2416) 100th Anniversary of the Discovery of the Complex of Pre-historic Striped Flint Mines, Krzemionki in Poland: A 50 Zloty Coin minted by the Narodowy Bank Polski (National Bank of Poland) commemorates the discovery: Date of Coin issue: 12.07.2022:
100th Anniversary of the Discovery of the Complex of Prehistoric Striped Flint Mines Krzemionki:
On 12.07.2022, Narodowy Bank Polski is putting into circulation a silver coin commemorating the “100th Anniversary of the Discovery of the Complex of Prehistoric Striped Flint Mines ‘Krzemionki’”, with a face value of 50 Złoty.
One hundred years ago, on 19.07.1922, a young geologist Jan Samsonowicz was exploring the fields of Krzemionki village in the former Opatów district of the Kieleckie voivodship. Among the fields and meadows, he came across a large concentration of unusual, funnel-shaped cavities.
They turned out to be prehistoric mining shafts. Samsonowicz managed to descend into several prehistoric pits, where he found the original mining tools made of flint and antlers. Having carried out the necessary inspections and measurements, he realised that he was dealing with a unique, unprecedented discovery.
He had found extensive prehistoric striped flint mines which had operated there during the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age (approx. 3900-1600 BC).
The first archaeological excavations in Krzemionki were started in 1925 by Józef Żurowski.
The site became the scene of research conducted by several generations of Polish archaeologists. Owing to their work, it was possible to gather impressive knowledge about the life and work of prehistoric miners who thousands of years ago used to extract striped flint in this area and who had mainly used it to make polished axes.
In the Third Millennium BC they were distributed within a range of 660 kilometres from the mines.
In Krzemionki, four thousand mines of striped flint had been dug, forming a mining field covering an area of about 78 hectares. Both the underground workings, carved into the limestone rock, and the surface landscape transformed by prehistoric mining activities are well-preserved.
Presently, the site remains under the protection of the Historical and Archaeological Museum in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski and is a part of the Nature Reserve. Its collections and the underground tourist route are open to visitors.
In 2019, Krzemionki together with the archaeological sites (the Borownia and Korycizna mining fields, the Neolithic settlement on the Gawroniec hill in Ćmielów) were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
More on the Krzemionki Flint Mines:
Located in the mountain region of Świętokrzyskie, Krzemionki is an ensemble of four mining sites, dating from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age (about 3900 to 1600 BCE), dedicated to the extraction and processing of striped flint, which was mainly used for axe-making. With its underground mining structures, flint workshops and some 4,000 shafts and pits, the property features one of the most comprehensive prehistoric underground flint extraction and processing systems identified to date.
The serial property illustrates diverse underground prehistoric mining structures comprising open-pit, niche-gallery, gallery, pillar-chamber and chamber mines – and primary workshops, which survive intact in well over 4,000 shafts and pits. The site provides information about life and work in prehistoric settlements and bears witness to an extinct cultural tradition. It is an exceptional testimony of the importance of the prehistoric period and of flint mining for tool production in human history.
Krzemionki Prehistoric Striped Flint Mining Region represents an exceptional type of Neolithic mining landscape, bearing witness both to a complex technical and social system and to human adaptation to the conditions of natural resource exploitation that is a landmark in the history of mining.
It provides evidence that the prehistoric period brought flint mining to produce tools in the largest known example for the prehistoric exploitation of flint.
The Coins:
The Coins, commissioned by Narodowy Bank Polski (NBP), were struck by Mennica Polska S.A. (Mint of Poland)
The Reverse of the 50 Zloty Silver Coin issued by Narodowy Bank Polski (National Bank of Poland) to commemorate the "100th Anniversary of the Discovery of the Mines" (mentioned in Polish on the outer periphery of this face) features an image of a prehistoric miner at work and an elliptical insert made of striped flint.
The Obverse of the 50 Zloty Silver Coin shows the characteristic symbol of the Great Mother.
This is a charcoal drawing made on the surface of a limestone pillar of one of the mines in Krzemionki.
It presents a figure associated with the beliefs and mythology of the Neolithic miners. It is one of several examples of prehistoric rock art in contemporary Poland.
It is currently incorporated into the logotype of the Archaeological Museum and the “Krzemionki” Reserve (a branch of the Historical and Archaeological Museum in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski).
The Emblem of Poland features on this face.
The specification of the this Silver Coin are:
Country of issue: Poland; Date/Year: 12.07.2022; Coin Theme: "100th Anniversary of the Discovery of the Complex of Pre-historic Striped Flint Mines, Krzemionki in Poland"; Denomination/Face Value: 50 Zloty; Metal Composition: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Weight: 2.00 Oz or 62.2 grams; Diameter/Size: 45.00 mm; Shape: Round; Coin Quality: Brilliant Uncirculated (BU); Mint: Mennica Polska S.A. (Mint of Poland); Mintage: 7,000 pieces; Special features/modifications: lens-shaped, high relief, striped flint, oxidized.
8) Pope John Paul II (18.05.1920 - 02.04.2005), Poland: Commemorating his Birth Anniversary Centenary (1920-2020) with the issue of 500 Zlotych Gold Proof Coin and 10 Zlotych (x2) Silver Proof Coins: Date of Coins issue: 14.05.2020
9) St. Mary's Basilica, Krakow, Poland: 700th Anniversary of its consecartion: 50 Zlotych Silver Proof Collector Coin and a 5 Zlotych Bimetallic Corculation Coin issued by the National Bank of Poland, minted by the Mint of Poland: Date of Coins issue: 22.05.2020
Rajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very informative 👍👍"
Thank you, Trikha sahab.
ReplyDeleteSantosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"A detailed informative post. Thanks for sharing this information."
Thank you, Khanna sahab.
Delete