Pope Coins A Runaway Hit
Poles lined up Wednesday to buy collectors' coins with the image of the late Pope John Paul II, issued by the central bank to honor Poland's most famous son.
The National Bank of Poland issued gold, silver and copper alloy coins on Tuesday to coincide with the start of the beatification process for the late pontiff.
The coins' face value ranges between 100 zlotys (about $30) and 2 zlotys (about $1.60) and the bank was selling them to collectors for prices between $180 and $1.60.
All bear an image of John Paul against the background of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and of the basilica in Wadowice, his birthplace.
Grzegorz Suski, 24, a soldier waiting in line, said he wanted a coin because John Paul was a "great man for our nation."
The bank also opened an online auction of three limited edition sets of nine coins carrying the pope's image.
The minimum bid is $1,485 and the auction closes July 9. The proceeds will go to a church charity sponsoring education of gifted children from poor families.