200 Zlotych Bolesław I Chrobry, Trial Strike

Trial strikes from the NBP's 1980 commemorative program were produced to test alloy specifications before committing to full production runs — this piece in .750 silver represents one such intermediate test, distinct from the issued .625 fineness standard adopted for circulation. Bolesław I, who ruled Poland from 992 and received his royal crown in 1025 in a ceremony that formalized the Polish kingdom's standing before Rome, was a predictable choice for a series aimed at reinforcing national historical identity during a politically charged year.

1980 was the year of the Gdańsk Accords and the founding of Solidarity. Commemorative coin programs continued without interruption — the mint's schedule indifferent to the upheaval.