Władysław Terlecki – a Square Gold Coin

A square coin from the „History of the Warsaw Mint” series commemorating the 70th anniversary of Władysław Terlecki’s heroic saving of the collections from the Numismatic Cabinet from being transported to Germany in 1940.

The coin is packaged in a wooden box, on top of which there is a plaque with the image of the Kościesza coat of arms – the symbol of the Warsaw Mint during the period between the two World Wars.  Each coin is numbered on the edge and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Obverse:
In the center an image of the obverse of the ducat from 1766. Below the symbol of the mint: m/w, and the grade of gold: Au 900. Along the rim an inscription: MENNICA PAŃSTWOWA ZBURZONA PRZEZ NIEMCÓW (NATIONAL MINT DEMOLISHED BY THE GERMANS), and the date: 12.IX.1944. In the 4 corners the symbol of the Mint in the interwar period – the Kościesza coat of arms.

Reverse:
In the center an image of the reverse of the ducat from 1766 with a bust of Stanisław August Poniatowski. Below the initials of the designers: T.B. B.W. Along the rim an inscription: WŁADYSŁAW TERLECKI RATUJE ZBIORY (WŁADYSŁAW TERLECKI RESCUES THE COLLECTION), and KUSZTOSZ 1925–1940 (CUSTODIAN 1925–1940). In the 4 corners the symbol of the Mint in the interwar period – the Kościesza coat of arms.

The Warsaw Mint during the war and occupation period (1939–1944)

In September 1939 during the intensive bombardments of the Praga district in Warsaw, and especially of the Warsaw East Railway Station, considered of strategic importance, the seat of the Warsaw Mint, from 1924 located at 18 Markowska Str., was partly destroyed.

According to the official German data this was when the collections of the Mint, which before September 1939 included 26 000 items, suffered damage for the first time during the war. After the city’s surrender and the creation by the Germans of the General Government, the Mint was renamed as STAATLICHE MÜNZE DES GENERALGOUVERNEMENTS, even though the board with the original Polish name of the institution (MENNICA PAŃSTWOWA) remained on the building for still some time. The Germans maintained the Polish staff, whose work was now supervised by the German officials based at the Polish Security Printing Works office in Sanguszki St. Both of these institutions were managed by the Germans during the occupation. The destroyed buildings of the Mint were rebuilt in the first quarter of 1940, which meant that in the second half of the same year the Mint could restart its production.

To learn more: “The Warsaw Mint during the war and a German occupation period – 1939–1944”