The unorganized collecting movement in Bolesławiec (apart from philately) dates back to the beginning of 1962, when interest in collecting coins, banknotes, medals and decorations increased significantly.
This movement gave rise to the initiative to organize the first meeting on 13 March 1983, attended by 27 people, thereby initiating the numismatic movement.
At that meeting, the Board of the Club was elected and a preliminary scope of activities was outlined. Above all, a decision was made to undertake appropriate measures to register the Club, which already existed in principle, although not formally. Various existing collectors’ clubs were contacted, and several times even the then Main Board of the Polish Archaeological and Numismatic Society (now the Polish Numismatic Society), which, after another intervention, advised contacting the Board of the PTAiN Branch in Zielona Góra.
Thus, on 25 April 1984, with the participation of a representative of the Branch Board in Zielona Góra, associate professor Dr Julian Skorek, another meeting was held, and it was essentially from that time that the activities of the Numismatic Club at the now-defunct “Relaks” Club of the “Bolesławianka” Housing Cooperative developed.
As a result of the members’ personal commitment and the vigorous activities of the Club Board, with these efforts recognized by the Main Board of the PTAiN in Warsaw, the Jelenia Góra Voivodeship Branch was established on 1 October 1987, based in Bolesławiec. At the reporting and electoral meeting on 7 November 1987, the Branch Board was elected as follows: Jan Haniszewski (president), Jerzy Hołodniak (vice-president), Jan Konecki (secretary), Władysław Bojdys (treasurer) and Henryk Pliński (board member).
The Board adopted ambitious plans for the development of numismatics not only in Bolesławiec, but also throughout the Jelenia Góra Voivodeship, providing effective assistance to those interested.
Furthermore, cooperation was established, among others, with local schools, TMB (Monument Protection) and the Museum of Ceramics. It currently has 48 members, including 2 from Zgorzelec and 1 from Lwówek Śląski, as well as 13 members active in the Numismatic Club in Jelenia Góra, whose president is Henryk Pliński.
Several years of activity by local numismatists have produced a strong group that appreciates the role and importance of this type of collecting and devotes its free time to the Society’s goals. As a result, it is noticed among exhibitors, whose number is steadily growing. The collections cover a wide range of subjects, including “Ships on Coins,” “Silver Commemorative Coins of the Polish People’s Republic,” “Tsarist Russia,” “Great Poles on Silver Coins,” “Environmental Protection,” “Architectural Monuments on Polish Coins,” “Coins of France,” “Coins and Medals of the former GDR,” “The Classic Collection of the Free City of Gdańsk,” “Medals of the Gallery of Polish Kings,” “Medals from Pope John Paul II’s Visit to Poland,” and “Miniatures of Polish Orders and Decorations.”
On 1 September 1990, the PTN Branch lost the premises where Sunday exchange meetings (i.e. fairs) were held, often combined with numismatic displays. After a brief stay at the Pax Club, which was abandoned because of its high fees, the numismatists found a venue at the Veterans’ Club on Sądowa Street (philatelists also meet there). Numismatic meetings are held every Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and are open to everyone, especially collectors.
In recent years, during the transition to a market economy and amid the difficulties experienced by education and culture, impoverishment has also been felt in numismatics.
Moreover, due to rising coin prices and membership fees, a decline in membership numbers has been recorded since 1 January 1993. However, the dedicated numismatists are not discouraged and will continue to work actively to promote this noble collecting pursuit.