The most mysterious species of Poland’s reptile and amphibian fauna: that is how Narodowy Bank Polski introduced the European green lizard, the subject of this 2009 2 złote. In Poland the lizard is regarded as extinct, so the coin is perhaps the surest way to see it in a Polish setting.

Robert Kotowicz showed two lizards basking on a rock against stylised plants, framed by the Polish name «JASZCZURKA ZIELONA» and the Latin «Lacerta viridis». Before the Second World War the species belonged to the country’s fauna, when Polish territory reached the Dniester. Later, in 1972, a few specimens were caught near Ustroń on the border with what was then Czechoslovakia, though their origin is still debated.

The lizard grows to 40 cm including the tail, and in the breeding season males turn bright green with a blue throat, a contrast that makes the species so striking. The coin was issued on 17 April 2009 with a mintage of 1,700,000 in the «Animals of the World» series.

For a topical collection of fauna and reptiles, this is a rare case of a coin telling the story of a species lost to its issuing country. Uncirculated (UNC): the coin never circulated, shows no wear and keeps its mint lustre.

A coin in a collection is a reason to learn more about history, and the VPcoins catalogue offers many such reasons.