JapanX

Hi Rob, yep, this is typical japanese leather case that cavalier could bought for more easier and safer transportation/storage of his awards. Sometimes they called it "field case". No wonder! Most likely it is fake Because 1) ribbons have different wear (simply look at 8th class sun and national foundation medal or (even better test!) two incident medals ) 2) highly unrealistic set of medals for one man (in case of private - I think simply impossible) I wonder what legend was sold with this one Cheers, Nick

Thanks to Tsend we have photos of stands from Mongolian museum. As additional source of info devoted to famous Халхингол, 1939 I recommend this book "Nomonhan: Japanese-soviet Tactical Combat, 1939" by Edward J. Drea It was published in famous Fort Leavenworth research series in the early 80s. It can be downloaded from this source http://www.ebook3000.com/Leavenworth...81-_48701.html Highly interesting and recommended book. Cheers, Nick

Excellent adjective mate! Especially since (among many other great innovations) this great strategist figured out that the most cheap, easy and quick way to clear mine fields will be using your own troops - simply let them go They called him a man-eater ...

This mongolian 1931 Red Banner looks really nice (and with original box ) Unfortunately (judging by its mint condition) it doesn't belong to Zhukov (or anybody else). Most likely they used unissued order. Thanks, Nick

It sure is Next time I'll stop posting right after post #7 :lol:

I guess medal ... Especially if it is offered with the box... If it's not hypothetical - then I take the doc (already have boxed medal )!

Damn!

These descriptions are relevant sources of info ... Lends credibility?! Are you serious? I wonder if you are thinking about this scenario. "All documents were destroyed by collaborates to hide their treacherous behavior. But they kept the medals as souvenirs, since they were unsigned ..." Looks like ...

At last! :cheers:

Yep, the doc is much more rare than the medal ;)

Glad you like it Mike! Nick

They are both quasi rare, but I think the Great East Asia War medal is slightly more rare (but less attractive ) ...

:cheers: Nick

Number of actually presented medals Thanks to Nick Komiya we know that only 2638 medals were presented, including Army Personnel 2352 Navy Personnel 286 Well, after subtracting this number (2638) from total number of minted medals (3677) we will have 1039 unissued medals. We know why 590 medals were unissued – their cavaliers were dead. We are left with 449 unissued medals. Currently we don’t know why this 449 were not presented and what happened with all these 1039 unissued medals. Regards, Nick

Number of minted medals Thanks to Richard Catalano we know that the total number of minted 1874 War Medals was 3 677. Quite rational number when compared with 3658 original punitive expedition members.

Original expedition strike force and casualties Thanks to Nick Komiya (who found this info in the Japanese National Archive) we know that in May 1874 under the command of Saigo Tsugumichi were 3658 men, including NCOs and above 781 EM 2643 Civilian staff 172 Servants 62 Total Japanese casualties during the expedition were 590 men, including Death by sickness 561 KIA 12 Sick 17

Reverse

Original design Obverse

Inscriptions Obverse inscription could be translated as “War Medal”. Reverse inscription could be translated as “Meiji 7th Year/First Year of the Dog” Bar has two characters that stand for “Formosa"

Bar close up

Another close up of reverse

Another close up of obverse

Box close up

In the box