Post-WW2 Polish Gold Medal of Merit of the Polish National Treasury 

Medal of Merit of the National Treasury of the Republic of Poland in Exile, awarded 1960-1990. The medal was awarded in three classes – Bronze, Silver, Gold.

  The Main Committee of the National Treasury of the Republic of Poland in London (in Exile), in consultation with the Minister of Treasury, established a badge-medal of the National Treasury of the Republic of Poland. This decoration was awarded for special merits to activists, donors, payers of the National Treasury of the Republic of Poland and to individuals, institutions and associations.

   The obverse of the medal shows in the middle the letter RP (Rzeczpospolita Polska – Republic of Poland), in the rim the inscription: “Skarb Narodowy – National Treasury”, at the bottom a bunch of laurel leaves.

  On the reverse, an inscription in seven lines “ Za Szczególne Zasługi dla Skarbu Narodowego RP” – “For Special Merits for the National Treasury of the Republic of Poland”, on both sides of the inscription laurels, at the bottom the date 1950 x 1960.

 Medal belonged to Colonel Henry Spaltenstein.

Colonel Henryk Spaltenstein. (born 13 December 1896, died 1973). Colonel of Artillery of the Polish Army. 

 Born on December 13, 1896. In 1913, he graduated from the 4th grade at the C. K. Department of the Gymnasium in Stryj. After Poland regained independence, he was admitted to the Polish Army. He was promoted to the rank of infantry lieutenant with seniority on June 1, 1919. In 1923 and 1924 he was an officer of the 80th infantry regiment (Słonim garrison), including in 1923 he was assigned to the 1st Staff Division in the Command of Corps District No. III in Grodno. He was transferred to the corps of artillery officers and verified as an artillery lieutenant with seniority on June 1, 1919. In 1928 he was an officer of the 29th field artillery regiment in Grodno. On January 27, 1930, he was promoted to the rank of captain with seniority on January 1, 1930 and 3rd place in the corps of artillery officers. In 1932 he was an officer of the 5th Infantry Division in Lwów. In 1939, as a major, he served in the 19th Light Artillery Regiment in Nowa Wilejka as the commander of the 4th squadron. He fought in this position in the September campaign.

After getting to France, he became an officer of the Polish Army in France. In 1940 he was the commander of the 3rd Division of the 1st Wilno Light Artillery Regiment. Later he became an officer of the Polish Armed Forces.