The Interwar Period 1924 - 1939
Together with Poland's freedom came also a revival of the Warsaw Mint, organized as the State Mint in Warsaw /see Mint's Chronicle/. With the beginning of coin and medallion production in 1924, efforts were also made to reactivate the numismatic collection. Its first custodian was Karol Plage, known numismatist and author of few valuable works regarding the coin from the Stanisław's period, and also the period subsequent to the partitions of Poland. After his death in year 1927, the position was assumed by Władyslaw Terlecki who was a custodian up to the outbreak of war, and during the occupation. Terlecki widely developed the Cabinet's activities, and opened it to the general public. Thanks to his work the collections of the Cabinet increased very quickly, through numerous purchases, gifts, and deposits. In that manner, during the short period of ten years around 30.000 exhibits were accumulated. The Numismatic Cabinet of the State Mint during the interwar period was a leading institution in the field of numismatics, aside of the numismatic cabinets of National Museums in Krakow and Warsaw.
World War II and Nazi Occupation 1939 - 1945
The numismatic collection of the Mint, accumulated in the interwar period did not preserve to our days. During the Nazi occupation most of the collection was robbed and taken to Germany. Only 10% of the most precious exhibits was saved /around 3.000- pieces/, which thanks to the bravery of the Mint's workers- curator Władysław Terlecki, and Maria Kizewetter, they were carried out of the institution and then hid in Anna Szemiothowa's garden- the curator of Numismatic Cabinet of National Museum. The occupation brought not only another liquidation of Mint's numismatic collection, but also the liquidation of an institute. The Mint as the rest of Warsaw was destroyed by the withdrawing German army /see Mint's Chronicle/.
