Catalog
20 Zlotys Nicolaus Copernicus
| Issuer | Narodowy Bank Polski (National Bank of Poland) |
|---|---|
| Year | 2023 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 20 Zlotys (20 Złotych) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | The obverse carries the celebrated so-called Toruń portrait of Nicolaus Copernicus as the central vignette, rendered in fine intaglio detail against a structured underprint. Flanking design elements include a stylised astronomical quadrant and a schematic fragment of the heliocentric model, alluding to Copernicus's revolutionary cosmological contribution. The denomination and issuing authority inscriptions appear in conjunction with the overall geometric guilloche background. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse lettering | K. MICHALCZUK DEL. SC. |
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| Comments |
Poland's first polymer banknote in general circulation, this 2023 issue marks a significant shift for Narodowy Bank Polski, which had previously relied on cotton-fibre substrate for all circulating denominations. The move to polymer for a commemorative-circulation 20 Złoty piece follows a global trend but carries specific domestic weight: the Polish Security Printing Works had to adapt its production lines, having built its reputation almost entirely on traditional intaglio and offset work on paper.
Michalczuk handling both design and engraving is unusual — the two roles are typically split between specialists.