Poland’s national bank has a fine portfolio of coins taking inspiration from this Central European nation’s long and eventful past. At times a major European power, Poland also has a significant history in the world of numismatics. A fine example of this is one of our all-time favourite series, Treasures of Stanislaw August, and another is this one.

Called History of Polish Coin, that title will tell you all you need to know. Each of the issues in this range, of which this, after a three-year hiatus, is the sixteenth, features a design that takes elements of a historical coin, and expands and modernises them somewhat. Best of all, there’s a reproduction of the original coin on both faces, mostly cleanly struck, but occasionally gilded, or, in this case, copper plated. That’s particularly appropriate given the original coin this is bringing to life, is the Domestic Copper Grosz of King Stanislaw August, from 1786.

Struck in a standard ounce of sterling silver, and to a proof finish, this is a fine addition to a series that should have special appeal to the numismatist that like coin history over modern themes. A pretty coin by any standards, in my view. We do have a full Coin Series Profile to them all, which was refreshed to our more modern format a while back, and reproduces the superb backstory text that the bank provides. They’re well worth a read, so be prepared to spend an hour working through Polish numismatic history. Available now