TracA

Thank you, No One. I too thought that they were Bakelite. They are clearly not wood, given the sound that they make when you let the force of the spring slam them shut. Not that I've done that often; don't want to damage anything. 😃 All the best, Tracy

Greetings, In my collection I have two claspless, spring loaded what I believe to be plastic cases. When fully opened the lid stays up. One is for a Rising Sun 8th Class and the other is for a Sacred Treasure 7th Class. The Rising Sun had the ヒ (hi) hallmark and the Sacred Treasure had the M mintmark, so I am almost certain that the decorations that came in the cases were not issued in those cases. I say this because Medals of Asia puts the former mark at the mid-1910s to early 1920s and the latter mark at 1930 to 1943, and I have lots of orders roughly dated to the 20s, 30s, and 40s and none of them have claspless, spring loaded cases. If such cases came from those time periods, then I think that they would be much more prevalent in the marketplace, but I do not find them to be very prevalent. My two examples both have the “Showa” stylization of 勲 (kun) on the lid and gold kanji. Medals of Asia puts the “more or less stable transition” from silver kanji back to gold kanji as sometime in 1958. My sample size is horribly miniscule, but I am going to venture to guess that these claspless, spring loaded plastic cases came into use sometime after 1958. Can anyone provide more information on these cases, such as (1) the time coordinates of their use; (2) whether they were used for just the lowest two classes of decorations or if they were also used for higher classes; (3) whether they were used for the Honor Medal, etc.? Thank you. Some pictures below. Tracy Lids: Front seam, claspless: Rear hinge on one of the cases. As one can imagine this looks somewhat different than the rear hinge on a non-spring loaded case with a clasp. I wanted to take a side-by-side photo but alas, I do not have a Rising Sun 8th (or 7th) Class or a Sacred Treasure 7th (or 8th) Class in a non-spring loaded case with the “Showa” stylization of 勲 (kun) and gold kanji.

Greg, Very nice. I'm intrigued by the pins for fastening on the two rightmost medals. Interesting design. All the best, Tracy

Aniki, I am sorry that I can't assist with an answer to your question. I assume that you have been to JapanX's Medals of Asia pages for 7th Class Orders of the Eight Trigrams? He does not list any as fakes, so if you have not already done so, then it might be worthwhile having a look to compare the pictures posted with the one that you have posted above. See Medals of Asia at https://asiamedals.info/threads/7th-class-orders-of-the-eight-trigrams.13061/. Good luck and all the best, Tracy

Chris, My word, I should have looked more closely at the photo you posted. Indeed, that's the eMedals one. Tracy

Hi Tony, More great additions to this thread. Thanks for keeping this going. I find it so fascinating. All the best, Tracy

Hi Chris, I do not. Sorry. Truth be told, the last time I even saw one of these medals for sale was the Michael Quigley Collection Part II auction put on by eMedals. That was some time last year, I think. I remember that the obverse bar was actually on the medal upside down. Given the rarity of the medal, I would assume that the award certificates are probably even rarer. Tracy

Chris, I own the book and found it to be a very worthwhile addition to my reference material. It covers certificates for all of the major orders (Kites, Suns, Treasures), most of the War Medals, KIA related documents, and numerous non-military certificates. If you would like a more specific list of what is covered in the book, then let me know and I can provide that to you when I get home later today. All the best, Tracy

No One, You certainly have an amazing collection of items related to Djibouti, and a lot of knowledge. Thanks for sharing. Tracy

The last of the most recently acquired Patriotic Women’s Association badges is a Preferential Treatment Member Badge. This type is brand new to my collection. See Medals of Asia at https://asiamedals.info/threads/preferential-treatment-member-badge-of-womens-patriotic-association.23779/. The badge is made of bronze and approximately 25.4 mm in diameter. The bow is approximately 29 mm wide and 40 mm long. The colors are white and red with the following stripe pattern from either top or bottom: 3 mm white; 3 mm red; 4 mm white; 12 mm red; 4 mm white; 3 mm red; 3 mm white. The stickpin on the reverse is approximately 42 mm long. There is no inscription on the obverse but the reverse has a three column inscription. In the center is 愛國婦人會 for “Women’s Patriotic Association”; on the right is 優待 for “Preferential Treatment”; on the left is 員章 for “Member Badge”. The box is of white cardboard in the matchbox style, with the following dimensions: 67 mm long X 55 mm wide X 14 mm high. On the lid in black, stamped kanji are the name of the badge and the maker. The center column is 優待員章 for “Preferential Treatment Member Badge” and the left column is 東京 玉宝堂製 for “Tokyo, Made by Gyokuhōdō”. It is a humble but aesthetically pleasing badge. Tracy Obverse: Reverse: Cardboard box lid:

The second Patriotic Women’s Association badge that I recently purchased is another Special Supporter Member Badge. This example is what I call a “true” 4th variation, so defined because the pin on the reverse is like the pin on the Medals of Asia page referenced in my post from yesterday, May 2nd. This is in contrast to the example about which I posted on August 21st of 2023, which I labeled a possible “hybrid” given the fact that the pin construction was different. Out of the five variations the only one not currently in my collection is the 2nd variation. Tracy Special Supporter Member Badge 4th variation obverse: Special Supporter Member Badge 4th variation reverse:

No One, Thank you. Much appreciated. Tracy

I haven’t posted in this thread for about six months. I was finally able to procure three more Patriotic Women’s Association badges. On his website Medals of Asia, JapanX has documented five variations of the Special Supporter Member Badge. See https://asiamedals.info/threads/special-supporter-member-badge-of-womens-patriotic-association.25981/. I have finally filled a hole in my collection with the badge below, which I am quite sure is an example of the 3rd variation. The key is the stem and leaf design at the bottom of the obverse and the type of pin on the reverse. Thanks for looking. Tracy Special Supporter Member Badge 3rd variation obverse: Special Supporter Member Badge 3rd variation reverse:

My most recent acquisition, an Order of the Sacred Treasure 3rd Class with N hallmark, came with a rosette, and that rosette also has a hallmark: ス (su). I looked at it and looked at it, but something just did not look right. Then, it hit me: unlike the other seven rosettes that I have (for Treasures, Kites, and Suns) with the ス hallmark, this rosette has the ス in a different orientation from that of my seven other rosettes. Seven of my rosettes have what I call an inward facing ス, where the top of the character faces inward toward the rosette’s cylinder, like this: The rosette that came with my N hallmarked 3rd Class Order of the Sacred Treasure, however, has an outward facing ス, where the top of the character faces outward from the rosette’s cylinder, like this: At Medals of Asia this hallmark is associated only with Red Cross medals as well as rosettes for such medals and rosettes for other orders/medals. The two pictures of Red Cross rosettes are of outward facing ス but the four pictures of rosettes for other orders/medals all have inward facing ス. See Medals of Asia: https://asiamedals.info/threads/marks-of-the-japanese-red-cross-society-medals.15270/. If my small sample size of eight and the four pictures at Medals of Asia are any indication, then clearly outward facing ス are much less common on non-Red Cross rosettes than inward facing. Beyond that I cannot posit any other conclusions. It would be interesting to know the stamping process for rosettes with this hallmark. Heck, it would be really interesting to know the meaning/manufacturer behind this hallmark. All the best, Tracy

No One and Tony, Thank you! Tracy

I am lucky enough to have added another order with a hallmark to my collection. This is another Order of the Sacred Treasure 3rd Class, which makes the sixth 3rd Class in my collection: five for males and one for females. Out of the six orders, five of them have hallmarks. The latest addition is a four rivet reverse and below the rivet at the 6h is the hallmark N. This is the mark of the Japan Medal Manufacturing Corporation. Known dates of manufacture are, as of today, January 1929 to February 18, 1930. Of course, see Medals of Asia at https://asiamedals.info/threads/mark-n-on-japanese-orders-and-medals-who-and-when.14995/ for a discussion of the N hallmark in general and at https://asiamedals.info/threads/orders-of-the-sacred-treasure-with-mark-n.14999/ for a gallery of Sacred Treasures with the N mark. It is in beautiful condition, with only a single red glass cabochon “jewel” exhibiting damage: the one at 12h. I note that the button rosette also has a mark on its underside: ス (su). The case lid has gold kanji and the “Meiji/Taisho” stylization of 勣 (kun). As a side note, the silver latch is so tarnished that it is basically black in color. I was thrilled to add this wonderful example to my collection. Enjoy. Tracy Obverse with ribbon and rosette: Reverse, with the N just visible under the rivet at 6h: The N hallmark up close: The case lid:

Nice haul, Tony. Now you have even more research projects, no? 😀 Tracy

No One, Very nice award. Indeed, if a rosette that I have has a hallmark on it, then it's ス. All the best, Tracy

…and another Order of the Sacred Treasure with a hallmark. This is a 5th Class with 幣 (hei) on the reverse just below the 6h rivet. About the 幣 hallmark see Medals of Asia at https://asiamedals.info/threads/mark-on-japanese-order-who-and-when.15113/. No rosette with this one. The lid has gold kanji with the “Meiji/Taisho” stylization of 勣 (kun). This is what, I believe, JapanX would refer to as “a salty specimen”. The photos below actually make it appear lighter than it really is. The ribbon is so heavily soiled that it looks brown. The silver is quite tarnished and has a dull gray look. Some dirt won’t easily come off of the white enameled rays and almost each of the red glass cabochon “jewels” is chipped/pitted and/or scratched. Nonetheless, I’m delighted to have this in my collection. Enjoy. Tracy Obverse: Reverse: The 幣 (hei) hallmark up close: …and finally, the case lid:

I just received this lovely Order of the Sacred Treasure 6th Class, cased. On the reverse below the 6h rivet is the M mark of the Japan Mint, Osaka. The M mark is a nice, strong strike. In just the right light at just the right angle the ribbon looks to be a very, very pale blue. Otherwise, it looks to be a dirty/off white. Gold kanji grace the lid with the “Meiji/Taisho” stylization of 勣 (kun). Unfortunately this one did not come with a rosette. Oh well, you “can’t win ‘em all” as they say. Tracy Obverse: Reverse: M mark up close: Finally, the case lid:

SovPha, Amazing documents, photographs, and write-up. Thank you for sharing this wonderful information. All the best, Tracy

No One, Fascinating. Thanks for sharing. I will have to visit the website. All the best, Tracy

No One, Indeed, it looks like the mark on the above medal was not completely stamped. An interesting item to have in your collection. Tracy

No One, That is a splendid collection. Simply wonderful. The fact that you have a marked medal for females makes it even better! I must admit that I am jealous. I currently have the Showa Enthronement medal with M mark and its wrapper as well as the N mark as its wrapper. I am on the hunt for an S (Shōbidō) marked medal and its wrapper as well as a Y (Yamazaki) marked medal and its wrapper. There are also variations with the S marked on the ball instead of the ring and variations with the Y as convex instead of concave (which from the picture is what your medal’s mark looks to be). For all of the information see Medals of Asia at https://asiamedals.info/threads/makers-marks-of-japanese-orders-and-medals.14996/. All the best, Tracy

No One, Ahh, that would make sense. I hope that he weighs in. Tracy