30 Years without Mint
After the reform everything went according to the minters’ plans – the new currency was accepted by the population and the company was becoming more and more powerful. Unfortunately, such a situation did not last. On March 26th, 1794 the Kościuszko Uprising broke out. The period of the uprising is one of the most beautiful periods of the Polish nation and the Mint of Warsaw. During the uprising the Kościuszko ordered that all gold and silver, which was in the possession of the Church, should be transferred to the mint. The clergy reacted positively to this appeal and in the following months goods made of precious metals were inflowing to the Mint of Warsaw. The priests of the Cracow cathedral gave 12 golden statues of apostles and a golden cross which was brought to Poland by Casimir III the Great after conquering Red Ruthenia.
Unfortunately, the Kościuszko Uprising failed. First the Russian and then the Prussian troops occupied Warsaw. A decision was made to close the Mint of Warsaw for 30 years. It is true that the presses worked from time to time but only minor products were produced there. For example, in 1802 the mint produced buttons for the servants of count Stanisław Potocki. The situation improved in the times of the Duchy of Warsaw when, with difficulty, the capital produced coins so indispensable during the Napoleonic Wars and for fulfilling the dreams about a free Poland.
