Poland, Duchy of Warsaw. A Silver Cross of Virtuti Militari, V Class

 (Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari). Type II. 1807-1808 design, 1840 manufacture. An early cross of quality French manufacture in silver with ball finials, with fine very dark blue enamel detailing and script, obverse Gold centre proudly displaying left facing white enamelled eagle with green laurel surround, reverse Gold centre with blue enamelled rider, date of 1792, green enamelled laurel surround, hallmarked on integral ball suspension with French silver guarantee boars head as well as specialized series 2 ordinance Bigorne hallmarked in the form of a grasshopper profile, therefore these two hallmarks together denote that this cross was made between May 8th 1838 and December 1846, produced for a veteran of the Napoleonic war, measuring 27.2 mm (w) x 33 mm (h - inclusive of integral suspension), a fine and rare cross, extremely fine.