1973 5 Złote Poland

This 1973 Polish 5 Złoty coin was issued to mark the 500th anniversary of Nicolaus Copernicus's birth, a rare instance of communist-era Poland honoring a pre-modern figure on currency.

Struck from brass planchets at the Warsaw Mint, it circulated briefly as legal tender despite its commemorative intent. The obverse shows the Polish eagle, while the reverse depicts Copernicus with a globe, a design that reflects the era's blend of nationalism and science. Mintage estimates vary, but records from the 1970s are incomplete, so precise numbers remain uncertain.

One oddity: it's sometimes confused with tokens from educational exhibits, given its scholarly theme.

In circulation, the coin developed a patina quickly due to its base metal, making uncirculated examples harder to find today.