Muzeum Monet i Medali Jana Pawła II

About the museum

The Museum of Coins and Medals of John Paul II in Częstochowa was solemnly opened and blessed on 11 August 2011 by Archbishop Stanisław Dziwisz. Preparations began in 2010, when the president of the company President Electronics Poland, Krzysztof Witkowski, bought from a collector in London a collection of coins and medals bearing the Pope’s likeness, which had previously been shown at the Royal Castle in Warsaw. At that time the collection numbered around 3,500 items.

Today the collections comprise more than 11,000 items and, according to the museum, are the largest collection of this kind in the world. The display consists mainly of coins, medals and memorabilia linked to John Paul II: more than 1,500 coins are shown, arranged chronologically and by issuing country, together with around 6,000 medals, including the annual medals issued by the Vatican in successive years of the pontificate. These are supplemented by chasubles, tableware, postage stamps and other souvenirs.

The museum also houses relics of the saint: first-class relics, second-class relics, for example a cassock and a zucchetto, and third-class relics, that is, objects which have passed through the Pope’s hands. The display is set in a modern multimedia hall in which more than ten thousand points of light highlight the presentation of the collections. The museum also has a concert hall, a café and a shop, and every month meetings are held in the series “Z Janem Pawłem II ku przyszłości” (“With John Paul II Towards the Future”).

Highlights

• More than 1,500 coins bearing the likeness of John Paul II
• Around 6,000 medals, including the Vatican annual medals
• Relics of John Paul II of the first, second and third class
• Multimedia exhibition hall
• Concert hall and café in the museum
• Meetings in the series “Z Janem Pawłem II ku przyszłości” (“With John Paul II Towards the Future”)

Permanent exhibition

• Kolekcja stała monet, medali i pamiątek Jana Pawła II – More than 1,500 coins, around 6,000 medals, relics, chasubles, tableware and postage stamps linked to John Paul II, in a multimedia hall.

Founded

2011

Admission & discounts

Guides, tour operators’ escorts and group leaders enter free of charge. Photographing the exhibits is possible for an additional fee.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum states that it is fully adapted for visits by people with disabilities; the absence of architectural barriers allows wheelchair users to move about freely.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check

The museum has a café and a shop selling souvenirs that are available only here, and a cloakroom, for which the museum does not accept responsibility for items left behind. The premises are fully covered by monitoring.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The museum has a conference and concert hall.

Plan your visit