■■■ Poland 20 zl P-187 2014 100th Polish Legions POLYMER Piłsudski in Folder ■■■

Description

POLAND | P-187 | 20 Złotych | UNC |Serie LP | in original folder
The Centenary of the Formation of the Polish Legions
On 5 August 2014, Narodowy Bank Polski is putting into circulation a collector note “The Centenary of the Formation of the Polish Legions” with the face value of 20 zł.
The front of the banknote features the image of Marshal Józef Piłsudski. The back of the banknote depicts images of the Grand Cross (with Star) of the Order of Virtuti Militari awarded to Marshal Józef Piłsudski, as well as the badge of the First Brigade of the Polish Legions and the eagle badge of the Polish Legions.
The banknote commemorating the centenary of the formation of the Polish Legions is the first polymer (plastic) banknote issued by NBP, featuring a hologram depicting Belvedere Palace.
The word legion (from Latin legio – draft) long ago has been permanently incorporated into the military vocabulary. Accordingly, it has also entered the Polish language, when following the partition of the Polish state among its neighbors at the end of the eighteenth century, Polish patriots repeatedly created military forces aiming at regaining the country’s independence. Those units attested to their readiness to fight for the motherland by adopting the proud name of a legion.
One of such formations were the Polish Legions, created on 16 August 1914 in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. As internal relations in that state liberalized at the beginning of the 20th century, Polish independence activists led by Józef Piłsudski were able to intensify their activities. They prepared for war against Russia, which they perceived as the main enemy in Poland’s quest to regain independence. When in summer 1914 a pan-European war broke out, Piłsudski sent a small detachment of volunteers across the Austro-Russian border. He hoped that their presence would encourage the populace of central Poland to start an anti-Russian uprising but this plan did not materialize. The pro-independence cause was saved by the initiative of a coalition of Polish political parties
in Galicia centred around the so-called Supreme National Committee. The committee established an organizational frame to channel the pro-independence zeal of Polish youth and upon the approval of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy it.
At the peak of their strength (1915) the Legions consisted of ca. 12 thousand soldiers and officers echelon-ed in three brigades. They fought in 1914–1916 on the Austro-Russian front, fighting several battles which went down in history as a symbol of courage and patriotic spirit that animated them. The total casualties in that formation amounted to ca. 15 thousand dead and wounded.
Although disbanded in 1917, the Polish Legions have remained present in the national memory. This presence is due to the legend created by poets, writers, painters and composers who fought in large numbers in the ranks of the Legions. The March of the First Brigade composed in 1914 has been the official anthem of the Polish Armed Forces since 2007.  (written by Andrzej Chojnowski).
Banknote Designer: Andrzej Heidrich
Dimensions: 147 x 67 mm
Volume: not more then 50.000 pcs.
Date of issue: August 2014
The banknotes have been manufactured by the Polish Security Printing Works (PWPW S.A. -
see unique polymer test note "Honey Bee" at one of my other auctions
). The banknote is legal tender in Poland and its face value is 20 złoty.
YOU WILL RECEIVE STRICTLY UNCIRCULATED BANKNOTE PLACED INSIDE ITS ORIGINAL FOLDER, BANKNOTE WAS NEVER TOUCHED OR TAKEN AWAY !!!
ONLY 50.000 NOTES RELEASED !!!
GENERAL RULES
Serial number of the note(s) will be different then pictured but same signatures.
All items will be shipped ONLY via Regis
tered AIr Mail - you will be notified tracking number just after the shipment.
The cost of the registered shipping is .00 (or .00 for up to 3 banknotes, .00 for up to 10 banknotes). This value cover insurance of $
4
0.00 in case of lost mail.
All shipments are sent in maximum 3 working days after payment has been cleared.
I can accept PayPal and bank account transfer.