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Sale 108
Lot 1280
Virtuti Militari Medal, 1792. Gold. Oval, 43 x 34mm. 19th Century restrike. Collector's mark of Count Emeryk Hutten-Czapski within the oval of the "R" in the SAR monogram, and apparently struck to his order (Cf. Ordery I odznaczenia polskie, Puchalski/Wojciechowski, p.31, 27; Polskie Ordery I Odznaczenia, W.Stela, p.11-22). Exceedingly rare. Uncirculated. Estimate Value $20,000 - UP
Ex Morton & Eden Sale, London, November 27, 2013, lot 84. Comes with tag.
On May 18, 1792, a Russian army of nearly 100,000 men invaded Poland to crush the May Third 1791 Constitution. After his troops' success in the June 18 Battle of Ziele?ce, the Polish commander, the king's nephew, Józef Poniatowski, pushed for the issuance of a military award, using the Austrian "Praemio Virtuti Bellico Constituto" as a model. The Warsaw mint began producing the oval medals within a week, June 25, and ceased production on August 30. It is believed, it made 290 to 440 silver and 65 to 95 gold medals.
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