A Polish 5-zloty coin could be worth up to 100,000 zlotys, and collectors are hunting for it

A nearly century-old Polish 5-zloty coin could be hiding a small fortune in a household collection. The silver coin featuring Nike is considered one of the rarest circulating coins of the Second Polish Republic, and the best-preserved examples can command more than 100,000 zlotys.

The coin was produced from 1928 to 1932. Much of the issue was later melted down because the silver it contained was worth more than its face value. Relatively few examples survived, turning the original coins into sought-after pieces for collectors.

The reverse shows Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, walking to the right, alongside the inscription “Republic of Poland.” The obverse features a crowned eagle, the minting year and the denomination, “5 zlotys.” Its edge carries the Latin motto “The welfare of the republic is the supreme law.”

Condition plays the biggest role in determining value. Coins without obvious wear, damage or signs of cleaning are the most expensive. The minting year, the rarity of a particular example and distinctive features also affect the price. Online listings offering similar coins for a few dozen zlotys are often for copies, while prices for genuine examples start at around 2,000 zlotys.

On Feb. 15, 2025, a 1928 silver Nike coin listed at 70,000 zlotys sold for 168,150 zlotys. The auction description called it an “extremely rare Nike trial struck with a deep die, featuring characteristic small teeth around the rim. The coin has high relief on both sides and no inscription on the edge. An ideally preserved example.” Two years earlier, a similar coin bearing the word “TRIAL” sold for 110,920 zlotys, exceeding its 20,000-zloty starting price by 555 percent.

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extremely rare Nike trial struck with a deep die, featuring characteristic small teeth around the rim. The coin has high relief on both sides and no inscription on the edge. An ideally preserved example.