Although the National Bank of Poland (NBP) regularly issues commemorative and collector’s banknotes depicting women, the paper money used in regular circulation honors exclusively men.
More specifically, the most important Polish monarchs in what has been essentially an all-boys club.
But this could soon change as NBP is now considering introducing a new 1,000 zloty note, which will depict one of Poland’s most celebrated female monarchs.
In 2021, NBP’s governor Adam Glapiński, said that it would be in tune with “the spirit of the time” to finally introduce women to the Polish banknotes. He suggested Jadwiga Andegaweńska, who ruled over the Kingdom of Poland from 1384 until her death in 1399.
The last time a woman was depicted on a Polish banknote was during communism when the famous Polish chemist, physicist, and Nobel Prize laureate, Maria Skłodowska-Curie, known more broadly internationally as Marie Curie, was introduced to a 20,000 zloty note.
But this fell victim to the denomination of the currency in 1982 and from there on women would only feature on commemorative or collector notes.
Following Glapiński’s announcement of the Jadwiga note in 2021, however, deputy director of the NBP cash and issue department, Krzysztof Kowalczyk, said: “At the moment, we are not working on this project, but sometime around 2025 or 2026 there is a possibility that such a note will enter circulation.”
There was a glimmer of hope that Jadwiga would be chosen for the new 500 zloty note introduced in 2017.
In 2021, NBP’s governor Adam Glapiński, said that it would be in tune with “the spirit of the time” to finally introduce women to the Polish banknotes. He suggested Jadwiga Andegaweńska, who ruled over the Kingdom of Poland from 1384 until her death in 1399.
What happened to all the women?
The last time a woman was depicted on a Polish banknote was during communism when the famous Polish chemist, physicist, and Nobel Prize laureate, Maria Skłodowska-Curie, known more broadly internationally as Marie Curie, was introduced to a 20,000 zloty note.
But this fell victim to the denomination of the currency in 1982 and from there on women would only feature on commemorative or collector notes.
Following Glapiński’s announcement of the Jadwiga note in 2021, however, deputy director of the NBP cash and issue department, Krzysztof Kowalczyk, said: “At the moment, we are not working on this project, but sometime around 2025 or 2026 there is a possibility that such a note will enter circulation.”
There was a glimmer of hope that Jadwiga would be chosen for the new 500 zloty note introduced in 2017.
But, despite the late Andrzej Heidrich, Polish graphic artist and author of designs of Polish banknotes since the 1970s, designing it, when the time came to introduce it Jadwiga was given the cold shoulder.
The argument then was that the way in which the monarchs were assigned to the values was chronological in order, meaning that she should be depicted on the 100 zloty note, which instead honors her husband.
And so, the 500 zloty note was given to the next popular monarch, King Jan III Sobieski, who ruled in the latter half of the 17th century.
The argument then was that the way in which the monarchs were assigned to the values was chronological in order, meaning that she should be depicted on the 100 zloty note, which instead honors her husband.
And so, the 500 zloty note was given to the next popular monarch, King Jan III Sobieski, who ruled in the latter half of the 17th century.
Why Jadwiga?
Whereas some of the monarchs to appear on Polish banknotes could be considered controversial with some other important kings with great achievements not finding themselves being honored on paper currency, Jadwiga Andegaweńska invites little controversy.
Known abroad also as Hedwig of Anjou, the Hungarian and Polish princess was crowned King of Poland in 1384 and co-reigned with Władysław II (who adorns today’s 100 zloty note), a Lithuania’s Grand duke who she married in 1386.
The reason for Jadwiga being crowned King and not Queen was that the Polish nobles of the day wanted a king, and for lack of a suitable male candidate to fill the role at the time, opted to make Jadwiga their king.
Jadwiga’s marriage to the pagan Grand Duke of Lithuania Yogaila (Jagiełło in Polish) not only brought the last pagan state in Europe into the Christian fold but paved the way for a joint Polish-Lithuanian state in the centuries to come.
Jadwiga died in 1399 of complications following the birth of her and Władysław’s only child, a daughter, who also did not survive.
In her last will, she left her jewels to the fledgling university in Krakow, cementing her reputation as patroness of arts and sciences.
To honor her and her marriage to Władysław II, the school was renamed the Jagiellonian University, and to this day remains one of the best and most prestigious tertiary education institutions in Poland.
To honor her and her marriage to Władysław II, the school was renamed the Jagiellonian University, and to this day remains one of the best and most prestigious tertiary education institutions in Poland.
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