10 Zlotys WW2 Polish Government in Exile

Bank Polski — the pre-war central bank, not a government-in-exile creation per se — had its note plates and reserves evacuated from Poland in September 1939 as German forces advanced. This 10 Złotych was printed in London by De La Rue from those original specifications, intended to give the Polish government-in-exile a functioning currency instrument should liberation allow re-introduction. It never did, at least not in any meaningful way.

Vacek's engraving work was carried over from pre-war Warsaw production standards, which is why the note reads as entirely domestically conceived despite being a London product. Pick 82 is frequently encountered in unissued condition — large quantities remained in storage and were never released into circulation.