The National Bank of Poland has unveiled the design of the brand new 500 Zloty banknote this week.

The 500 Zloty banknote will become the highest denominated circulating banknote in Poland upon it's release in February of 2017. Currently the 200 Zloty takes that honour. According to the National Bank of Poland the decision to issue the note was in response to an increased demand for higher denominated currency. The introduction of the new banknote is set to lead to a significant saving in operating costs to the bank as well as streamlining daily economic transactions for citizens.

Poland 2017 500 Zloty Banknote Obverse

The obverse of the note is arranged in brown tones to wine-red on a light blue and yellow background. The portrait of King John III Sobieski, who ruled from 1674 to 1696, appears on the right. The image is based off of his coronation medallion. On the left of the security strip is an image of the Sobieski Family Coat of Arms.

The reverse of the new 500 Zloty banknote is again arranged in the same colour scheme as the obverse. To the right, and in the foreground, appears a stylized version of the Polish national Coat of Arms. While the background faithfully reproduces an image of Poland's Wilanów Palace.

Poland 2017 500 Zloty Banknote Reverse

Poland has been in the process of introducing a new series of banknotes since 2014, with the new type 200 Zloty being introduced during February 2016. The new family of notes contain 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Zloty notes, and were all designed by Andrzej Heidrich. Each banknote features a different monarch from Poland's past, appearing in ascending order.

According to the latest reports by the National Bank of Poland, since the introduction of the new series of banknotes counterfeiting of Polish banknotes has been reduced by more than half of what it was prior to 2014.