Coin with Amber – The Return of Gdańsk Pomerania to Poland

King Casimir IV Jagiellon, the Second Peace of Toruń and an amber detail in the Gdańsk coat of arms: Narodowy Bank Polski (the National Bank of Poland) has issued a new silver collector coin dedicated to the return of Gdańsk Pomerania to Poland in 1466.

The reverse of the coin shows the image of King Casimir IV Jagiellon, a fragment of the document of the Second Peace of Toruń and the Gdańsk coat of arms modeled on the seal of 1457. The amber element placed by the city's coat of arms stands out in particular, recalling Gdańsk's centuries-long connection with Baltic amber.

The peace that changed the history of Pomerania

The coin commemorates one of the most important events in the history of the region. On October 19, 1466, the Thirteen Years' War between the Kingdom of Poland and the Teutonic Order came to an end. The peace treaty signed in Toruń returned Gdańsk Pomerania, Warmia and the Chełmno and Michałów lands to the rule of the Polish king. As a result, Poland regained control of the mouth of the Vistula and access to the Baltic, strengthening its economic and political position.

The privilege that built the world center of amber

During his visit to Gdańsk on May 15, 1457, Casimir IV Jagiellon issued a document confirming the unity of the urban centers then operating within Gdańsk. One city was created, and by virtue of a further privilege, dated May 25, 1457, the coat of arms of Gdańsk was renewed and elevated in dignity. From that moment, the city's Teutonic past, reflected in the two silver crosses on the red field of the shield, gained a royal symbol: a golden crown. This privilege led to the flourishing of amber craft in Gdańsk. The access granted to areas rich in the raw material, and the right to the amber obtained there, decisively contributed to the growth of this craft from the mid-16th to the mid-18th century.

Amber in a small detail

Although the coin is dominated by symbols tied to the history of the Polish state, it is the small amber element by the Gdańsk coat of arms that gives it its distinctive character. It is a reminder that the history of Gdańsk Pomerania is not only about politics and wars, but also about the cultural heritage tied to the Baltic and amber.

The coin is struck in .999 silver, with a face value of PLN 50, a diameter of 45 mm and a weight of 62.2 g. The mintage is up to 4,000 pieces.

Amber as a witness to history

Looking at the coin, it is easy to see that amber does not appear here by chance. Since medieval times it has been one of the region's most important riches and an element that built Gdańsk's position on the Baltic. The small amber detail therefore holds something more than decoration. It is a symbol of a city whose history has been intertwined with the history of amber for centuries.

This text was prepared on the basis of the announcement of Narodowy Bank Polski concerning the issue of the collector coin “Powrót Pomorza Gdańskiego do Polski w 1466 r.” (The Return of Gdańsk Pomerania to Poland in 1466).

Photos: Narodowy Bank Polski