An occasional 2-złoty coin with an image of Ignacy Jan Paderewski
Obverse:
An image of an eagle established as the national emblem of the Republic of Poland. On the eagle’s sides , the year of issue: 20-11, under the eagle there is an inscription: ZŁ 2 ZŁ. Inside the rim, there is an inscription: RZECZPOSPOLITA POLSKA, preceded and followed by six pearls. Under the eagle, to the right, there is an inscription: M/W.
Reverse:
A stylized image of Ignacy Jan Paderewski’s bust, with a stylized fragment of a piano outline in the background. At the bottom, to the right, there is an inscription: 1860-1941. At the top, there is a semi-circular inscription: IGNACY JAN PADEREWSKI.
On the rim, there is an inscription “NBP” repeated eight times, every second one reversed by 180 degrees, separated with stars.
Designer of the obverse: Ewa Tyc-Karpińska
Designer of the reverse: Roussanka Nowakowska
Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860–1941) – one of the most eminent and famous pianists of his times, ardent patriot and involved citizen, tireless promoter of Poland’s interest in the world. As a member of a noble family with strong patriotic traditions, he was brought up in the atmosphere of devotion to the national affair. His musical talent, developed in the years 1872–1878 in Warsaw, and later in Berlin, Strasbourg and Vienna, allowed him in 1888 to start a career of a virtuoso pianist on world stages.
In 1890, after concerts in France, the Netherlands and Germany, he “won” England. By 1892, he had played in over 100 cities in the USA and Canada. He also performed in South Africa, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Hawaii, Cuba and South America, making his, and Poland’s, name increasingly popular. The way he played the piano was characterized by the charm of sound, profoundness and dramatic force, at the same time being the essence of Polishness. It was so, because the repertoire, apart from his own pieces (from which the Polish Fantasy, the Manru opera and the Minuet in G-major enjoyed particular recognition) included many pieces by Frédéric Chopin. The artist took advantage of his fame and fortune to support the national affair.
In 1910, for the 500th anniversary of the Grunwald Victory, he founded the famous monument of Władysław Jagiełło in Kraków. The inscription on the monument read: TO GLORIFY THE FOREFATHERS, TO COMFORT THE BROTHERS. Fervent speech made during the unveiling of the monument to the crowds of his compatriots from the three annexations, in which he promoted the nation’s unity in striving for independence, made a great impression and initiated his political activity.
During World War I, Paderewski organized committees helping the victims of war in Poland, Polish armed forces. After concerts he gave speeches, agitating in favor of his motherland. Owing to his contacts and influences in the USA, the affair of Poland’s independence was discussed on an international level. It resulted in the famous proclamation of President Wilson in 1917, and declaration of Prime Ministers of France, Italy and Great Britain in 1918, on the necessity to rebuild independent Poland as an element of new order in Europe. Having returned to Poland, in December 1918 he went to Poznań, where he was enthusiastically welcomed by crowds. The speech (made from a hotel window), calling for the unity of all fractions and states in the process of rebuilding Poland, became the mainspring of the victorious Wielkopolska Uprising.
Welcomed with growing enthusiasm everywhere, having arrived to Warsaw, Paderewski made a declaration which he remained faithful to: to serve Poland, not a fraction. Soon he became Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs. On a peace conference in Paris, he and Roman Dmowski made all efforts to secure the interest and reinforce the authority of Poland. The terms of the Treaty of Versailles, which the Polish negotiators, despite their best will, had limited influence on, did not satisfy political class and public opinion. Internal difficulties inside the rebuilding country caused the collapse of Paderewski’s government in December 1919 and his decision to emigrate (to 1921 he remained Poland’s delegate in the League of Nations).
In 1921, Józef Piłsudski, Chief of State, honored him with the Order of the White Eagle „in recognition for distinguished merits in his civil and political activity”. Honorary doctorates of, among others, Oxford and Cambridge Universities proved his recognition in the world. Disappointment with the shape of home policy and authoritarian tendencies growing after 1926 did not weaken the patriotic sense of the artist, who kept supporting and strengthening the interest of Poland as much as possible.
In 1936, he favored the foundation of the so-called Front Morges, an alliance of centrist parties, which was to counterbalance the increasingly antidemocratic rule of Sanation. In December 1939, Paderewski became President of the National Council – the Polish Parliament in exile. Paderewski died on 29 June 1941 in New York. To his last days, he actively supported actions in favor of Poland. By decision of President Roosevelt, he was buried in the National Cemetery in Arlington. In 1991, his remains were, in the presence of Presidents of Poland and the USA, buried in the crypt of the Warsaw Archcathedral.
Marek A. Janicki, Ph. D.
Institute of History
at the University of Warsaw
Text from the National Bank of Poland’s issue folder
