Dieter3

Gotcha! ;)

In other words, FAKE!

Oh yes! I'll have to dig through my photos and see if there are any other variations, but you've covered a lot!

Not me! No amount of crack could convince me to pay $130.00 for that medal unless it could PROVEN to belong to a big name or something like that.

Yes, two lower classes until somewhere in the 30's when everything went single column. What I find interesting is the various forms that in particular the character "8" takes over the various transformations. You probably noticed too that the 1st character in the second column (left column) is flipped in the earliest examples.

Oh, I've seen a lot worse.....!! Russo-Japan War medal, average condition for $130.00+ if memory serves correctly, and junk Great East Asia War replicas going in excess of $200.00!!! Stop doing drugs people!!! And do your research!! Looks like somebody attempted a polishing job, and it isn't very good! I think he is a she!!

If you mean by old style - the 2 columns of kanji - I would agree!

How about this? I don't do Chinese, but wondering if this is legit or not for this heafty price: http://page9.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k131461966

Are you talking about the small circle on the grip? This is not a mint mark. I have a few of these medals and they all have this mark as do China Incident medals. How much did it sell for? There is a thread about high-priced, common medals somewhere here. I don't question a buyer's motives, but I suspect strong DRUGS are involved in some cases...... :lol:

Thanks Mickey. Yeah, the 2600th Year Anniversary medal - no doubt an odd one to fake, given the commonality of really good (authentic!) pieces and low prices to go with them! Doesn't make much sense.

Mickey, Do you have any photos of these medals? What auction site are you referring to?

Agree 100%. It'd probably cost more to fake these medals than it is to just buy them.

The latest, another nice post-war 8th class example. As common as they are, I really like these for their elegant simplicity, though I find them difficult to photograph since they are so reflective.

I'll take 3 please! I have few older lady's awards, but they are just basic memberships or special memberships, and one sorta older life membership, but no really old orders for women. Or the really early orders with the rosette on the ribbon/bow!!

Just can't stop! Seriously, I don't know how many variants there are out there, lots. I just get whatever I don't have! I actually got this one for the rosette paired with this particular case style. Not a rare combo, but I just didn't have this pairing yet. I'm on the hunt for a really old lady's order as well as a minty one with the box and the lapel button still in the plastic baggie! ;)

Latest addition:

Na, Poor(+) would have to have more damage, fade, staining.

Na, overall I call it Good(+). :)

Unfortuately, the design of the case interior doesn't even allow for the medal to sit properly! If you put the medallion into the recess the ribbon doesn't go where it's supposed to. Not sure if that's how they all are, or if somebody just didn't get this case right. Comparing to earlier awards, the recess for the medallion is situated differently so everything fits better. I think maybe attention to detail was better in the good ole' days! ;)

Na, there's a lot that just doesn't show in the photos. The abrasions are not large, but they are there. The soiing I'm referring to is on the ribbon, not the medallion - again, not as easy to see in the photos, but it's there. Thats just toning and tarnish that would polish out, but I'm not going to touch that. The piece looks nicely "aged" as a whole and polishing it would make it look funny! I mean don't get me wrong, it's not a BAD specimen, but it is not the finest example! Overall, I grade this a Fair(-) condition. If the case had the latch, it'd get a Fair grade. My grading criteria are fairly brutal! You're right - I am picky! My pleasure! Gotta get one with a latch though for purposes of completeness! Maybe next tax return..... ;)

Sorry, I haven't forgotten! I'm way behind on my catalogging and I've been focusing on medals so I can get them processed and packed away, the documents are taking a back seat! Stay tuned^2. ;)