19zl Polska Wytwornia Papierow Wartosciowych [hybrid] : qty 55,000 (i/p 80zl)

2020 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 60,000 (i/p 80zl)

2021 - 20zl Lech Kaczynski : qty 80,000 (i/p 100zl)

2022 - 20zl Protection of the Eastern Front : qty 80,000 (i/p 50zl)

2023 - 20zl Nicolaus Copernicus [polymer]: qty 100,000 (i/p 160zl)

2024 - 20zl Warsaw Uprising 1944-2024: qty 80,000 (i/p 140zl)  

...Poland - 20 Zloty 2017 Commemorative 300th Year of the Coronation of the Mother of God's Image in Jasna Gova

This is a 20 Zloty Commemorative note issued on 21.08.2017 celebrating the 300th Year of the Coronation of the Mother of God's Image in Jasna Gova. The note is printed with the date of 10 May 2017. This celebration was approved by the Polish government on 28.01.2017 as a jubilee year for the celebration for the first canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa, also known as the Black Madonna. The Black Madonna is a revered icon of the Virgin Mary located at the Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa, about 2+ hours drive south-west of Warsaw. With more than 94% of the Poland population being Catholic, the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa has a significant meaning to the Poles.

The note is signed by:
NBP President - Professor Adam Glapinski (since 2016)
Chief Treasurer - Mrs. Barbara Jaroszek
Printed by: Polish Security Printing Company SA (PWPW S.A.)
Quantity Issued; 55,000 set
Issue price; 60 Zloty each
Note designer: Justyna Kopecka

Twenty Zloty

Dated 2017

Reverse

Information Sheet

Information Sheet

Below are the full list of all commemorative notes issued since 2006;-

2006 - 50zl Karol Wojtyla aka Pope John Paul ll : qty 2.0M (i/p 90zl)

2008 - 10zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 80,000 (i/p 15zl)

2009 - 20zl Poet Julius Slowacki : qty 80,000 (i/p 80zl)

2009 - 20zl Frederic Francois Chopin : qty 120,000 (i/p 50zl)

2011 - 20zl Marie Sklodowska Curie : qty 60,000 (i/p 60zl)

2014 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski [polymer] : qty 60,000 (i/p 50zl)

2015 - 20zl Jan Dlugosz : qty 30,000 (i/p 72zl)

2016 - 20zl Doubravka of Bohemia & King Miezko : qty 35,000 (i/p 75zl)

2017 - 20zl Our Lady of Czestochowa : qty 55,000 (i/p 60zl)

2018 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 50,000 (i/p 75zl)

2019 - 19zl Polska Wytwornia Papierow Wartosciowych [hybrid] : qty 55,000 (i/p 80zl)

2020 - 20zl Josef Pilsudski : qty 60,000 (i/p 80zl)

2021 - 20zl Lech Kaczynski : qty 80,000 (i/p 100zl)

2022 - 20zl Protection of the Eastern Front : qty 80,000 (i/p 50zl)

2023 - 20zl Nicolaus Copernicus [polymer]: qty 100,000 (i/p 160zl)

2024 - 20zl Warsaw Uprising 1944-2024: qty 80,000 (i/p 140zl)