Issue Date: October 13, 1933
First City: Boston, MA and seven other cities
Quantity Issued: 45,137,700

 

Honors General Thaddeus Kosciusko on the 150th anniversary of his naturalization as an American citizen, bestowed upon him as a reward for his services during the American Revolution.

 

This Polish patriot fought for freedom in America and in Poland; he is often referred to as the Hero of Two Worlds. In 1776, he came to America and served with the Pennsylvania Committee of Defense in Philadelphia. There, Kosciuszko planned the fortifications for defense of Liberty Hall, the meeting place of the Continental Congress. His engineering skills were also used to fortify Saratoga, various areas of the Hudson River, and West Point. Kosciuszko returned to Poland in 1784. He led a heroic but unsuccessful uprising against Russian occupation forces in 1794.