PRL 1948 2 Złote

This 1948 2 Złote coin from Poland was minted entirely from aluminum, a wartime expedient that reflected the new communist government's scramble for materials after the devastation of World War II.

That aluminum came from repurposed scrap, including melted-down pots and industrial waste, highlighting the era's makeshift economy. The obverse shows a simplified Polish eagle, its design stripped down to basics—no ornate flourishes, just the bird staring ahead like it had seen better days.

We don't know the exact mintage figures; records from that period are spotty, lost in postwar chaos. What we do know is that these coins circulated widely, helping stabilize a faltering currency.

Handling one today, you notice how light it feels in the hand. Aluminum coins like this one were a poor man's silver—functional, but they tarnished quickly.