20zl 1000 th Anniversary of the Coronation of Boleslaus the Brave

The banknote was issued to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the coronation of Bolesław the Brave, which took place in the year 1025.

It was a clear signal to the world at that time that the young Polish state — which had transformed from a duchy into a kingdom — was independent and sovereign, and was beginning to take its place among the Christian kingdoms of Europe.

Bolesław the Brave, the son of Mieszko I and Dobrawa, played a significant role in shaping the Polish statehood. He supported the development of governmental, administrative, and ecclesiastical structures, which brought stability and prestige to the country. The coronation ceremony, conducted by the Archbishop of Gniezno, held deep political and religious significance — it symbolized Poland’s independence and its rightful position among the European monarchies of the time.

On the obverse of the banknote, we see a portrait of Bolesław the Brave by Jan Feliks Piwarski, based on the painting “Bolesław the Brave in the Coronation Crown of Polish Kings” by Marcello Bacciarelli.

The reverse side of the banknote features the Spear of Saint Maurice — a historical insignia presented to Bolesław by Emperor Otto III in the year 1000 as a symbol of the Polish ruler’s sovereignty. Only the spearhead has survived to this day. The design also includes the Gniezno Doors and the Princes Polonie denarius.

Adam Glapiński himself emphasized that it was the first time the spear could be depicted so prominently, as previously there had been no permission to do so.

The spearhead of Saint Maurice — considered one of the oldest Polish relics — is preserved at the Cathedral Museum on Wawel Hill in Kraków.

The banknote measures 170 x 85 mm, making it the largest collector’s banknote ever issued by the National Bank of Poland (NBP).

It is the seventeenth collector’s banknote released by the NBP.

The issue was limited to 70,000 pieces. Each banknote comes in the original NBP packaging with protective foil and a paper sleeve, which enhances its collectible and historical value.