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500 Zlotys XIV Winter Olympics 1984, Trial Strike
| Issuer | Mint of Poland (Mennica Polska) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1983 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 500 Zlotys (500 Złotych) (500 PLZ) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The central field depicts a stylized figure of a downhill skier in full tuck position, rendered in a modernist graphic style against a background of closely spaced horizontal lines evoking speed and motion. The figure is shown in dynamic descent, conveying the athletic spirit of winter competition. The circular legend 'XIV ZIMOWE IGRZYSKA OLIMPIJSKIE' runs along the upper periphery, while 'SARAJEWO 1984' is inscribed along the lower arc. The word 'PRÓBA' (trial/pattern) appears in small lettering at the base of the design, identifying this piece as a trial strike. |
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| Reverse lettering | XIV ZIMOWE IGRZYSKA OLIMPIJSKIE SARAJEWO 1984 PRÓBA |
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| Additional information |
Trial strikes from Mennica Polska in this period were produced for internal approval and submission to the NBP — not for sale — which is why so few survive outside institutional holdings. This piece predates the official 1984 issue by roughly a year, minted in 1983 as part of the proofing process for the Sarajevo Winter Olympics commemorative program. Yugoslavia's hosting of those Games was itself a Cold War-era anomaly: a socialist state outside the Soviet bloc staging the event just three years after the U.S.-led boycott of Moscow had fractured Olympic politics.
The .750 silver alloy differs from standard Polish commemorative fineness of the era, suggesting this trial may have been testing a composition that was ultimately rejected.