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Polish expertise needed

I have five cu-ni 1990 20 zlotych coins, all with the MW mintmark.

I would attribute them all as Y#153.2 except for one problem. Two have reeded edges and measure just under 24mm, which jibes with the Krause description of 23.9mm.

But, the other three have smooth edges and measure about .1mm smaller. They all measure the same with my metal calipers, and as near as I can tell grinding off the reeds from the other two would give them about the same diameter. I see no signs of grinding or irregularity on the smooth edges.

Does Poland have a place like Vegas or Atlantic City, where these coins are heavily used in slot machines?

(Krause doesn't say anything about the edges.)

Roy


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Comments

  • from what I was told, they were ground down to be passed off in vending machines as the 1 euro coin.
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  • satootokosatootoko Posts: 2,720
    Aha!

    But it doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense if xe.com has its exchange rates straight:

    << <i>Live rates at 2009.06.24 23:40:54 UTC 20.00 PLN = 4.41118 EUR Poland Zlotych Euro >>

    Roy


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  • << <i>Aha!

    But it doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense if xe.com has its exchange rates straight:

    << <i>Live rates at 2009.06.24 23:40:54 UTC 20.00 PLN = 4.41118 EUR Poland Zlotych Euro >>

    >>




    Maybe the 1990 coins are no longer current?

    "In 1989 Poland instigated an ambitious programme of economic reform and regeneration, and by the mid-1990s had secured a significant level of GDP growth; a devalued 'new Zloty' was introduced onto the market in January 1995, and allowed to 'float' on international currency markets." http://www.umzugs.com/import/poland.pdf
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  • satootokosatootoko Posts: 2,720


    << <i>Maybe the 1990 coins are no longer current?[/L] >>



    << <i>As a result of inflation in the early 1990s, the currency underwent redenomination. Thus, on 1 January 1995, 10 000 old złotych (PLZ) became one new złoty (PLN). >>

    So instead of 4.41118 Euros, a 1990 20 Zlotych has a face value of less than 1/20th of a Euro cent. Creating Euro-size slugs from 20 Zlotych pieces makes sense after all.
    Roy


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