The Accumulation of Capital

The National Bank of Poland issues collector coins intended to commemorate events, anniversaries and well-known personalities connected with the world of art, culture, science, nature or sport. As part of her project The Accumulation of Capital, Irmina Rusicka submitted an official request to the President of the National Bank of Poland to mint a coin commemorating Rosa Luxemburg, an outstanding social activist and economist. In 1913 Luxemburg published an important economic book entitled The Accumulation of Capital, which would be later read on both sides of the Iron Curtain, and even today – in the wake of the economic crisis of 2008. Alongside Maria Skłodowska-Curie, Rosa Luxemburg is one of the most internationally recognisable Polish women; however, she is rarely commemorated in her home country, and recently attempts have even been made to erase her memory (this year, a commemorative plaque was removed in Zamość, where she was born).

photo: Małgorzata Kujda