JapanX

Why? That's why! We will rated this one Poor (-) :lol:

Talking about the world wide financial crisis... Folks in SF simply couldn't keep pace with their acquisitions

Hem... Are you sure mate?! Maybe Poor (+)?

Cathode ray tube is burning out mate! :lol:

Ok. I will post it in a separate thread tomorrow (hopefully ).

You are way too picky! This is great specimen! Ribbon is in very very nice condition. "...small abrasions"?!? This is "near mint" condition for this rare medal And this is not "soiling" - this is specific color of patina. This interesting "colorization" could be found in case of four medals - Taiwan, Constitution, Wedding and Yellow ribbon (first type). Guess it has something to do with the alloy composition. And the box... Congratulations!!! Cheers Nick

At least they changed their gilding technology ... On working one Thanks! VJ... Very interesting figured type puncheons. To say nothing about the form of suspension ball!

Please don't show these two photos of Samad Khan to this russian dude Mitya... Or he will go berserk! Because on one photo this Shah has one cockade (standing lion with the sword) and on the other photo he has another one (two lions and grenade between them)... Cheers, Nick P.S. Many thanks for posting these Markus! :beer:

Very impressive collection Tod! Congratulations!!! And even observer wings (lower row)! These are very rare... Cool! By the way, the direction of the the eagle head on the observer wings is unstable too Metal wings have eagles looking to the left So maybe it's just stylistic differences in manufacturers after all??? Hmmmm... If you wish I could post my army pilot badges collection in a couple of days ... Cheers, Nick

You've got to get used to this strangeness... It is quite typical "phenomenon" for Japanese phaleristics. Nick

Tod, this badge definitely had two classes (from 1923 till 1940) the higher class (a.k.a 1st class) for officers the lower class (a..k.a 2nd class) for NCOs I believe that after 1940 only 2nd class badges for NCOs were awarded (usually after graduation from Army Air Force Academy). The problem is that 1st class badges should be "silver" and 2nd class badge should be "bronze"... Why this is a problem? Because we observe too many different variations for so-called 1st class "silver" badges. 1) star, propeller and wings in gold gilt 2) star and propeller in gold gilt, but wings in silver 3) star in gold gilt, but propeller and wings in silver And even 2nd class badges ("bronze" ones with copper-plated wings) have two variations: 1) star, propeller and rays in gold gilt 2) star in gold gilt, but propeller and rays in silver Are these just stylistic differences in manufacturers?! I don't know... Cheers, Nick

Hi Tod, unfortunately I couldn't help you with uniform regulation or school graduation watch fobs identification (although it would be nice to see the latter ones ), because I am badges/medals/orders collector. But naturally I collect Japanese pilot badges. And I've just visited your Museum web page. Thank you for all your work! Very, very interesting!!! And of course I was more than interested in Imperial Japanese Air Force insignia section of your museum. http://www.rathbonemuseum.com/JAPAN/JPInsignia/JPInsignia.html In this section I found well known and very rare badge described as "JAAF graduation Badge of a superior officer pilot (courtesy Jacques Pey collection)". The same badge was described in James Peterson book (page 107) as "Officer Pilot Badge. ... A five pointed star in gold gilt is centered. The wings are gold gilt, the propeller silver." Interesting that Peterson didn't mentioned any classes for this badge (1st or 2nd/superior or lower)... Even more interesting is that I have in my collection badges with silver star and wings, but the propeller in gold gilt! And even more interesting examples that have star, wings and propeller in gold gilt!!! Not to mention another variation with gold rays, gold star, gold propeller and copper-plated wings... So I wonder why you identified this badge as "superior"? Maybe you (or Mr. Jacques Pey) have some additional info about the statute for this badge? Regards, Nick

You know I will mate! Special thanks for D5 specimen Regards, Nick

Here we have (LTR) China Relief Expedition 1900, Marine Corps, numbered “529” and impressed on the rim “Howard S. Black”, with original issue May 1933-dated box (not shown), Medal of the Old Guard of Philadelphia, numbered “141” and marked “BB&B/Bronze”, United Spanish War Veterans Order of the Serpent, second class, with silver officer’s bar, with “H.S. Black” written on the back of the pendant. Private Black enlisted in October 1899. He served in Company D, Marine Pioneer Battalion, Samar, Philippines. Records indicate that he received two China Relief Medals, 215 and 529 (sic!). He also received Philippine Campaign Medal #617 (location unknown). In February 1901, Black was discharged at Mare Island, California. Upon his return to Philadelphia, he joined the Old Guard of Philadelphia, a unit of retired veterans. Some sources show him as Howard S. Black and some as Walter S. Black, but the Marine Corps muster rolls used Howard S. Black. I wonder how come that this brave soldier got two China Relief Medals, #215 and #529? Another case of pre-30s duplicated awarding practice? Any thoughts? Regards, Nick

The name of the cavalier Howard S. Black, US Marine Corps.

I guess many of you Jents saw this interesting and beautiful group on sell couple of years ago. Unfortunately I miss the action, but at least I have this pic

Сurrently I am in process of creating a mint mark library for two-screws and after 2003 sacred treasures orders (and for "later" rising sun orders as well – they have same two-letter codes on their suspension balls). So if you have documented (or undocumented) orders with these marks in your collection – please PM me the codes and the year (if you have this info) when the order was issued (or post this info in this thread). Cheers, Nick

And I really love the appearance of paulownia leaf for modern sacred treasure order

Mint mark

The most interesting thing is that this specimen has only one mark! Here it is – on reverse of paulownia leaf. But there is no usual two-letter mint mark on suspension ball!!! Actually there is no suspension ball at all – instead we have some kind flatted circle (exactly the same as we have in case of modern rising sun orders).

Document

Reverse close up

Obverse close up

Reverse

Obverse