Józef Kuraś “Fire” is another “Unbreakable” which will be commemorated by the National Bank of Poland on a silver collector's coin with a face value of PLN 10. The collector's coin will be put into circulation on 15 March 2023.
Series “Cursed by Communists, unbreakable soldiers” make silver collector coins with images of heroes who – according to the inscription placed on coins – They behaved properly.” The National Bank of Poland since 2017 resembles the silhouettes of the Cursed Soldiers who died fighting in the Polish post-war independence, anti-Soviet and anti-communist underground. So far, collectors have been able to enrich their collection with coins depicting characters specified as Witold Pilecki “Witold”, August Emil Fieldorf “Nil”, Kazimierz Kamieński “Huzar” and Danuta Środkówna “Inka”.
New Coin in Series
The most fresh coin commemorates Józef Kuras, ps. Fire, which fought against the Union of russian Socialist Republics and against communists in Podhale and another parts of Kraków Voivodeship until 1947.
On the reverse of the coin there are images: Józef Kurasia ps. Fire, ribbons of colours of the Republic of Poland with the symbol of the Fighting Poland, the inscription “They behaved as necessary” and the date of birth and death of the Fire: 1915–1947. The obverse shows the torn prison bars.
Fire activities
Józef Kuraś "Fire", born in 1915 in Waksmund close Nowy Targ, in 1934 he became a associate of the People's Party, and in 1936 he was called into the army – he served in Sanoku and Słobodce close Vilnius. During the September 1939 campaign, he fought in the ranks of the 1st Podhalan firearm Regiment. – After a failed effort to enter France, he returned to Waksmund. In November 1939 he became active in a conspiracy activity – writes historian Tadeusz Płużański in a folder devoted to coin issuance.
Kuraś was besides a soldier of the Tatra Confederation and the National Army, commander of the People's safety defender troops and the enforcement branch of the Regional Delegation of the Polish Government in Nowy Targ.
Dramatic Genesis
Historian Tadeusz Płużański resembles the tragic past of Kurasia family. – In June 1943, in retaliation for the execution carried out by Kurasia troops on 2 Gestapo agents, the Germans murdered his wife, a two-and-a-half-year-old boy and father. The bodies of the murdered and household home Kurasia burned down – writes the historian. Then Joseph Kuras accepted the name Fire.
Partisan group “Split”
In early 1945, Józef Kuraś participated in the creation of structures of the Civic Militia and the safety Office in Nowy Targ. In this way he made recommendations directed by Stanisław Mikołajczyk of the People's Party, which afraid the taking over of power in areas liberated by the Soviets. “When it turned out that this imagination was unrealistic, Kuraś formed a guerrilla group “Błyskawica” – emphasized Tadeusz Płużański.
Historian besides recalls that during the fight against the USSR and against the Communists in many places Kuraś was a real military and even political power in the area, in the face of the weakness of communist power.
The “Fire” troops besides organized actions against the Slovaks in favour of connecting Polish parts of the Spiš and Orava to the Slovak state. It should be stressed that the Lightning Group had an excellent working interview and enjoyed public support.
– On February 21, 1947, surrounded by UB troops and the interior safety Corps in Ostrowsko village under the fresh Fair, Major “Fire” attempted suicide, writes Tadeusz Płużański. The injured Kuraś died the next day in a infirmary in fresh Market. To this day, the burial site of Major Joseph Kuras “The Fire” is unknown.
Banknotes and coins
Banknotes and collector coins mention to crucial events, commemorate outstanding figures, authorities and their function in Polish history.
Collector coins are made of gold and silver, they can be additionally attractive by adding decorative elements, made of, for example, amber, glass, striped flint or ceramics, or additional techniques – printing in tampon printing, UV printing, selective gold plating or laser mating technique.
Collector's banknotes, due to their peculiar character, disagree from common circulation banknotes, among others, a richer symbol of images of characters and events, composition and details of iconography, method specification – concerning the safety features utilized against counterfeiting, colour, dimensions or techniques used.
Purchase of NBP collector coins – fixed or online
The acquisition of collectible values issued by the National Bank of Poland can be made in the online store collector.nbp.pl or in 1 of the 16 branch offices of NBP, which are located in each state city.
NBP emanation plans
In the following months of 2023, numismatists and collectors will be able to enrich their collections with collector coins from the series “Polish Thermopile” or “The Treasures of Stanisław August.” 2 fresh series of collector coins will besides be inaugurated – “I believe in Poland” and “Polish circulation banknotes”. Detailed information on planned issuances of collectible coins and banknotes for 2023, dates and denominations are available on the website of the National Bank of Poland in the Plan for the issuance of collectibles and commemorative coins for 2023.
Detailed information about the fresh collector coin of NBP
“Cursed by Communists, unbreakable soldiers” — Józef Kuraś “Fire”
denomination: PLN 10
metal: Ag 925/1000
stamp: mirror, tampon printing
diameter: 32.00 mm
mass: 14,14 g
shore (side): smooth
circulation: up to 10,000 pcs
Designer: Dobrochna Surajewska
Issuer: NBP
At the commission of NBP coins were produced by Mennica Polska S.A.
NBP
