1996 Wildlife 2 Złote

The 1996 Wildlife 2 Złote coin features a meticulously engraved European bison on its reverse, a nod to Poland's efforts to protect this hulking beast from extinction.

That bison wasn't just any design; it came from a series aimed at highlighting native species, struck at the Warsaw Mint using brass alloy planchets. The obverse shows the Polish eagle, standard for the era, with the denomination clearly marked. Weighing in at 8.15 grams and measuring 27 millimeters across, it's a sturdy piece that fits neatly in the palm.

Mintage figures? They're murky; official records from the 1990s aren't always reliable, so I won't guess. Some say around 500,000 were produced, but that's hearsay.

If you handle one, note the reeded edge—it's there to deter clipping, a problem as old as coins themselves. Not that anyone bothers with a two-złoty piece these days.