Description and research notes
Definitive circulation note of the 1994 issue (ND 1995) depicting King Kazimierz III Wielki. Catalogued as Pick 175a and CM#198a‑b, this type inaugurated the modern post‑redenomination design language for Narodowy Bank Polski, with intricate guilloches, latent images, microtext, and a crowned‑eagle watermark derived from the state arms.
This certified example is graded PMG 70 EPQ ★, the highest grade assigned for the type and a Top Pop. The 70 designation reflects perfect paper integrity and as‑made quality, while EPQ confirms original paper surfaces free of pressing or alteration. PMG’s Star notes exceptional eye appeal—here seen in razor centering, sharp intaglio detail, and deep, unhandled color.
Design and security: portrait of Kazimierz III at right, denomination panels at left and upper right, the crowned‑eagle device and complex pastel underprint at center, and the watermark of King Kazimierz III. Serial prefix HC in red at right and matching black serial at lower left. Printed for Narodowy Bank Polski by Thomas De La Rue for early runs of the series, before full domestic production. As a flawless, Star‑designated Top Pop, this note sits at the pinnacle of the PMG census for Pick 175a and represents the ultimate condition target for the 1994 50 Zlotych.