2000 Zlotych 1979, Poland
| in Krause book | Number: 147b |
| Years of issue: | 01.06.1979 |
| Edition: | |
| Signatures: | Prezes Narodowego Banku Polskiego: Witold Bień, Główny Skarbnik Narodowego Banku Polskiego: Jerzy Lasocki |
| Serie: | 1974-1978 Issue |
| Specimen of: | 01.05.1977 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 138 x 63 |
| Printer: | Polska Wytwornia Papierow Wartocziowych, Warszawa |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
Polish coat of arms.
Avers:
The engraving on banknote is based after this portrait of Mieszko I by polish painter Jan Matejko, date of portrait - XIX century.
Mieszko I (ca. 940 - 25 May 992) was the ruler of the Polans from about 960 until his death. A member of the Piast dynasty, he was son of Siemomysł, grandchild of Lestek, father of I the Bolesław I the Brave, the first crowned King of Poland; likely father of Świętosława (Sigrid), a Nordic Queen; and grandfather of her son, Cnut the Great.
The first historical ruler of Poland, Mieszko I is considered the de facto creator of the Polish state. He continued the policy of both his father and grandfather, who were rulers of the pagan tribes located in the area of present Greater Poland. Either through alliances or by use of military force, Mieszko extended the ongoing conquests and early in his reign subordinated Kuyavia and probably Gdańsk Pomerania and Masovia. For most of his reign, Mieszko I was involved in warfare for the control of Western Pomerania, eventually conquering it up to the vicinity of the lower Oder. During the last years of his life he fought the Bohemian state, winning Silesia and probably Lesser Poland.
The Coat of arms of the Polish People's Republic (1955-1980).
The White Eagle (Polish: Orzeł Biały) is the national coat of arms of Poland. It is a stylized white eagle with a golden beak and talons, and wearing a golden crown, in a red shield.
After World War II, the communist authorities of the Polish People's Republic removed the "reactionary" royal crown from the eagle's head. Still, Poland was one of the few countries in the Eastern Bloc with no communist symbols (red stars, ears of wheat, hammers, etc.) on either its flag or its coat of arms. The crownless design was approved by resolution in 1955. To counter that, the Polish government in Exile introduced a new emblem with a cross added atop the crown.
The White Eagle emblem originated when Poland's legendary founder Lech saw a white eagle's nest. When he looked at the bird, a ray of sunshine from the red setting sun fell on its wings, so they appeared tipped with gold, the rest of the eagle was pure white. He was delighted and decided to settle there and placed the eagle on his emblem. He also named the place Gniezdno (currently Gniezno) from the Polish word gniazdo ("nest").
Denominations in numerals are in lower left corner and centered, in words centered.
Revers:
The engraving on banknote is based after this portrait of Bolesław I by polish painter Jan Matejko, date of portrait - between 1890 and 1892.
Bolesław I Chrobry (Bolesław I "the Valiant" or the Brave) (Boleslav Chrabrý) (967 - 17 June 1025), in the past also known as Bolesław I the Great (Wielki), was a Duke of Poland from 992-1025 and the first King of Poland from 18 April 1025 until his death. He also ruled as Boleslav IV, Duke of Bohemia from 1002 to 1003.
He was the firstborn son of Mieszko I by his Czech first wife, Dobrawa, daughter of Boleslav I the Cruel, Duke of Bohemia and named after his maternal grandfather.
Bolesław I was a remarkable politician, strategist, and statesman. He turned Poland into a country that was not only comparable to older western monarchies, but also elevated it into the European elite. Bolesław conducted successful military campaigns in the west, south and east. He consolidated the Polish lands and conquered territories outside of modern borders of Poland such as Slovakia, Moravia, Red Ruthenia, Meissen and Lusatia as well as Bohemia. He was a powerful mediator in Central European affairs.
Bolesław was an ally of Holy Roman Emperor Otto III who may have crowned him rex. Following the death of Otto III in 1002, he carried out a series of successful wars against the Holy Roman Empire and Otto III's cousin and heir Henry II, ending with the Peace of Bautzen in 1018. In the summer of 1018, in one of his most famous expeditions, Bolesław captured Kiev, where, according to legend, he notched his sword when hitting Kiev's Golden Gate. Later a sword called Szczerbiec ("Notched Sword") would become the ceremonial sword used at the coronation of Poland's kings.
Bolesław also managed to establish a Polish church structure with a Metropolitan See at Gniezno, independent of the German Archbishopric of Magdeburg, which had tried to lay claim to Polish areas. During the famous Congress of Gniezno he officially freed himself of tribute to the Holy Roman Empire and finally, at the peak of his reign, he had himself crowned as King, the first Polish ruler to do so.
He was an able administrator; he established the so-called "Prince's law" and built many forts, churches, monasteries and bridges. Bolesław established the first Polish monetary system, of a grzywna divided into 240 denarii, and minted his own coinage. He is widely considered one of the most capable and accomplished of the Piast rulers.
On left side is Slavic sword, which was used on the territory of present-day Poland in X-XI centuries (in the time of Boleslaw the Brave). On the photo is a modern copy.
Monogram of Polish Peoples Bank is in lower right corner.
Denominations in numerals are in top right and lower left corners, in words lower, centered.
Comments:
Designer: Andrzej Heidrich.
Obverse engraver: Edward Konecki.
Reverse engraver: Barbara Kowalska.
Withdrawn from circulation on 31 December 1996. In practice, the banknote been withdrawn much earlier - in mid-1993.
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