Poland Secures Full Name of Maria Skłodowska‑Curie on Proposed 20‑Euro Banknote

The European Central Bank (ECB) has unveiled ten final designs for a new series of euro banknotes, including a 20‑euro note featuring the portrait of Polish Nobel laureate Maria Skłodowska‑Curie. A long‑standing dispute over how to render her name on the note has been resolved after intensive lobbying by Polish officials. Science Minister Marcin Kulasek and Finance Minister Andrzej Domański urged ECB President Christine Lagarde to adopt the spelling "Marie Curie‑Skłodowska" (or "Maria Curie‑Skłodowska"), ensuring the inclusion of her maiden name. The ECB has not yet made a final decision; the Governing Council will choose the definitive design after a public survey, and the new notes could enter circulation in several years. The naming issue is seen as a matter of national pride for Poland, even though the country does not use the euro.