The back of the note presents the central fragment of Jerzy Kossak’s painting ”The Miracle on the Vistula” under the Polish national colours. It depicts a symbolic scene of chaplain Ignacy Skorupka leading soldiers of the volunteer military formations to attack. The whole is complemented by a wreath of laurel leaves, the Commemorative Medal for the War of 1918–1921 (erratum to the banknote cover) and a fragment of the public appeal titled “Homeland in danger” issued by the Government of National Defence on 5 August 1920.

The front of the banknote depicts Józef Piłsudski. The image is based on the painting “The Year 1920” by Kazimierz Mańkowski. The Chief of State is presented as the defender of Warsaw. The city skyline is visible in the background. The neigbouring image of the obverse of the Cross of Valour with the Polish eagle, the inscription “Na polu chwały” (”On the field of glory”) and the date 1920 are a joint reference to the collective war effort by the Polish soldiers and to the moment when this decoration was established at the climax of the fighting on the outskirts of Warsaw. The front of the note is complemented by the inscription NIEPODLEGŁOŚĆ (Independence) surrounded by the wreath of oak leaves and the graphic elements and plant motifs originally featured on the 100 Polish mark note from 1919, including the image of the eagle and the monogram “RP”.

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  The Battle of Warsaw 1920

  2020-08-11, National Bank of Poland