JapanX

Number close up (actually right in the middle we see I istead of 1 )

Familiar makers seal ;)

Reverse

Close ups

Reverse (note the number... most likely fake one )

Another example of Variation A (on wrong ribbon) Obverse

$ 1500 I bet even his heirs will ... Gongratulation John :cheers:

This is box "for foreigners" and "princes/princesses of blood" Boxes for rising suns have red tassels. Boxes for sacred treasures have purple tassels. They were in use between 1875 and 20s. Regards, Nick

She always will be a princess for me ...

Hi Richard, could you show the pictures of this untypical box Cheers, Nick

I feel lucky today We should find out the names of these four daredevils ... For phaleristic Hall of Fame ... I only hope that this so-called winner is reading this forum .... Instead of drinking third bottle of Dom Ruinart vintage 1998 and listening "Celebration" on reverse

No. I believe they decided to use same base (obvious costing). I bet pretty soon there will be specimens with new "portraits" ;)

On photos we see 100% authentic Meiji Chrysanthemum The probability that this breast star will be actually mailed to happy winner of the auction is about 0,01%. Seller has no previous "seller history". No min threshold price was set, which is plain crazy. 40-50 days period for shipping?! Are you kidding me? Shipping costs 50$ to US? How this is possible?! Not to mention the other auction for the medal that has no pictures at all and if you ask for them seller will give you this quite eccentric reply "Sorry this is set up for a specific buyer by stores if buyers fail and I will publish it". My guess the breast star is "set up" too

$1225 ?! For Chrysanthemum breast star from Meiji epoch?!

We like them spicy

Exaggeration By buying directly from family... Photo of the cavalier! Usually it is very helpful. Especially when the bar has some irregularities or distinctions (ribbon folds, incorrect sequence of awards, etc...) + Medals "fitting-in". Medals that were in the bar for 70+ years should have something in common + General "realism" of the bar Of course professional could make very realistically looking bar (by using original (very simple one) as base). Fortunately a) not very much professionals around b) many of them are too damn lazy c) creation of high quality fake japanese bar is not very profitable business (if it's not a Togo bar of course ) Regards, Nick

Quite often they simple cut the bottom part Barbarians... Indeed, but I saved this one for this thread Cheers mate :cheers:

Yep, something like "German" silver or close substitute + cold enamel. As we see mate quality (very slowly) is on the raise

Either that or temporary doc or (sometimes) a separate doc Nope, but they were sometimes reissued when our hero went demob ; Check the years inside the orders books 1947!!! Regards, Nick

Indeed Pieter! This is posthumous portrait painted after the famous photograph + necessary "upgrades" Regards, Nick

That`s all for today lads Cheers, Nick

Close up

Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa

What about regulations?

Something very strange is going on with Rear Admiral RaizoTanaka medal bar ;)