10 Zlotys 700th Anniversary of Warsaw, Trial Strike

Warsaw's 700th anniversary in 1965 presented an awkward political moment: the communist government needed to celebrate a medieval civic founding while simultaneously promoting the mythology of socialist reconstruction after wartime destruction. The commemorative program that emerged was extensive. This trial strike — referenced distinctly from the issued circulation pieces — represents Mennica Polska's internal proofing process, where composition and die alignment were tested before final authorization, and such pieces rarely left official hands through conventional channels.