another VIRTUTI MILITARI

**Igor Ostapenko** · 09-17-2013, 08:32 PM

And - last

I have not the book of Prof. Dr. Zdzislaw P. Wesolowski " The Order of the Virtuti Militari and It's Cavaliers 1792-1992 " ,
and use Reprint in web vm_stats

and we can see :
"... 100 specially made sterling silver Crosses with gold center disks were made by Gontarczyk and delivered on 23 November 1922 which were to be distributed to foreigners with an addition lot of the same type made by Krupski with Cross serial numbers 9700-9799 ... "

So - we have government issue 100 crosses

**A.J. Zawadzki** · 09-17-2013, 09:41 PM

I am very familiar with this write-up, which mentions Gontarczyk as the maker of a special order. However, it goes on to state: “and additional lot of the same type made by Krupski with Cross serial numbers 9700-9799 ... " The crosses you’ve pictured are in this number range, and they are unmistakably the very unique Knedler pattern. So there’s possibly of an error in the info, unless Krupski & Matulewicz used Knedler dies - ??

The Krupski & Matulewicz VM is an altogether different design. I’m away from my photo archives at the moment, but will strive to post photos later.

Regards,
Tony

**A.J. Zawadzki** · 09-19-2013, 05:13 AM

As promised earlier here's a Krupski i Matulewicz product (barrel suspension type):

Here's a Gontarczyk VM (made in the 1930's according to the silver proof type) using a KiM stamping die used for the government issue crosses during the production run in 1921-22:

And here's a Knedler (there were variations in suspension style and other slight differences, but the split wreath and eagle style remained distinctive trademarks):