20 Zlotys Maria Konopnicka with date between eagle, Trial Strike

Maria Konopnicka, the poet and novelist whose centenary of birth was marked by this issue, is best known internationally for writing the lyrics to "Rota," a patriotic anthem so charged that it was effectively banned under Prussian partition. The trial strike designation here reflects Poland's standard practice of producing probe issues in alternative metals before committing to final production runs — the circulation type was struck in copper-nickel, making this nickel composition a documented variant from the approval process rather than an error or fantasy piece.