History

The Decoration for Merit in the Mining Industry was established by the Council of Ministers in 1984. It was awarded to miners and others employed in the mining industry in recognition of meritorious service. It was discontinued following the collapse of the communist regime in 1989, but a similar award was later established by the Republic of Poland.

The I Class Medal features initials that stand for "Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa" (Polish People's Republic) with an additional inscription that translates to "Merit for Mining."