The zloty (pronounced ['zw?t?] ( listen); sign: z?; code: PLN), which is the masculine form of the Polish adjective 'golden', is the currency of Poland. The modern z?oty is subdivided into 100 groszy (singular: grosz; alternative plural form: grosze). The recognized English form of the word is zloty, plural zloty or zlotys. The currency sign, z?, is composed of the Polish lower-case letters z and ? (Unicode: U+007A z LATIN SMALL LETTER z & U+0142 ? LATIN SMALL LETTER L WITH STROKE).
As a result of inflation in the early 1990s, the currency underwent redenomination. Thus, on January 1, 1995, 10,000 old z?otych (PLZ) became one new z?oty (PLN). Since then, the currency has been relatively stable, with an exchange rate fluctuating between 3 and 4 z?oty for a United States dollar.
Video Polish z?oty
Before the z?oty
The predecessors of the z?oty were the Polish mark (grzywna) and a kopa. Grzywna was a currency that was equivalent to approximately 210 g of silver, in the 11th century. It was used until sometime in the 14th century, when it gave way to the Kraków grzywna (approximately 198 g of silver). At the same time, first as the complement to grzywna, and then as the main currency, came a grosz and a kopa. Poland made grosz as the imitation of the Prague groschen; the idea of kopa came from the Czechs as well. A grzywna was worth 48 groszy; a kopa cost 60 groszy.
Maps Polish z?oty
First Z?oty
Kingdom of Poland and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The z?oty (golden) is a traditional Polish currency unit dating back to the late Middle Ages. Initially, in the 14th and 15th centuries, the name was used for all kinds of foreign gold coins used in Poland, most notably Venetian and Hungarian ducats, (however, in Ukraine, Volyn and Galicia, the name for them were the ??????? - golden). One z?oty at the very beginning of their introduction cost 12-14 groszy; however, grosz had less and less silver as time passed. In 1496 the Sejm approved the creation of a national currency, the z?oty, and its value was set at 30 groszy, a coin minted since 1347 and modelled on the Prague groschen, and a ducat (florin), whose value was 1 1/2 z?oty. The 1:30 proportion stayed (1/2 of a kopa), but the grosz became cheaper and cheaper, because the proportion of silver in the coin alloy diminished over time. In the beginning of the 16th century, 1 z?oty was worth 32 groszy; by the middle of the same century it was 50 groszy; by the reign of Sigismund III Vasa 1 z?oty was worth 90 groszy, while a ducat was worth 180 groszy.
The name z?oty (sometimes referred to as the florin) was used for a number of different coins, including the 30-groszy coin called the polski z?oty, the czerwony z?oty (red z?oty) and the z?oty re?ski (the Rhine guilder), which were in circulation at the time. However, the value of the Polish z?oty dropped over time relative to these foreign coins, and it became a silver coin, with the foreign ducats eventually circulating at approximately 5 z?otych.
The matters were complicated by the extremely intricate system of coins, with denominations as low as 1/3 groszy and as high as 12,960 groszy fit into one coin. There were no usual decimal denominations we use today: the system used 4, 6, 8, 9 and 18 groszy, which are now most uncommon. Moreover, there was no central mint, and, apart from Warsaw mint, there were the Gda?sk, Elbl?g and Kurland (Riga) separate mints which did not produce the same denomination coins with the same materials. For example, the szel?g had 1.3g of copper while minted in either Kraków or Warsaw, but the local Gda?sk and Elbl?g mints made it using only 0.63g of copper. This facilitated forgeries and wreaked havoc in the Polish monetary system
Following the monetary reform carried out by King Stanis?aw II Augustus which aimed to simplify the system, the z?oty became Poland's official currency and the exchange rate of 1 z?oty to 30 groszy was confirmed. The king established the system which was based on the Cologne mark (233.855 g of pure silver). Each mark was divided into 10 Conventionsthaler of the Holy Roman Empire, and 1 thaler was worth 8 z?otych (consequently, 1 z?oty was worth 4 grosze. The system was in place until 1787. Two devaluations of the currency occurred in the years before the final partition of Poland.
After the third partition of Poland, the name z?oty existed only in Austrian and Russian lands. Prussia had introduced the mark instead.
The Ko?ciuszko Insurrection and Russian part of Poland until 1807
On 8 June 1794 the decision of the Polish Supreme Council offered to make the new banknotes as well as the coins. 13 August 1794 was the date when the z?oty banknotes were released to public. At the day there was more than 6.65 million z?otych given out by the rebels. There were banknotes with the denomination of 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 z?otych (dated as of 8 June 1794), as well as 5 and 10 groszy, and 1 and 4 z?oty coins (later banknotes, dated as of 13 August of the same year. Table)
However, it did not last for long: on 8 November, Warsaw was already held by Russia. Russians discarded all the banknotes and declared them invalid. Russian coins and banknotes replaced the Ko?ciuszko banknotes, but the division on z?ote and grosze stayed. This can be explained by the fact the Polish monetary system, even in the deep crisis, was better than the Russian stable one, as Poland used the silver standard for coins. That is why Mikhail Speransky offered to come to silver monometalism ("count on the silver ruble") in his work ???? ???????? (Financial Plans, 1810) in Russia. He argued that: "... at the same time ... forbid any other account in Livonia and Poland, and this is the only way to unify the financial system of these provinces in the Russian system, and as well they will stop, at least, the damage that pulls back our finances for so long."
Duchy of Warsaw
The z?oty remained in circulation after the Partitions of Poland and the Duchy of Warsaw issued coins denominated in grosz, z?oty and talar (plurals talary and talarów), worth 6 z?oty. Talar banknotes were also issued. In 1813, while Zamo?? was under siege, Zamo?? authorities issued 6 grosze and 2 z?ote coins.
Congress Poland
On 19 November O.S. (1 December N.S.) 1815, the law regarding the monetary system of Congress Poland (in Russia) was passed, according to which the z?oty stayed, but there was a fixed ratio of the ruble to the z?oty: 1 z?oty was worth 15 silver groszy, while 1 grosz was worth 1/2 silver kopeck. From 1816, the z?oty started being issued by the Warsaw mint, denominated in grosze and z?ote in the Polish language, as well as the portrait of Alexander I and/or the Russian Empire's coat of arms:
- 1 and 3 grosze made from copper;(1815-49);
- 5 and 10 groszy out of billon;(1816-55);
- 1, 2, 5 and 10 z?otych out of silver;(1816-55);
- 25 (the so-called z?oty pojedy?czy, single z?oty) and 50 (z?oty podwójny; double z?oty) z?otych out of gold (1817-34).
At the same time kopecks were permitted to be circulated in Congress Poland. In fact foreign coins circulated (of the Austrian Empire and Prussia), and the Polish z?oty itself was effectively a foreign currency. The coins were as well used in the western part of the Russian Empire, legally from 1827 (decision of the State Council).
In 1828 the Polish mint was allowed to print banknotes of denominations of 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 z?otych, on the condition of their guaranteed exchange for coins at the will of Saint Petersburg. That meant that there should have been silver coins that had the value of 1/7 of banknotes in circulation.
November Uprising
At the time of the November Uprising, the rebels released their own "rebellion money" - the golden ducats and silver coins of the denomination of 2 and 5 z?otych, with the revolutionary coat of arms, and the copper 3 and 10 groszy. The 1-z?oty coin was as well released as a trial coin. The Polish bank, under the control of the rebels, having few precious metal resources in the reserves, released the 1 z?oty banknote. They released the 5, 50 and 100 z? banknotes as well, all yellow. By August 1831 735 thousand z?otych were released as banknotes. After the defeat of the uprising the decisions from 21 November (3 December) and 18 (30) December cancelled all the uprising monetary politics. All the coins were to be replaced by Russian coins, but it took a long time till the currency was circulating - only in 1838 was the usage of rebel money banned.
The last years of the first z?oty of Congress Poland
At the same time the question arose about the future of the Polish z?oty, as well as drastically limiting Polish banking autonomy. Russian finance minister Georg von Cancrin suggested to "value everything in rubles, not florins [z?oty]".
There was a problem, however. The monetary system in the Russian Empire was still severely unbalanced. Banknotes, for example, cost much less to produce than their denomination. For that reason, the decision was taken to show both currencies on coins, which was a rather mild punishment for the November Uprising. From 1832 on the Petersburg and Warsaw mints decided to start minting new double-denominated coins. The exchange rate was 1 z?oty to 15 kopecks.
In 1841 the main currency of Congress Poland became the Russian ruble.
From 1842, the Warsaw mint already issued regular-type Russian coins along with some coins denominated in both groszy and kopecks. At that time the z?oty-to-ruble ratio changed again: 1 ruble was now worth only 2 z?ote.
The Warsaw mint still issued three coin types: double currency coins (up to 1850), z?ote and grosze (up to 1865), and the Russian Empire standard coins till 1865. From 1865 the Warsaw mint stopped making coins, and on 1 January 1868 the Warsaw mint was abolished.
The banknotes were changed much faster, as no Polish banknote was in circulation (at least officially). The Polish Bank started issuing Russian banknotes, denominated only in rubles and valid only in Congress Poland. At the same time the national credit banknotes, made in St. Petersburg, could be used everywhere in the Empire as usual Russian banknotes, as well in Poland.
The Free City of Kraków z?oty
Between 1835 and 1846, the Free City of Kraków also used a currency, the Kraków z?oty, with the coins actually being made in Vienna. There were 5 and 10 groszy coins and 1 z?oty coins. They were all the same: the obverse had the coat of arms and the writing: WOLNE MIASTO KRAKÓW ("Free City of Krakow"), the reverse had the nominal and the year of production.
Poland without the z?oty
From 1850, the only currency issued for use in Congress Poland was the ruble consisting of Russian currency and notes of the Bank Polski. The monetary system of Congress Poland was unified with that of the Russian Empire following the failed January Uprising in 1863. However, the gold coins remained in use until the early 20th century, much like other gold coins of the era, most notably gold rubles (dubbed ?winka, or "piggy") and sovereigns. Following the occupation of Congress Poland by Germany during World War I in 1917, the ruble was replaced by the marka (plurals marki and marek), a currency initially equivalent to the German Papiermark.
Polish currency in 1918-24
New Poland started releasing new currency - Polish marks, after the defeat of the German Empire and Austro-Hungary. The first banknotes had either Tadeusz Ko?ciuszko (5, 10, 100, 1000 marks) or Queen Jadwiga (10 and 500 marks). 1 and 20 marks also circulated, but they showed nobody on the banknotes.
The Polish marka was extremely unstable because of the constant wars with its neighbours. Attempts to reduce the expenditures of Polish budget were vain - all the money gained went to conduct war with the USSR. To complicate the matters, those attempts did not please the elite, which ruled the country. The government's actions were not popular at all, so the taxes did not rise significantly, in order to avoid popular resentment. Even worse, the territories that made up Poland were rightly coined "the country of three parts", as each part of Poland developed differently during the 123 years after Stanis?aw II Augustus' abdication, with post-Prussian territories the best developed, and Austrian Galicia and Russian Kresy the worst.
The last attempt to save the Polish marka was made in 1921, when Jerzy Michalski made out his own plan to raise taxes and reduce expenditure. The Sejm accepted it, albeit with many amendments. Realisation of that plan did not succeed, and it had only short-term influence.
This disrupted the whole economy of Poland, and galloping inflation began. The 1/2 marek and 5,000 marek banknotes became worthless in two years. As hyperinflation progressed, Poland came to print 1, 5 and 10 million mark banknotes. However, they were quickly almost valueless. 10 million marks cost only US$1,073 in January 1924. Immediate action was needed. W?adys?aw Grabski was invited to stop the pending hyperinflation. As a result, the second Polish z?oty was created.
Second z?oty
Grabski monetary reform
The z?oty was reintroduced as Poland's currency by Grabski in 1924, following the hyperinflation and monetary chaos of the years following World War I. It replaced the marka at a rate of 1 z?oty = 1,800,000 marek and was subdivided into 100 groszy, instead of 30 groszy, as it had been earlier. 1 z?oty was worth 0.2903 grams of gold, and 1 US dollar cost 5.18 z?otych. New coins had to be introduced, but were not immediately minted or in circulation. The temporary solution of the problem was ingenious. 500,000 marek banknote were cut in two, and on each side there were overstamps that showed they were 1 grosz "coins". Similarly 10,000,000 marek notes were divided and overprinted to make two "coins" each worth 5 groszy. This was an emergency measure to provide the population with a form of the new currency.
Transition to z?oty
When the second z?oty was created, it was pegged to the US dollar. The Sejm was weak in its financial control. Yet political parties demanded the government spend more money than had been projected in the budget.
The budget deficit ballooned and out-of-control inflation ensued. The government struggled to cut expenditures, and as a result often came into conflict with the Sejm. However, the government could not allow hyperinflation to reoccur. To achieve that, the government authorised issue of securities, which went along with the temporary "bilety zdawkowe" coins and z?oty banknotes printed in 1919.
By the end of 1925 the Polish government was unable to redeem the released securities. The Polish economy was on the brink of collapse.
Despite the crisis, Grabski refused to accept foreign help, because he was concerned Poland would become dependent on the League of Nations. The Polish PM thought that after the z?oty stabilised, foreign financiers would be persuaded to give credits and make investments on more favourable conditions than were recently on offer. However, deep-rooted lack of confidence in the Polish economy had made these expectations unrealisable. Grabski's government was forced to sell some of the country's property on unfavourable conditions, without any significant effects. Eventually, the z?oty depreciated some 50% from its 1923 value and Grabski resigned as Prime Minister. However, renewed hyperinflation was averted.
Poland's economy weakened further to the point it was evident that the system could no longer function. The crisis climaxed in November 1925 leading to the Sanacja coup d'état.
Pi?sudski's reforms
In May 1926 a coup d'état was effected. It resulted in Józef Pi?sudski becoming the authoritarian leader of Poland. Almost immediately the budget was stabilised. Tax incomes rose significantly, credits were received from the USA, and the Bank of Poland's policy came more strongly under the government's control. These developments prevented the Polish economy's further deterioration.
As had happened earlier in the case of both Austria and Hungary, a special monitoring commission arrived in Poland to analyse the economic situation. The commission was headed by Edwin W. Kemmerer, an American economist and "money doctor".
The z?oty started to stabilise in 1926 (thanks chiefly to significant exports of coal), and was re-set on the dollar-z?oty rate 50% higher than in 1924. Up to 1933 z?oty was freely exchanged into gold and foreign currencies. Based on these developments, the government made the decision to adopt the gold standard for its currency.
In 1924-1925 the banks experienced large capital outflows, but by 1926 people were investing actively in the banks. The economic progress built on increased demand for and exports of coal slowed down because of an over-valued z?oty during 1927. As a result, imports became relatively cheaper as compared to exports, resulting in a negative Balance of Trade. Again, Poland plunged into crisis. Economic growth was weak from 1926 to 1929. The main reason for that was the decline of industry, which was influenced by declining demand for Polish items. The crisis deepened with the Great Crisis of 1929-1932 and lasted until the mid-30s.
Polish z?oty in 1930s
Poland entered another economic crisis, causing the government again to attempt reduction of its budget deficit by cutting public expenditure other than for military purposes. Despite cutting spending by a third, the deficit persisted. Tax income that should have been used to lead the country out of crisis was instead financing the debt burden. Money required to stimulate the economy was devoted by the government to creditors and foreign banks. Further spending cuts necessitated Poland importing less and exporting more. Import tariffs were increased again for foreign products, while subsidies were given to exporters.
In 1935 Pi?usdski died, and the power passed to the generals. They were very disturbed by the crisis. Poland was still an agrarian country with 61% of the population involved in 1931. To reform the economy, the government was thinking about further intervention. As a result, between 1935 and 1939, Poland nationalised its major industries, initiating the changes the communists completed after 1945. Volumes of produced goods output from state-owned factories exceeded expectations. The result was instant - the economy stabilised, and fears of further z?oty devaluation reduced while rapid growth was seen. However, World War II abruptly terminated all prosperity. With the Russian invasion from the east the government had to flee the country. Already in emigration, the government released new banknotes of the denomination of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 z?otych which were dated by 15 or 20 August 1939 and were mostly cyan, blue or blue-green (with the exception of 1, 2, 10 and 100 z?otych). These were printed in the USA but never released.
General Government
When German invaders established the General Government, they withdrew the 100 z?otych banknotes from 1932 and 1934 and 500 z?otych banknotes from 1919. The banknotes had to be accounted on the deposits of the people who gave them to the bank.
The 100 z?otych banknotes were overstamped in red with: "Generalgouvernement / für die besetzen polnischen Gebiete" (The General Government / for the occupied Polish territories). It was massively counterfeited.
A little later the bank division of the G?ówny Zarz?d Kas Kredytowych Rzeszy Niemieckiej was organized. It started to print the Reichsmarks, but later, on December 15, 1939, a decision came to create the new Bank Emisyjny (Emissary Bank) in Kraków, as the Bank Polski officials fled to Paris. It started working on 8 April 1940.
In May 1940, old banknotes of 1924-1939 were overstamped by the new entity. Money exchange was limited per individual; the limits varied according to the status of the person. The fixed exchange rate 1 Reichsmark = 2 z?ote was established. A new issue of notes appeared in 1940-41. The General Government also issued coins (1, 5, 10 and 20 groszy in zinc, 50 groszy in nickel-plated iron or iron), using similar designs to earlier types but with cheaper metals (mainly zinc-copper alloy). 1, 5, 10 and 20 groszy coins were dated 1923 and 50 groszy were dated 1938.
Banknotes were also issued, called unofficially "m?ynarki" (from the name of President Feliks M?ynarski) or "krakowiaki" (from the place of release), in the denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 z?otych. 1000 z?otych did not come into public circualtion at all, and only reconstructions survive (although shown below). The total amount of them was approximately 10,183 million z?otych. Additional 20 millions were manufactured by the conspiratory typography of the Union of Armed Struggle. From summer 1943 the Home Army received the z?ote produced in Great Britain.
Socialist Poland (1945-1950)
The advance of the Red Army meant the transition to socialism, Poland being no exception.
The first monetary reform of post-war Poland was conducted in 1944, when the initial series of banknotes of socialist Poland was released. This was essential for the recreation of the country, so the Polish Committee of National Liberation signed an act on 24 August 1944 introducing the banknotes. The older General Government banknotes were exchanged at par with the new ones. There were limits, however - 500 z?otych only for an individual and 2000 z?otych for the private enterprises and small manufacturers. The rest came onto the blocked bank accounts.
The banknotes had a very simple design, with no people or buildings featured. They carried the name of the as yet unformed Narodowy Bank Polski (the National Bank of Poland). Printing was completed at the Goznak mint in Moscow. All the new banknotes of the series I (except for the 50 groszy, and 1000 z?otych, which were only released later) had a faulty inscription, containing a russianism.
On 15 January 1945 the National Bank of Poland was finally created. Its first monetary action was the printing of 1000 z?otych banknote in the newly built Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Warto?ciowych in ?ód?. The first Communist series' banknotes were easy to counterfeit, so additional replacement banknotes were printed in 1946-48. As 500 z?otych banknote was very easy to counterfeit, it was fully withdrawn in 1946.
The new (II and III) series were created from the graphic designs of Ryszard Kleczewski and Wac?aw Borowski.
The IV series banknotes had a longer life. Mainly due to their underdeveloped security features, the first three series were taken out of circulation in line with legislation signed on 28 October 1950, covering the introduction of the new Polish z?oty (PLZ). Older banknotes had to be exchanged within 8 days for the new series IV, which had been designed, printed and distributed in great secrecy.
About in the same time, new coins were introduced, which circulated for more than four decades.
Third z?oty
In 1950, a new z?oty (PLZ) was introduced, replacing all notes issued up to 1948 at a rate of one hundred to one, while all bank assets were redenominated in the ratio 100:3. The new banknotes were dated 1948, while the new coins 1949. Initially, by law with effect from 1950 1 z?oty (z?) was made equal to 0.222168g of pure gold (Dziennik Ustaw 50, 459).
As in all the Warsaw Bloc countries, Poland started nationalising major industrial and manufacturing businesses. The necessary legislative act was signed in 1946. However, smaller enterprises remained in private hands, in contrast to the USSR. Despite this concession, the whole economy was under firm state control. In the agricultural sector, farmers (still the major generation source of Polish income) received additional lands from the government. These properties were the result of confiscations from the church, wealthy families as well from farmers who would no abide by the changed policies.
In the late 1940s, Polish currency became unstable. This was largely due to initial opposition to the new government and made an already difficult economic situation no better. Eventually things changed and the z?oty became stronger in 1948-9.
Beginning in 1950, the state started implementing the collectivisation policy on a mass scale. Some farmers were grouped into newly created PGRs (State Agricultural Farms). Others supplied produce to the state for distribution and had to comply with obligatory centralised food deliveries (first of cereals, in 1951; and from 1952 on, of meat, potatoes and milk). Unable to compete with the collective farms, privately owned and individually-run farms went bankrupt, as the state bought at extremely low prices, much lower than market value.
Agriculture might have been ruined in a few years if not for the death of President and latterly Secretary General of the Central Committee of the PUWP Boles?aw Bierut under mysterious circumstances in 1956. The new government under W?adys?aw Gomu?ka began relaxing the earlier years' hardcore Stalinist policies. State Farms were reformed, enforged obligatory deliveries reduced and state buying prices were raised. On the whole the structure was little different from that of 1949: industry was state-owned, while agriculture was mostly in private hands.
Serious reforms were proposed in the early 1970s by Edward Gierek, which aimed to improve the situation for normal people. Unfortunately, the government had inadequate funds to initiate these reforms. This explains Poland's growing financial indebtedness to the USSR and other Warsaw Bloc countries, promoting the view that "the investments will upgrade the Poland's potential, which will be aimed at export, so that the country will pay the interest and at the same time maintain a high industrial production". In fact, although the intention was to create employment, it never happened. Poland's debt burden grew too large, forming the main cause of further financial crisis. After a period of prosperity in 1971-8, Poland entered into a very deep recession, which worsened over time as Poland was unable to meet debt interest obligations. The crisis was to last until 1994. The first indications of the crisis was obvious by the mid-70s, when there began a period of rampant inflation. Z?oty devaluation continued. In 1980 Gierek's government was accused of corruption. He was removed from the Presidency in 1980.
Financial crisis of 1980s
The first big strikes started in Gda?sk and GOP (Upper Silesian Industrial Area). These restricted industrial production which by then had become the main economic sector. The situation was worsened by the previous period of prosperity in the early and mid 70s, which had promoted increased demand and consumption. The government was forced either to lower salaries and wages or to make workers redundant. This accelerated the crisis. Moreover, the demand was more diminished, as the government provided food rationing. The martial law of 1981-83 deepened the crisis.
By the early 80s inflation in Poland becoming out of control - over 100% per annum in 1982. It was reduced in the mid-80s to about 15% per annum, but again started in late-80s. Economic conditions did not allow any salary and pension increases because of the huge debt burden, which doubled in the 1980s. By 1981 it was admitted that the situation was beyond management. In an effort to escape such situation, Poland started massively printing banknotes, without any covering from bank resources. Banknotes denominated at 5,000 z?otych were introduced in 1982, 10,000 z?otych in 1988, 20,000 and 50,000 z?otych in 1989, and 100,000, 200,000 and 500,000 z?otych in 1990. Grosz coins were rendered worthless and coins were mostly made out of aluminium (with the exception of the commemorative ones).
Given the circumstances, the only solution appeared to be the liberisation of the economy. In 1988 Mieczys?aw Rakowski was forced to accept the possibility of transition of the state enterprises into private hands. In fact, as stated earlier, smaller enterprises were private, and 18% of GDP was made by private sector, additional 10% - by the cooperatives. These were not, however, the Perestroika cooperatives, but ones with limited experience in the market economy. These were ready to transfer to a market economy. The Communist authorities had to admit they had no grip on the economy, which was another reason to introduce changes.
Leszek Balcerowicz was behind the idea of shifting the economic basis from state-based to free-trade. To achieve this, the following were introduced:
- Liberalisation of prices. This caused very high inflation in Poland (585.5% per annum in 1990 alone);
- The state gave free access to all areas of economic enterprise (January 1989 - January 1990);
- Fresh budget cuts on the state-owned enterprises and lowering the tempo of inflation to more normal levels
- New financing and credit policies as well as the attraction of direct investments;
- Measures to increase the convertibility of the national currency in all operations;
- Liquidation of foreign trade controls (1990).
The worst years of the crisis began in 1988, when the level of inflation rose higher than 60% per annum. Inflation peaked in 1990, characterised as hyperinflation, as the monthly rate was higher than 50%. However, by December 1991 it decreased below 60% per annum, and by 1993 it firmly established below 40%, which was an acceptable inflation rate for the economy. As a result, the z?oty regained the confidence of foreign investors. The remaining issue was the redenomination of the depreciated z?oty.
Polish z?oty coins (PLZ)
In 1949, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 groszy and 1 z?oty coins were issued. The first two denominations were minted only in 1949, the rest also later.
In 1952, Poland's official name was changed from "Republic of Poland" to "People's Republic of Poland". Coins minted in 1949 featured the former name. The 5 groszy brass coin was withdrawn in 1956. The rest circulated until 1994.
The 2, 5 and 10 z?otych banknotes were withdrawn in the 1960s to be exchanged for coins.
The coins from 1 grosz to 2 z?ote were quite simple designs but the 5, 10 and 20 z?otych coins featured people (5 z?otych had a fisherman, 10 z?otych had Copernicus, Mickiewicz with Prus on its obverse, and 20 z?otych, most notably, Marceli Nowotko), until the 1980s. As the Polish z?oty became cheaper over time, older coins were rendered worthless (however, they stayed in circulation), and the simple new coins were released only in z?ote denominations. All the PRP and 1990 issued coins were withdrawn in 1994, as a result of the monetary reform conducted at that time.
Polish z?oty banknotes (PLZ)
Normal z?oty
The banknotes issued in 1948 were already stable version. They were taken out of circulation in 1978 completely.
From 1974 the new banknotes featuring "Great Polish people", and comprising the fifth series, were issued. Previous series were withdrawn from circulation. However, the replacement banknotes rapidly lost their real value. New larger denominations were necessary and printed.
In 1982, the 10 and 20 z?otych banknotes were released instead of billon.
The last banknote released in Polish People's Republic was 200,000 z?otych note, issued on 1 December 1989, which, because of its inadequate security features, was withdrawn from circulation. Starting on 27 December 1989 new banknotes were issued in the name of "Rzeczpospolita Polska", i.e. omitting the word "Ludowa" (People's), and from the coat of arms were altered to show the eagle wearing a crown restoring the situation that existed before World War II.
Banknotes of this series were redenominated at the rate of 10,000 PLZ to 1 PLN (new z?oty). All the existing PLZ denominations were legal tender and exchangeable into the PLN until the date of each value's withdrawal. After 31 December 2010, no PLZ banknote could be exchanged into PLN.
From 50,000 PLZ on, there were two versions released: older ones (dated differently) and the newer ones (all dated 16 November 1993). The older banknotes had less efficient security features than the new ones. Newer printings had the denomination printed in red which shone under ultraviolet light instead of the previous grey-blue (which did not).
Z?oty dewizowy
Between 1950 and 1990, a unit known as the z?oty dewizowy (which may be roughly translated as the "foreign exchange z?oty") was used as an artificial currency for calculation purposes only. It existed because at the time the z?oty was not convertible (like most Warsaw Bloc currencies) and its official rate of exchange was set by the government. Additionally several exchange rates existed depending on the purpose of the transaction and who was exchanging; for example, z?oty could be exchanged for, say, US dollars at one of several official exchange rates depending on what was to be bought with the hard currency and the entity that was buying. In reverse, it worked when an individual or a business had western currency earnings and wanted (or needed) to convert them into z?oty. The exchange rate did not depend on the amount being converted. Visitors from countries outside of the Soviet Bloc were offered a particularly poor exchange rate. Concurrently, the private black-market exchange rate contrasted sharply with the official government exchange rate until the end of communist rule in 1989, when official rates were tied to market rates.
There were special banknotes, denominated in cents and dollars (as the US dollar), which were legal tender only for goods imported to Poland. They were issued by two authorities only: Pekao S.A. (from 1 cent to $100) and Baltona (from 1979 for 1 cent to $20).
From January 1, 1990, Polish z?oty became a fully convertible currency, with market-set (rather state-determined) rates against foreign currencies.
Fourth z?oty
Normal coins and banknotes
On 17 July 1990 W?adys?aw Baka (the then head of the National Bank of Poland) (NBP) stated that development work upon z?oty denomination would start soon. At the same time PLN coins were minted (bearing dates 1990-1994) and released into circulation in 1995. This influenced the further process of money exchange in 1995, as exchanging low-value banknotes became considerably easier.
The banknotes posed a bigger problem. In 1990, a new series of banknotes from 1 to 500 z? was created by Waldemar Andrzejewski, was proposed, but failed acceptance testing due weak counterfeiting protection features. The designs featured buildings and structures from Greater Poland cities and proofs produced. Additionally 1,000 z? (Kalisz) and 2,000 z? (Biskupin) banknotes were proposed (but not essayed) to facilitate an exchange rate of 1 new zloty to 1000 old zlotys).
At the same time, to conduct redenomination, the inflation had to be stable and below 10% per annum. Balcerowicz plan helped very much to achieve that in four years' time. On 11 May 1994 the Economical Committee of the Council of Ministers accepted the denominalization project from the NBP. The act allowing the project to come into force was ratified on 7 July 1994 (Dziennik Ustaw Nr 84, 386).
At the same time, new banknotes were printed (dated 25 March 1994), which are still legal tender today. These feature the most prominent Polish monarchs. Their author is Andrzej Heidrich.
These designs were revealed to the public on the 21 November 1994. The following day TVP, (Polish television), began publicising the designs on TV in a campaign that lasted until 1 January 1995 when the redenomination took place. 10,000 PLZ became 1 PLN. Unlike previous redenominations there were no restrictions on where the money was or who owned it.
The new Polish z?oty (PLN) was released it co-existed with the PLZ, for two years. All prices had to be indicated in both PLZ and PLN. The priority was to take the low-denomination PLZ to convert them to coinage. After 31 December 1996, PLZ was no longer legal tender. Between then and 31 December 2010, any PLZ banknotes and could only be exchanged into PLN by the NBP, its affiliates, or any bank. The sum for exchange had to be the multiple of 100 PLZ, which were worth 0.01 PLN. As of 31 December 2009, NBP estimate that some 1,748,000,000,000 PLZ (178,400,000 PLN) had not yet been exchanged.
There was one thing that did not change: the official name of the currency. Although the ISO 4217 was altered the relevant legislation made the point that the official name of the currency is still the z?oty. New Polish z?oty is an unofficial way to address the Polish currency (Dziennik Ustaw nr 50, 459, with later changes).
Issue details of zloty and grosz coins are shown in the table below:
In 2012 new banknotes were printed, with added security features. They do not differ greatly from the first version (except for the 200z? note), but may be distinguished by the colour of the field with the watermark on the obverse. In the original banknotes, these correspond to the note's main colour, while they are white on the newer ones. Starting from 50 z?otych, the new security features differ from those on the older banknotes. Newer banknotes also have some randomly arranged dots, which are part of the EURion constellation.
A 500 z?otych banknote will be also produced in this series, currently scheduled for introduction in February 2017.
Commemorative coins and banknotes
Poland has released commemorative banknotes since 2006. As of June 2016, eight have been issued.
There are also very many commemorative coins (listed below). These are legal tender in all payments, but such use is not recommended by the National Bank of Poland (NBP).
Future of z?oty
One of the conditions of Poland's joining the European Union in May 2004 obliges the country eventually to adopt the euro, though not at any specific date and only after Poland meets the necessary stability criteria. Serious discussions regarding joining the Eurozone have ensued. However, article 227 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland will need to be amended first, so it seems unlikely that Poland will adopt the euro before 2019. Public opinion research by CBOS from March 2011 shows that 60% of Poles are against changing their currency. Only 32% of Poles want to adopt the euro, compared to 41% in April 2010.
Exchange rates
Name and plural forms
The name z?oty is pronounced like zwoti ['zw?t?]. There are two plural forms: z?ote (zwoteh ['zw?t?]) and z?otych (zwotikh ['zw?t?x]). The correct usage of the plural forms is as follows:
- 1 z?oty/grosz ['zw?t?] / ['????]
- 2...4; 22...24; 32...34 (...), 102...104, 122...124, 132...134, (...) z?ote/grosze ['zw?t?] / ['?????]
- 0, 5...21; 25...31; 35...41 (...); 95...101; 105...121; 125...131; (...) z?otych/groszy ['zw?t?x] / ['?????]
The rules are the same for larger numbers, e.g. 1,000,000 z?otych; 1,000,002 z?ote; 1,000,011 z?otych; 1,000,024 z?ote. Fractions should be rendered with word z?otego [zw?'t???] and grosza ['????a], e.g. 0,1 z?otego; 2,5 z?otego, etc. It is customary in Poland to use space (non-breaking) for digit grouping ("thousands separator") and comma for separating fractions from whole numbers; cf. decimal mark.
Here one can find general rules for declension of cardinal (among others) numerals in Polish: classes one, few, many and other for "z?oty" are z?oty, z?ote, z?otych, z?otego respectively and for "grosz" are grosz, grosze, groszy, grosza respectively.
See also
- Commemorative coins of Poland
- Economy of Poland
- Historical coins and banknotes of Poland
- Poland and the euro
- Polish coins and banknotes
Footnotes
External links
- Banknotes from the 1970s in the case if Poland invaded western countries or the Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Warto?ciowych were ruined(video, in Polish)
- Polish z?oty in 1939-1945(in Polish)
- Banknotes issued by the NBP
- Coins issued by the NBP
- A fan-shaped 10 z?oty commemorative coin released in 2004
- National Bank of Poland - Schedule of exchange rates
- "English" counterfeit banknote 500 zloty 1940 issued by Bank Emisyjny
- Chosen Polish banknotes
- Polish Zloty coins catalog information
- A numismatic catalog with over 650 Polish coins
- "NBP Safe" - official app dedicated to Polish money
- Trial banknotes of the third Polish z?oty(in Polish)
- The Banknotes of Poland (in English) (in German)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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