Poland - 50 Zlotych 1983 - Ignacy Lukasiewicz - inventor of the kerosene lamp

ANRO-1732

Obverse: Right-facing portrait of Ignacy Łukasiewicz. Surrounding the portrait, along the upper edge of the coin, is the inscription "IGNACY ŁUKASIEWICZ 1822-1882" marking his name and the years of his birth and death. The artist’s initials, “WS,” are subtly engraved below the portrait.

Reverse: Emblem of the People's Republic of Poland, which is a stylized eagle with outstretched wings. Surrounding the eagle is the inscription "POLSKA RZECZPOSPOLITA LUDOWA" (People's Republic of Poland), with the year of issue "1983" positioned on either side of the eagle’s tail. Below the emblem, the denomination "50 ZŁ" (50 Zlotych) is prominently displayed, marking the coin's value.

Country: Poland
Subject: 100th anniversary of the death of Ignacy Łukasiewicz.
Date: 1983
Denomination: 50 Zlotych
Metal: Copper-Nickel
Weight: 11.70g
Diameter: 30.5mm
Edge: Reeded
Mintage: 612,000 pcs.
Strike quality: UNC

Ignacy Łukasiewicz, originally known by his Armenian surname Ghukasyan (Ղուկասյան), was a descendant of an Armenian family that had settled in Poland. His family, part of the Armenian nobility, migrated to Poland during the late 17th or early 18th century. This was a time when many Armenians fled westward, particularly to Poland, due to ongoing conflicts in their homeland and surrounding regions, including the Ottoman Empire's pressure on Armenian territories.

Ignacy’s ancestors were indeed part of the Armenian community in Galicia, a historical and geographic region located in what is now southeastern Poland and western Ukraine, which at the time was under the Austrian Empire. This region was known for its significant Armenian population, many of whom were involved in trade and were well-integrated into the local society. His father, Józef Łukasiewicz, was an Armenian nobleman who served in the army of Tadeusz Kościuszko, a key figure in Poland's struggle for independence.

While Łukasiewicz himself is best known for his groundbreaking work in the oil industry, including the invention of the kerosene lamp, his Armenian heritage highlights the rich cultural and historical exchanges that shaped his life and work.