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The Fall of Communism room is the synthesis of the most important economic issues that illustrate the transition from a centrally-planned (command and distribution) economy to a market economy. The exhibition devoted to economic transformation supplements and symbolically closes the days of the Polish People’s Republic. In this section of the exhibition, visitors can track the most important processes and reforms which led to the reconstruction of a free-market economy and the revival of the financial and capital markets.
The story told in the Fall of Communism room ends with a reminder of the redenomination of the Polish zloty, a currency reform which crowned the first stage of the economic transformation. On 1 January 1995, Narodowy Bank Polski launched the operation of an exchange of money. As part of this operation, the “old” zloty was replaced with the “new” zloty at the rate of 10,000 to 1. As a result of the operation, new coins and banknotes from the “Polish Rulers” series were put into circulation. They were designed by graphic artist Andrzej Heidrich. Various denominations introduced before and after the redenomination are displayed in the room’s showcase so that visitors can compare the value and graphic design of the old and new zlotys.
