Collection

1994.pl

Poland’s paper money tells the story of a nation regaining independence, interrupted by war, and reshaped through reform. The 1919 złoty issue, printed in London by Waterlow & Sons, marked the first national currency of the Second Republic. The 1 złoty featuring Tadeusz Kościuszko became the symbol of that rebirth, issued for everyday use and preserved today in rare high-grade survivors. The 100 złotych note, also with Kościuszko’s portrait, served as the workhorse higher denomination — heavily circulated at the time and now scarce in original condition, making certified EPQ examples especially desirable. Specimens with bold WZÓR and Bez wartości cancellations reveal the approval and archival practices behind the launch, while the monumental 1000 złotych note shows how ambitious the series was — prepared but never released, and possibly used informally in 1939. Together, these notes embody the rebirth of the złoty as both a financial instrument and a statement of sovereignty.

The interwar years pushed design and printing forward. The 1936 Dąbrowski 50 złotych reflects an ambitious design era cut short by World War II, while the 1926 10 złotych remainder with its Bolesław Chrobry watermark variant is today recognized as one of the rarest interwar types. Proofs, remainders, and progressive pulls from this period preserve the printers’ artistry where circulation survivors are scarce and worn.

Later reforms brought production abroad once more. The 1994 De La Rue London series produced three trial formats central to current research:

The discovery of AR-prefix examples places all three trial formats outside the catalog record, turning them into uncatalogued varieties. For the first time, they are presented as complete prefix-based trios, uniting overprint, approval, and perforated types under one sequence. This framework demonstrates how Poland’s banknote history is best understood: not as isolated issues, but as a continuous line — from 1919 Kościuszko through interwar artistry to modern De La Rue trials. Each piece is both scarce and symbolic, anchoring Poland’s place in the global numismatic record.

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Poland 1936 50 Zlotych Jan Henryk Dąbrowski, Pick 78a, PMG 55 EPQ

Poland 1936 — 50 Zlotych Jan Henryk Dąbrowski (Pick 78a, CM#77a-b)

The 1936 50 Zlotych with Jan Henryk Dąbrowski is among the rarest Polish interwar notes. Prepared for issue but never officially released, it is believed that a small number were distributed as payment to soldiers in September 1939. These notes saw harsh wartime handling — carried in shoes, bags, or pockets rather than preserved — making collectible examples extraordinarily scarce. ... Read more →

PolandBanknote193650 ZlotychPMG 55 EPQ About Uncirculated DabrowskiBank PolskiPick 78aInterwarPolskaPolandbanknotzlotyMilczakmiedzywojennyzlotychJan Henryk DabrowskiPMGII RPRarity1936
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Poland 1936 50 Zlotych Progressive Proof reverse, Pick 78pp2, PMG 66 EPQ Top Pop

Poland 1936 — 50 Zlotych Progressive Proof (Pick 78pp2, CM#77c) Reverse Only

Progressive proof of the reverse design for the 1936 50 Zlotych issue, showing the allegorical worker group. Printed by the Państwowa Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych (PWPW) in Warsaw as part of the preparation for the new higher-denomination series. Progressive proofs were trial impressions used to evaluate engraving stages before final approval — most were never meant to survive outside the archives of the printer. ... Read more →

PolandProgressive Proof193650 ZlotychPMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated (Top Pop) DabrowskiBank PolskibanknotPolskaPolandMilczakzlotymiedzywojennyzlotychPMGII RPTop PopPick 78pp2Interwar Rarity1936
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Poland 1994 50 Zlotych AR Approval Specimen (Wzór akceptacyjny bez nadruków) Without Overprints

AR Prefix — Poland 1994, 50 Zlotych Approval Specimen (Wzór akceptacyjny bez nadruków, Uncatalogued, related to Miłczak Wc AA)

An AR-prefix approval specimen, entirely devoid of overprints or perforations. Miłczak records this format as Wc, but only with the AA prefix, without illustration. The AR variant is uncatalogued and unpublished in both Pick and Miłczak. ... Read more →

PolandApproval Specimen (Wzór akceptacyjny bez nadruków) Without Overprints199450 ZlotychUncirculated UncataloguedwzorApproval SpecimenMilczak WcAR PrefixTDLRRarebanknotPolskaPolandzlotyMilczakbez wartosciegzemplarz probnyzlotychwzor akceptacyjny bez nadrukówwzor akceptacyjny bez nadrukowwzor akceptacyjnyUniquethree known variations of 1994 polish specimens1994
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Poland 1994 50 Zlotych AR Specimen with Red Overprint & Oval Stamp

AR Prefix — Poland 1994, 50 Zlotych Specimen with Red Overprint & Oval Stamp (Uncatalogued, related to Pick 175as / Miłczak Wb AA)

Printed by Thomas De La Rue in London, this AR-prefix specimen shows the bold diagonal SPECIMEN overprint and oval 'NO VALUE' stamp. Pick 175as and Miłczak Wb record this format only with the AA prefix. The AR prefix is uncatalogued, absent from all references and auction records. ... Read more →

PolandSpecimen with Red Overprint & Oval Stamp199450 ZlotychPMG 66 EPQ Gem Uncirculated Oval StampUncataloguedTDLRPolskaPolandSpecimenwzor akceptacyjny bez nadrukówwzor akceptacyjny bez nadrukowwzor akceptacyjnyRaritybanknotMilczakzloty1994AR Prefixbez wartosciegzemplarz probnyPick 175asMilczak Wbwzorthree known variations of 1994 polish specimensOverprintzlotych
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Poland 1994 50 Zlotych AR Specimen with Perforated 'SPECIMEN OF NO VALUE'

AR Prefix — Poland 1994, 50 Zlotych Specimen with Perforated 'SPECIMEN OF NO VALUE' (Uncatalogued)

The most dramatic AR-prefix variety, this note bears a bold perforated 'SPECIMEN OF NO VALUE' across the portrait, with printer annotations linking it to De La Rue’s archival process. Unlike the Red Overprint (Pick 175as / Miłczak Wb, AA only) and the Approval / Wzór akceptacyjny bez nadruków (Miłczak Wc, AA only), the perforated type is completely absent from all references. It is entirely uncatalogued. ... Read more →

PolandSpecimen with Perforated 'SPECIMEN OF NO VALUE'199450 ZlotychUncirculated Printer AnnotationsUncataloguedwzorAR PrefixTDLRbanknotExtreme RarityPolskaPolandSpecimenzlotyMilczakbez wartosciegzemplarz probnyzlotychwzor akceptacyjnywzor akceptacyjny bez nadrukówwzor akceptacyjny bez nadrukowPerforatedNo Valuethree known variations of 1994 polish specimens1994
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Poland 1940 10 Złotych contemporary counterfeit, PMG 55 AU with WERTLOS stamp

Poland 1940 — 10 Złotych (Contemporary Counterfeit, Pick 94x)

This is a striking example of a 1940 Poland — 10 Złotych contemporary counterfeit (Pick 94x), authenticated as PMG 55 About Uncirculated. Intended as a wartime forgery under German occupation, this note retains full original design touches—but critically, it was produced without serial numbers or issue letter designations, a telltale trait of clandestine counterfeiting. It bears a bold purple WERTLOS stamp (meaning “worthless”) across the face, a cancellation overprint likely applied in situ to deter circulation or mark detection. ... Read more →

PolandContemporary Counterfeit194010 ZłotychPMG 55 About Uncirculated PolandPolskaII wojna swiatowaokupacja niemieckaGeneralne Gubernatorstwofalszerstwo londynskieOccupation IssueWartime ForgerybanknotMilczakzlotyOccupationWorld War IICounterfeit1940falszerstwoWERTLOSBank Emisyjnybez wartosciPick 94xfalszerstwo dywersyjneokupacjawzorfalsyfikatzlotych
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Poland 1940 10 Złotych Emission Bank, Series F, PMG 65 EPQ Gem Uncirculated

Poland 1940 — 10 Złotych (Emission Bank, Series F, Pick 94a, PMG 65 EPQ)

Authentic 10 Złotych note of the Emission Bank in Poland, dated 1 March 1940, printed by Giesecke & Devrient under German occupation. This example belongs to the elusive Series F, recognized by specialists as the rarest prefix of the issue. The obverse depicts allegorical figures with a crowned female head at left, while the reverse features classical motifs and watermark: Zigzag Lines. ... Read more →

PolandIssued194010 ZłotychPMG 65 EPQ Gem Uncirculated PolandPolska1940Pick 94aBank EmisyjnyGeneralne GubernatorstwoWorld War IIII wojna swiatowaokupacja niemieckaEPQGem UncSeries FbanknotzlotyzlotychMilczak
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Poland 1926 10 Zlotych Pick 65br remainder with Boleslaw Chrobry 992-1025 watermark, PMG 40 Extremely Fine

Poland 1926 — 10 Zlotych (Pick 65br, CM#64c-d) Remainder, Boleslaw Chrobry 992-1025 Watermark

Remainder issue of the interwar 10 Zlotych, catalogued as Pick 65br (CM#64c-d). Printed without serial numbers, this variety is defined by the experimental watermark reading Boleslaw Chrobry 992-1025. The dated Chrobry watermark was never adopted for circulation and survives mainly in archival remainder stock, which makes 65br a stand-alone watermark rarity within the 1926 series. ... Read more →

PolandRemainder Banknote192610 ZlotychPMG 40 Extremely Fine ChrobryPolandBoleslaw ChrobryBank Polski1926Rare992-1025 WatermarkbanknotPolskazlotyMilczakmiedzywojniePick 65br10 ZlotychzlotychPMGII RPRemainder
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Poland 1929 10 Zlotych Pick 69 issued note with Boleslaw Chrobry 10 ZL watermark, PMG 67 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ

Poland 1929 — 10 Zlotych (Pick 69, CM#68) Issued, Boleslaw Chrobry 10 ZL Watermark

Issued 10 Zlotych dated 20 June 1929, catalogued as Pick 69 (CM#68). The design features allegorical figures in an ornate frame and carries the Boleslaw Chrobry 10 ZL watermark (Milczak), the standard watermark type first prepared in 1926 and used for circulation. Certified PMG 67 EPQ Superb Gem Uncirculated, this is among the finest known survivors, as most examples suffered from circulation or production flaws. Read more →

PolandIssued Banknote192910 ZlotychPMG 67 Superb Gem Uncirculated EPQ ChrobryPoland10 ZL WatermarkIssuedBoleslaw ChrobryBank PolskibanknotPolskaMilczak1929zlotymiedzywojniePick 69zlotychPMGII RPSuperb Gem10 Zlotych
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Poland 1926 10 Zlotych watermarked paper with Boleslaw Chrobry 10 ZL watermark

Poland 1926 — 10 Zlotych (Watermarked Paper, Boleslaw Chrobry 10 ZL Watermark)

Blank paper stock prepared for the 1926 10 Zlotych issue, classified by PMG as Watermarked Paper. This piece represents the base security paper manufactured for the early interwar 10 Zł notes before the final design was printed. It bears the undated watermark reading 'Bolesław Chrobry 10 ZŁ' (Milczak type), positioned diagonally across the sheet and visible when held to light. ... Read more →

PolandWatermarked Paper192610 ZlotychPMG Certified Poland10 ZL WatermarkPolskaII RPWatermarked PaperbanknotMilczakzlotyUnissuedPMG10 Zlotychemisja niewprowadzonaBoleslaw ChrobryBank Polski1926Pick 65Chrobrymiedzywojniezlotychniewprowadzona
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Poland 1919 (ND 1924) 100 Złotych, Pick 57, PMG 58 EPQ

Poland 1919 (ND 1924) — 100 Złotych (Pick 57, PMG 58 EPQ)

100 Złotych dated 28 February 1919, part of the first złoty issue commissioned by the newly reborn Republic of Poland. Printed by Waterlow & Sons in London, this landmark series replaced the chaotic wartime mark with a stable national currency, reinforcing sovereignty after more than a century of partitions. The obverse features Tadeusz Kościuszko, hero of both Poland and the American Revolution, whose portrait was chosen to embody sacrifice, unity, and independence. ... Read more →

PolandIssued1919100 ZłotychPMG 58 EPQ Choice About Unc PolandPick 57IssuedBank PolskiEPQFirst Zloty IssueWaterlowbanknotPolskaWaterlow & SonszlotyMilczakmiedzywojnieKosciuszkozlotychfalszerstwo dywersyjneII RPfalszerstwo1919
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Poland 1919 1 Złoty, Radar Serial 070070, PMG 66 EPQ Top Pop

Poland 1919 (ND 1924) — 1 Złoty (Radar Serial 070070, PMG 66 EPQ Top Pop)

The 1 złoty of 28 February 1919, printed in London by Waterlow & Sons, stands as the inaugural złoty of the reborn Republic of Poland following independence in 1918. It was the lowest denomination of the reform series and among the most widely used, yet it carried enormous symbolic weight: the obverse bears the portrait of Tadeusz Kościuszko, national hero of both Poland and the American Revolution, surrounded by intricate guilloches and the bold legend 'Bank Polski.' Kościuszko’s inclusion underscored the continuity of national identity after more than a century of partitions. This example is further distinguished by its serial number: a radar repeater, 070070 (Series S.26 C), a pattern highly prized by collectors for its symmetry and rarity. ... Read more →

PolandIssued19191 ZłotyPMG 66 EPQ (Top Pop) Bank PolskiEPQFirst Zloty IssueWaterlowbanknotRadar SerialWaterlow & SonsPolskaPolandzlotyMilczakmiedzywojnieKosciuszkozlotychPick 51II RPTop Pop1919
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