We would like to invite you to the first article devoted to well-known and appreciated coin series issued by the National Bank of Poland. This article is devoted to the "Great Polish Economists" series.. 

Origin and concept of the series

The "Great Polish Economists" series was launched on 24 April 2017. On that day the first coin was issued, which was dedicated to Nicolaus Copernicus. 

The NBP's intention in creating this series is to bring closer the figures and achievements of Polish economists. Their scientific achievements, concepts and works have played an important role in the development of Polish science, economy and finance. On the occasion of the premiere of subsequent coins in the series, numerous radio broadcasts are held about the views and achievements of the people depicted on the coins. During the broadcasts one can learn various interesting facts not only about the lives of economists, but also about numismatics, listen to experts' opinions on the latest issues (e.g. Podlaskie Radio Białystok, Radio Szczecin, Radio Zachód).

Coins in the series

The plan is to issue 15 coins, each struck in 14.14 g fine silver, 32 mm in diameter and with a mintage of up to 15,000 pieces. The coins are housed in elegant, thematic NBP boxes and each comes with a certificate of authenticity. So far, the series has released coins dedicated to the following figures: Mikołaj Kopernik (2017), Fryderyk Skarbek (2018), Roman Rybarski (2019), Stanisław Głąbiński (2020), Stanisław Grabski (2020), Leopold Caro (2020), Ferdynand Zewig (2021), Adam Krzyżanowski (2021), Adam Heydel (2021). Coins from the series are available [ at this link ].

Ferdynand Zweig - The Great Polish Economists

Polish economist and sociologist of labour relations. He graduated from St. Jacek's gymnasium in Kraków (1914), and then from the University of Vienna where he studied law and economics, which he continued at the Jagiellonian University. In 1928-1939, he lectured on economics at the Jagiellonian University; he was an active member of the Cracow Economic Society. In 1927, he took up the post of economic editor of the Ilustrowany Kurier Codzienny. After the outbreak of WWII, he went to Great Britain where he continued his scientific activity within the Polish Law Faculty in Oxford.

Adam Krzyżanowski - The Great Polish Economists

Polish economist, theoretician of Polish libertarianism, professor of the Jagiellonian University, its vice-rector in the years 1933-1938, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the Jagiellonian University in the academic year 1930/1931, President of the Polish Academy of Learning in the years 1957-1958, member of the Sejm of the Second and Third Republics, member of the National National Council and of the post-war Legislative Sejm.

Adam Heydel - The Great Polish Economists

He studied at universities in Moscow and Kiev. In 1922 he graduated in law from the Jagiellonian University in Kraków where he received his doctorate. In the years 1921-1922, he worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1925, he habilitated in political economy. In 1927, he became a lecturer in economics at the Jagiellonian University, and in 1929 an associate professor of this school. Adam Heydel was a representative of the Cracow school of economics, an advocate of economic liberalism. He criticized statism and economic interventionism in interwar Poland. He did research on economic theory and national income issues. After the beginning of the German occupation of Poland, he was arrested by the Germans on 6 November 1939 as part of a campaign targeting the intelligentsia. He was then placed with other professors in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Released on 8 February 1940, he became involved in underground work. Soon he was arrested again and imprisoned in Skarżysko-Kamienna, from where he was transported to Auschwitz concentration camp where he was shot in a mass execution on 14 March 1941.

Author: Izabela Lemańczyk