New Polish 500-zloty banknote

If you are used to paying in euro or your country’s national currency, switching to Polish zloty after moving to Poland may seem a bit troublesome. From this February on, apart from a set of coins and five banknotes (10, 20, 50, 100, 200 zlotys) there is a new addition to the family – a 500-zloty bill. What made the NBP introduce the highest denomination note?

[It] will ensure the uninterrupted circulation of cash and a reduction in the cost of issuing currency, and will also satisfy the growing demand for high denomination banknotes, as the official statement says.

The note, designed in the shades of blue, brown, burgundy and green, falls in line with the already existing bills featuring the monarchs of Poland. This time it is King John III Sobieski, one of the most beloved elected rulers, nowadays remembered for his impressive commanding skills exercised in the Battle of Vienna, intellectual power and affectionate relationship with his wife, Marie Casimire d’Arquien.

The 500-zloty note is the equivalent of slightly more than EUR 100 (EUR 115 as of 20 February 2017 to be more precise). What can be bought with that?

• You can pay your entire rent for a small room in a shared student flat in some of the smaller Polish cities such as Rzeszów or Bydgoszcz.
• It can cover six months of gym membership in an average-sized Polish city.
• You can pay 500 zlotys for a low-budget smartphone if you need a spare one after relocating to Poland.
• One 500-zloty banknote can cover up to ten months of a premium Netflix membership in Poland.
• It will also be enough to pay for a weekend stay in one of the many Polish SPA resorts…
• … or ten private Polish language lessons with a native speaker.

As you can see, the new banknote can be useful, although initially there are going to be rather few of them in circulation, according to NBP. See if you can get your hands on one of them!

Photo by NBP