1$ Gems of the Nation -Absurdities of the PRL

Not every hero of the Polish People’s Republic wore a cape. Some wore… toilet paper draped over their shoulder. And you immediately knew they were returning from a successful mission. The neighbour looked on with admiration, the children asked where they had “dropped it,” and half the neighbourhood was already putting on their shoes to get there before nothing was left but the string for threading the rolls.

The “Jewels of the Nation” coin from the “Absurdities of the Polish People’s Republic” series recalls a time when the greatest luxury was not a foreign car or a colour television, but a few white rolls obtained without connections, ration coupons or a miracle. After all, as experienced bargain hunters used to say: “If it’s available, take two. Tomorrow it will only be a memory.”

The world of the Polish People’s Republic followed its own rules. People stood in queues even when nobody knew what they were queuing for. When someone asked, “What is this queue for?”, the answer was: “We don’t know yet, but apparently it’s worth it.” And when toilet paper appeared in a shop, logic gave way to survival instinct. Suddenly, everyone had urgent shopping to do.

The hero of this coin is returning from his shopping trip with the expression of a man who has just conquered Mount Everest. A flat cap on his head, his chin held proudly high, and toilet paper draped over his shoulders like the highest state decoration. In those days, such a sight inspired more admiration than a brand-new Fiat 125p.

Because true freedom began when you no longer had to improvise in the bathroom, and a supply of toilet rolls allowed you to look towards the future with an unprecedented sense of peace.