PRL 10 Złotych 1960

This 10 Złotych coin from 1960 was struck in lightweight aluminum, a cost-saving measure that made it easy to produce in bulk during Poland's postwar shortages.

That material choice meant it wore down quickly in everyday use, turning what was meant to be durable currency into a fleeting piece of metal. Production ran from 1960 to 1965 at the Warsaw Mint, with designs featuring the Polish eagle and a simple wreath on the reverse.

Exact mintage figures are murky; records from that era weren't always kept meticulously. Still, most examples you find today show signs of circulation, like smoothed edges from years in change purses.

If you're handling one, note how the eagle's head points left, a subtle nod to the regime's aesthetics. Collectors might overlook it for shinier pieces, but that's their loss.