Poland (1982-1990)

This serie of banknotes is one of the first after the comunist regime was overthrown. There are banknotes of 10 złotych, 20 złotych 50 złotych, 100 złotych, 200 złotych, 500 złotych, 1,000 złotych, 2,000 złotych, 5,000 złotych, 10,000 złotych.

20 złotych (dwadzieścia złotych)

This banknotes worth 20 złotych was first circulated June the 1st of 1982. On the main side center, you can see Romuald Traugutt, a 19th century Polish general and war man best known for commanding the Jannuary Uprising of 1863. In the right it can be seen a 20, the eagle from the Poland's coat of arms and irises. In the left it can be seen a gap used for the digital watermark, another 20, the written value of the banknote and in the upper part, the official name of the country in Polish (Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa).
On the other side of the banknote appears a big 20, with the written the value of the banknote and in the upper part, the name of the National Bank in Polish (Narodowy Bank Polski). There are other  two 20's in opposite corners and a text saying that this is a legal currency in Poland. This banknote has overlapping circles and triangles in squares as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 13.9 cm x 6.4 cm.

50 złotych (pięćdziesiąt złotych)

This banknotes worth 50 złotych was first circulated in December the 1st of 1988. On the main side center, you can see Karol Świerczewski, Polish Jew militar who participated in the Spanish Civil War, WWII (enroled in the Red Army) and Polish Defense minister. In the right it can be seen a 50, the eagle from the Poland's coat of arms and irises. In the left it can be seen a gap used for the digital watermark, another 50, the written value of the banknote and in the upper part, the name of the National Bank in Polish (Narodowy Bank Polski).
On the other side of the banknote appears the symbol of the Order of the Cross of Grunwald, a military decoration given by Gwardia Ludowa, a WWII resistence movement organised by Polish Workers's Party; with the written the value of the banknote and in the upper part, the name of the National Bank. There are other two 50's in opposite corners and a text saying that this is a legal currency in Poland. This banknote has the Polish eagle as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 13.9 cm x 6.4 cm.

100 złotych (sto złotych)

This banknotes worth 100 złotych was first circulated in June the 1st of 1986. On the main side right you can see Ludwik Warynski, activist and theoretian of the socialist movement in Poland. In the center it can be seen a 100, the eagle from the Poland's coat of arms and irises. In the left it can be seen a gap used for the digital watermark, another 100, the written value of the banknote and in the upper part, the name of the National Bank in Polish (Narodowy Bank Polski).
On the other side of the banknote appears the word proletariat, along with the words civil, factory and earth with the written the value of the banknote and in the upper part, the name of the National Bank. There are other two 100's in opposite corners and a text saying that this is a legal currency in Poland. This banknote has the Polish eagle as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 13.9 cm x 6.4 cm.

200 złotych (dwieście złotych)

This banknotes worth 200 złotych was first circulated in December the 1st of 1988. On the main side right you can see Jarosław Dąbrowski, a 19th century Polish nobleman who was a left-wing independentist and participated in 1863 January Uprising. In the center it can be seen a 200, the eagle from the Poland's coat of arms and irises. In the left it can be seen a gap used for the digital watermark, another 200, the written value of the banknote and in the upper part, the name of the National Bank in Polish (Narodowy Bank Polski).

On the other side of the banknote appears a man in a wall with Za naszą i waszą wolność (in English for our freedom and yours) written on it, which is an unofficial motto of Poland; with the written the value of the banknote and in the upper part, the name of the National Bank. There are other two 200's in opposite corners and a text saying that this is a legal currency in Poland. This banknote has the Polish eagle as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 13.9 cm x 6.4 cm.

500 złotych (pięćset złotych)

This banknotes worth 500 złotych was first circulated in June the 1st of 1982. On the main side center you can see Tadeusz Kosciuszko, a 18th century Polish military hero who led an uprising against Russia and Prussia in 1794. In the right it can be seen a 500, the eagle from the Poland's coat of arms and irises. In the left it can be seen a gap used for the digital watermark, another 500, the written value of the banknote and in the upper part, the name of the National Bank in Polish (Narodowy Bank Polski).

On the other side of the banknote appears a flag with Zywią y bronia (in English they feed on weapons) written on it, which is the motto and the insignia of 1794 uprising; with the written the value of the banknote and in the upper part, the name of the National Bank. There are other two 500's in opposite corners and a text saying that this is a legal currency in Poland. This banknote has the Polish eagle as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 13.9 cm x 6.4 cm.

1,000 złotych (tysiąc złotych)

This banknotes worth 1,000 złotych was first circulated in June the 1st of 1982. On the main side right you can see Nicolaus Copernicus (in Polish Mikołaj Kopernik), a Renaissance Polish astronomer and mathematician who discovered heliocentrism. In the center it can be seen a 1,000, the eagle from the Poland's coat of arms and irises. In the left it can be seen a gap used for the digital watermark, another 1,000, the written value of the banknote and in the upper part, the name of the National Bank in Polish (Narodowy Bank Polski). 

On the other side of the banknote appears Copernicus' model of the universe, with the Sun rather than the Earth at the center of the universe and an armillary sphere; with the written the value of the banknote and in the upper part, the name of the National Bank. There are other two 1,000's in opposite corners and a text saying that this is a legal currency in Poland. This banknote has the Polish eagle as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 13.9 cm x 6.4 cm.

2,000 złotych (dwa tysiące złotych)

This banknotes worth 2,000 złotych was first circulated June the 1st of 1982. On the main side right, you can see Mieszko I, a 10th century Polish king who was the first Christian ruler and creator of Polish state. In the center it can be seen a 2,000, the eagle from the Poland's coat of arms and irises. In the left it can be seen a gap used for the digital watermark, another 2,000, the written value of the banknote and in the upper part, the official name of the country in Polish (Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa).

On the other side of the banknote appears Bolesław Chrobry (also known as Bolesław I), the son of Mieszko I, who conquered outside other territories outside modern-day Poland; with the written the value of the banknote and in the upper part, the name of the National Bank in Polish (Narodowy Bank Polski). There are other  two 2,000's in opposite corners and a text saying that this is a legal currency in Poland. This banknote has the Polish eagle as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 13.9 cm x 6.4 cm.

5,000 złotych (pięć tysięcy złotych)

This banknotes worth 5,000 złotych was first circulated December the 1st of 1988. On the main side right, you can see Fryderyk Chopin, a 19th century Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic era who wrote primarily for the solo piano. In the center it can be seen a 5,000, the eagle from the Poland's coat of arms and irises. In the left it can be seen a gap used for the digital watermark, another 5,000, the written value of the banknote and in the upper part, the official name of the country in Polish (Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa).

On the other side of the banknote appears notes of his play Polonaise, one of his most famous compositions; with the written the value of the banknote and in the upper part, the name of the National Bank in Polish (Narodowy Bank Polski). There are other two 5,000's in opposite corners and a text saying that this is a legal currency in Poland. This banknote has the Polish eagle as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 13.9 cm x 6.4 cm.

10,000 złotych (dziesięć tysięcy złotych)

This banknotes worth 10,000 złotych was first circulated December the 1st of 1988. On the main side right, you can see Stanisław Wyspiański, a 19th century Polish playwright, painter and poet who belonged to Romanticism. In the center it can be seen a 10,000, the eagle from the Poland's coat of arms and irises. In the left it can be seen a gap used for the digital watermark, another 10,000, the written value of the banknote and in the upper part, the official name of the country in Polish (Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa).

On the other side of the banknote appears Planty Park at Dawn, one of Wyspiański's most famous paintings; with the written the value of the banknote and in the upper part, the name of the National Bank in Polish (Narodowy Bank Polski). There are other two 10,000's in opposite corners and a text saying that this is a legal currency in Poland. This banknote has the Polish eagle as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 13.9 cm x 6.4 cm.

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Poland: occupation by Germany (1940-1945)

This serie of banknotes belongs to the period under the occupation of Nazi Germany, in which the General Government (name given by Nazi Germany to the authority that ruled the Polish territories) led by Hans Frank with capital in Krakow, during which the Uprising was carried out Warsaw, Operation Reinhard (systematic extermination of the Jewish population, today known as the Holocaust) and the murder of 4 million people died between 1939 and 1944 until in 1944 the resistance of Armia Krajowa caused problems to the Germans, collapsing the Government General and on January 18 the Red Army took Warsaw, entering Krakow in February. There are banknotes of 1 złoty, 2 złotych 10 złotych, 20 złotych, 50 złotych, 100 złotych and 500 złotych.

1 złoty (jeden złoty)

This banknotes worth 1 złoty was first issued in August the 1st 1941. On the main side right appears a big 1, surrounded by geometric elements. In the middle there's the written value of the banknote and the name of the issuing Bank in Polish (Bank Emisyjny w Polsce), plus other two 1's and decorative elements.
In the left there's a 5 and a guardian of the Białowieża forest with mustache and hat. On the other side of the banknote appears five 1's, the written value of the banknote, the currency symbol and the name of the issuing Bank. This banknote has geometric elements as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 9.9 cm x 6.5 cm.

5 złotych (pięć złotych)

This banknotes worth 5 złotych was first issued in August the 1st 1941. On the main side right appears a typically Polish woman, similar to Stanisława Serafińska (painted in Kasztelanka, by Jan Matejko). In the middle there's the written value of the banknote and the name of the issuing Bank in Polish (Bank Emisyjny w Polsce), with a 5 in the back. There are four 5's, vegetal decoration (simulating the Białowieża forest) and decorative elements too.

In the left there's a 5 and a guardian of the Białowieża forest with mustache and hat. On the other side of the banknote appears two 5's, the written value of the banknote and the name of the issuing Bank. This banknote has an old man with mustache and hat as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 14.9 cm x 8.1 cm.

50 złotych (pięćdziesiąt złotych)

This banknotes worth 50 złotych was first issued in August the 1st 1941. On the main side right appears Emilia Plater, Polish noble and revolutionary during the disintegration of the Republic of the Two Nations, participating in the November Uprising (in front of the Russian troops of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia). In the middle there's a statue of an allegoric woman, the written value of the banknote and the name of the issuing Bank in Polish (Bank Emisyjny w Polsce). 

In the left there's a gap for the digital watermark and it's compleated with decorative elements and three 50's. On the other side of the banknote appears the Cloth Hall (or Sukiennice), a 12th century Renaissance comercial building, in Kraków. The rest of the banknote has two 50's, the written value of the banknote and the name of the issuing Bank. This banknote has a guardian of the Białowieża forest with mustache and hat as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 17.8 cm x 9.9 cm.

100 złotych (sto złotych)

This banknotes worth 100 złotych was first issued in March the 1st 1940. On the main side right appears an angel holding a ribbon with 100's, surrounded by four 100's (two of them big and two small), the written value of the banknote and the name of the issuing Bank in Polish (Bank Emisyjny w Polsce). In the left there's a 100, the philanthropist, Warsaw Polish patriot Piotr Stanisław (19th century), a gap for the digital watermark and decorative elements with guilloche rosettes.

On the other side of the banknote appears the former Polish National Bank headquarters (till 1926), in Warsaw. The rest of the banknote has four 100's, the written value of the banknote and the name of the issuing Bank. This banknote has an horizontal diamond mesh as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 18.8 cm x 10.5 cm.

100 złotych (sto złotych)

This banknotes worth 100 złotych was first issued in August the 1st 1941. On the main side right appears an angel holding a ribbon with 100's, surrounded by four 100's (two of them big and two small), the written value of the banknote and the name of the issuing Bank in Polish (Bank Emisyjny w Polsce). In the left there's a 100, a gap for the digital watermark and decorative elements with guilloche rosettes.
On the other side of the banknote it can be seen, from left to right, Vlach church, the Latin cathedral and the Boim chapel in Lviv, formerly part of Poland and now of Ukraine. The rest of the banknote has four 100's, the written value of the banknote and the name of the issuing Bank. This banknote has an horizontal diamond mesh as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 18.8 cm x 10.5 cm.

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Poland (1925-1939)

This serie of banknotes belongs to the period of Presidency of Stanisław Wojciechowski that the 12 of May of 1926 received a coup led by Piłsudski respecting in principle the democracy but establishing a dictatorship led by Piłsudski (called Sanacja) and his party the Nonpartisan Block of Collaboration with the Government (in these years thousands of deputies and opponents were arrested and imprisoned in the fort of Brest), which evolved from the center-left to the right and signed non-aggression treaties with the USSR and Germany. This regime lasted until the death of the dictator in 1935 (and it would remain in place until 1939), the year in which the Constitution of April was promulgated and later the colonels of Piłsudski led the country until it was invaded by Nazi Germany on the 1st of September 1939. There are banknotes of 2 złotych, 5 złotych, 10 złotych, 20 złotych, 50 złotych and 100 złotych. 

10 złotych (dziesięć złotych)

This banknotes worth 10 złotych was first issued in June the 20th 1929. On the main side it can be seen a woman in a wreath with flowers on her head, holding a lyre in her hand (art symbol) and in the left, a woman holding a book (science symbol). In the middle appears a 10, Poland's coat of arms, the written value of the banknote and the name of the National Bank in Polish (Bank Polski), completed with decorative elements.
In the left there's a gap for the digital watermark. On the other side of the banknote it can be seen three figures in the center, a woman holding a ship (symbol of the naval industry), a man with a hammer (symbol of the general industry) and a woman with a wad of straw and a sickle (symbol of agriculture). Moreover there are two 10's, the written value of the banknote, the name of the National Bank and two texts saying that counterfeiting and using fake banknotes is punished with imprisionment. This banknote has Bolesław I the Brave (son of Mieszko I, which expanded the territories of his father outside the current territories of the country) as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 16 cm x 8 cm.

20 złotych (dziesięć złotych)

This banknotes worth 20 złotych was first issued in June the 20th 1931. On the main side right it can be seen Emilia Plater, Polish noble and revolutionary during the disintegration of the Republic of the Two Nations, participating in the November Uprising (in front of the Russian troops of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia) and a 20. In the middle appears another 20, the written value of the banknote and the name of the National Bank in Polish (Bank Polski), completed with vegetal decorative elements.

In the left there's a gap for the digital watermark. On the other side of the banknote it can be seen a peasant woman with a wad of straw, next to a blacksmith boy and a tailor girl. Moreover there are two bases with the Polish eagle and over them, other two kids, two columns, two 20's and the name of the National Bank. This banknote has Bolesław I the Brave (Polish king who recovered the cities of Kujawy and Dobrzyn, joined part of Galicia-Vladimir to the Greater Poland and founded the University of Krakow) as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 16.3 cm x 8.5 cm.

20 złotych (dziesięć złotych)

This banknotes worth 20 złotych was first issued in November the 1st 1936. On the main side right it can be seen Emilia Plater, Polish noble and revolutionary during the disintegration of the Republic of the Two Nations, participating in the November Uprising (in front of the Russian troops of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia). In the middle appears four 20's, the Polish mother symbol (Matki Polki in Polish, woman with two kids), the written value of the banknote and the name of the National Bank in Polish (Bank Polski).
In the left there's a gap for the digital watermark and decorative elements. On the other side of the banknote appears Wawel Castle seen from Vistula river, in Kraków. Moreover there are two figures, the left one representing technical science and the right one, the humanist; two 20's, at the top is the written value of the banknote and two texts saying that counterfeiting and using fake banknotes is punished with imprisionment. This banknote has Emilia Plater as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 16.2 cm x 8.6 cm.

50 złotych (pięćdziesiąt złotych)

This banknotes worth 50 złotych was first issued in June the 1st 1929. On the main side center it can be seen a Polish peasant with a wad of straw and a 50, with the written value of the banknote and the name of the National Bank in Polish (Bank Polski). In the right appears Mercury, Roman messenger god, of commerce and travel, with his caduceus. In the left there's a gap for the digital watermark and it's compleated with vegetal decorative elements, National Bank abbreviation and four 50's. 

On the other side of the banknote appears the former National Bank headquarters (till 1924) and the new headquarters, both in Warsaw. Moreover there is a caduceus with two cornucopias, the emblem of Poland, four 50's and at the top is the name of the National Bank. The rest of the banknote has the written value of the banknote and two texts saying that counterfeiting and using fake banknotes is punished with imprisionment. This banknote has Stephen Báthory (Hungarian Count, Prince of Transylvania and King of Poland) as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 18.7 cm x 9.9 cm.

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Poland (1945-1948)

This serie of banknotes belongs to the period after the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, ending the occupation of Poland, establishing a change in the borders of the country (going from the Curzon Line to the Oder-Neisse Line) and establishing a provisional government of unity National Party sponsored by the USSR, which legitimized in 1946 the Communist Party of Poland as a governing party and winning the 1947 elections, establishing socialism in the country. There are banknotes of 1 złoty, 2 złotych, 5 złotych, 10 złotych, 20 złotych 50 złotych, 100 złotych, 500 złotych and 1,000 złotych.

1 złoty (jeden złoty)

This banknotes worth 1 złoty was first issued in May the 15th 1946. On the main side right appears the written value of the banknote, Poland's coat of arms, the name of the National Bank in Polish (Narodowy Bank Polski) and decorative elements, plus two 1's. In the left there's a gap used for the digital watermark and a 1 too.
On the other side of the banknote appears twice the written value of the banknote, a 1 surrounded by decorative elements and a text saying that this banknote belongs to the legal currency. This banknote has geometric elements as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 9.9 cm x 6.5 cm.

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Poland (1919-1922)

This serie of banknotes belongs to the period of the Second Polish Republic, in which Poland regained its independence more than a century later, with border conflicts (Polish-Czechoslovak border conflicts due to Cieszyn Silesia), plebiscites such as those of East Prussia or of Upper Silesia and the Polish-Soviet war (for the expansive intentions of both countries, completed in the Treaty of Riga). During this period Poland behaved like a democracy, with the restoration of the parliament (Sejm) and the Polish Constitution of March, presiding over the country Gabriel Narutowicz and the government Władysław Grabski. There are banknotes of 1/2 Polish marka, 1 Polish marka, 5 Polish markas, 10 Polish markas, 20 Polish markas, 100 Polish markas, 500 Polish markas, 1,000 Polish markas and 5,000 Polish markas.

1/2 Polish marka (pół marki polskiej)

This banknotes worth 1/2 Polish marka was first circulated in August the 23rd 1919. On the main side right you can see Tadeusz Kosciuszko, a 18th century Polish military hero who led an uprising against Russia and Prussia in 1794. In the center appears the wrriten value of the banknote, a text saying that the State has to pay the value of the banknote and the name of the National Bank in Polish (Polska Krajowa Kasa Pożyczkowa).
In the left appears Poland's coat of arms with its white eagle. The rest of this part of the banknote is decorated with three 1/2's and geometric elements. On the other side of the banknote appears again Poland's coat of arms, surrounded by floristic elements and three 1/2's. In the upper part there's a text saying that counterfeiting banknotes and putting fake banknotes in circulation is punished with imprisionment. This banknote has a diamond mesh as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 10.7 cm x 6.8 cm.

1 Polish marka (jedna marka polskich)

This banknotes worth 1 Polish marka was first circulated in August the 23rd 1919. On the main side right you can see Jadwiga of Poland, 14th century queen of Poland to the death of his father the Hungarian king, venerated by the Catholic Church and patron of the queens and the Federal Europe. In the center appears the wrriten value of the banknote, a text saying that the State has to pay the value of the banknote and the name of the National Bank in Polish (Polska Krajowa Kasa Pożyczkowa).

In the upper part appears Poland's coat of arms with its white eagle. The rest of this part of the banknote is decorated with a four 1's and geometric elements. On the other side of the banknote appears again Poland's coat of arms, surrounded by floristic elements and two 1's. In the lower part there's a text saying that counterfeiting banknotes and putting fake banknotes in circulation is punished with imprisionment. This banknote has a diamond mesh as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 12 cm x 7.3 cm.

10 Polish markas (dziesięć marek polskich)

This banknotes worth 10 Polish marka was first circulated in August the 23rd 1919. On the main side right you can see Tadeusz Kosciuszko, a 18th century Polish military hero who led an uprising against Russia and Prussia in 1794. In the center appears the wrriten value of the banknote, a text saying that the State has to pay the value of the banknote and the name of the National Bank in Polish (Polska Krajowa Kasa Pożyczkowa).
In the left appears Poland's coat of arms with its white eagle. The rest of this part of the banknote is decorated with three 10's and geometric elements. On the other side of the banknote appears again Poland's coat of arms, surrounded by floristic elements and three 10's. In the upper part there's a text saying that counterfeiting banknotes and putting fake banknotes in circulation is punished with imprisionment. This banknote has a diamond mesh as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 14.3 cm x 9 cm.

20 Polish markas (dwadzieścia marek polskich)

This banknotes worth 20 Polish markas was first circulated in August the 23rd 1919. On the main side right you can see Jadwiga of Poland, 14th century queen of Poland to the death of his father the Hungarian king, venerated by the Catholic Church and patron of the queens and the Federal Europe. In the center appears the wrriten value of the banknote, a text saying that the State has to pay the value of the banknote and the name of the National Bank in Polish (Polska Krajowa Kasa Pożyczkowa).

In the upper part appears Poland's coat of arms with its white eagle. The rest of this part of the banknote is decorated with a 20 and geometric elements. On the other side of the banknote appears again Poland's coat of arms, surrounded by floristic elements and two 20's. In the lower part there's a text saying that counterfeiting banknotes and putting fake banknotes in circulation is punished with imprisionment. This banknote has a diamond mesh as digital watermark. The size of this banknote is 15.3 cm x 9.7 cm.

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