Black Madonna

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One thing I have always liked about modern Polish bank notes is their ornate designs. I also appreciate how deeply meaningful they are to the people of Poland. I have a number of these notes in my collection, and I would be surprised if most collectors of world bank notes haven’t at least considered adding one of these gems to their collections. Market prices indicate that certain notes in Poland’s commemorative bank note series are more popular than others. Nevertheless, there are some that are still within my collecting budget. 

One of the attractions of these notes, issued in quantities too small for meaningful circulation, is that the Polish Bank uses them to test new security features that are also aesthetically pleasing. I think that sometimes the testing may be as simple as seeing how new features affect the printing and preparation of the note for circulation, as well as any new internal procedures or press adaptations that might be required. 

It is good for collectors that the Bank of Poland conducts these tests, since we regularly get access to collectable and beautiful designs with features that might appear on a future note or an updated design. In this column, I’m highlighting the 20 złotych of 2017, issued to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the coronation of the icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa. 

Poland has celebrated and honored momentous occasions in the Catholic Church for many years. Although I am not Catholic, I enjoy following news about religious events such as this one, as Oklahoma has recently constructed a rather large shrine for Stanley Rother, an American Roman Catholic priest who many hope will become a future saint.

Religious Imagery

The face of this bank note details the crowns associated with the coronation of the icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa. The larger crown is for the Virgin Mary, and the smaller one is for the infant Christ. Pope Clement XI bestowed the ornamental crowns on the devotional image in the 18th century. 

The back of the note features a detailed drawing of the coronation that took place at the Jasna Gora shrine in 1717. This remarkable note also has some hidden beauty. To the left of the crown motif is a watermark with varying tones and an electrotype. The Bank of Poland calls it a filigree, and its design represents the Pauline Order’s coat of arms. 

The back also includes a hidden feature. The coronation drawing is a work of art in its own right, but when you shine a ultraviolet (UV) light on it, the picture becomes spectacular. Nowadays, bank notes can feature stunning UV effects, but Poland was one of the first nations to raise the bar. Under UV light, the drawing comes alive with multiple colors of fluorescent reflective ink. I can easily see red, vivid blue, and green—likely the same green that causes the crowns on the note to fluoresce. This illuminated back design reminds me of a firework display. Perhaps today a visual show like this is routine among world nations, but at the time this note was issued, it was truly cutting-edge. 

Innovative Features

These bank notes test features that could impact Poland’s future issues; I have no doubt they serve other purposes as well. Creating notes with these inventive features may help the bank demonstrate its creative abilities. I am sure these notes also serve as advertisements to other nations seeking contracts and features for their own bank notes. 

Modern Polish bank notes are a great addition to any collection, and while they feature a wide variety of themes, collecting all of them is not necessary. If you like themes involving music, the military, Catholic or Christian imagery, medals, or military uniforms and equipment, then Poland has issued a bank note that deserves a second look. 

These notes are widely available and highly collectable. I will detail this note in a future episode on my YouTube channel, Numismatic Notes with Benjamin. Have a jewel of a day!