90th Anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw, 2 zł

A commemorative 2-zloty coin struck on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw.

Obverse:
The image of an eagle established as the national emblem of the Republic of Poland. At the eagle’s sides signature of emission date: 20-09, under the eagle an inscription: ZŁ 2 ZŁ (PLN 2 PLN), in the rim an inscription: RZECZPOSPOLITA POLSKA (REPUBLIC OF POLAND) proceeded and finished with six pearls. Under the eagle’s left leg the symbol of the mint: M/W.

Reverse:
An image of a Polish border post bearing the state emblem used in the years of the Polish-Soviet war. Against the background of the post there is a stylised image of a Polish soldier on horseback, holding a lance with a pennant. To the left of the post there is an inscription: Europa (Europe), and to the right – a fragment of the Communist symbol of hammer and sickle. Along the rim there is: on the left an inscription “Bitwa Warszawska 1920 r.” (Battle of Warsaw 1920), and on the right – “90th anniversary”.

The Battle of Warsaw (also referred to as the Miracle at the Vistula) – a battle fought on 12–25 August 1920 during the Polish-Soviet war. Considered to be the 18 decisive battle in the history of the world as it prevented the loss of independence by Poland and the spreading of the Communist revolution to the Western Europe.

The historic significance of the Battle of Warsaw has not yet been fully acknowledged, both in Poland and in the Western Europe. The British ambassador in pre-war Poland, Lord Edgar Vincent D'Abernon, in the title of his book called it the eighteenth decisive battle of the world. In one of the articles published in August 1930 he said that the contemporary history of our civilisation had not seen many events which could compare to the Battle of Warsaw of 1920. And there has been none to be so underestimated... The victory of the Soviets in the Battle of Warsaw would be a turning point in the history of Europe: the defeat of Warsaw would undoubtedly mean opening the Central Europe to the Communist propaganda and to a Soviet invasion. It is the task of political writers to make known to the European public opinion that in 1920 Europe was saved by Poland.