Front: Pope John Paul II (1920-2005), holding his crucifix-topped staff against a background of the world map, symbolising the universal nature of his pontificate

Born Karol Józef Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland, Pope John Paul was elected the only Polish Pope in Vatican's history on October 16, 1978 and reigned for more than 26 years. His early reign was marked by his opposition to communism, and he is often credited as one of the forces which contributed to its collapse in Eastern Europe.

Back: Inauguration of John Paul II with Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski (1901-1981), the legendary Primate of the Millenium, the leader of the Catholic Church in the then still Communist Poland.

The National Bank of Poland issued the notes to collectors at 90 Zlotych, eventhough the face value is only 50 Zlotych.

Juliusz Slowacki (1809-1849), Polish romantic poet

Front: Slowacki portrait with Palace in Krzemieniec (in the background) which is currently used as the museum of Juliusz Slowacki

Back: Monument of King Zygmunt III Waza in Warsaw, flying cranes and reproduction of original writing of autographed script "Uspokojenie

Front: Profile of Frederic Chopin (1810-1849), Polish composer; the mansion in Zelazowa Wola where the composer was born; a reproduction of Mazurka in B minor, Op. 7

Back: Landscape with characteristic Masovian willows; Chopin's Etude in F minor, Op. 10

Scans courtesy of World Currency and Coins

Front: Marie Sklodowska-Curie (1867-1934), physicist; view of the building of the Sorbonne in Paris

Back: The image of the medal awarded to Nobel Prize winners; a quotation from Marie Sklodowska-Curie's comment on radium; a view of the Radium Institute in Warsaw