Dieter3

Alex: I did now!! Damn! Where do these people come up with this stuff?? I wonder if the same original owner was that of the 1874 and that Constitutional medal! I gotcha, didn't catch it the first time. Registering with Babelfish could be a problem!! I'm just fortunate enough to have access to a native speaker that helps me out when needed. Paul: What gives it away that it is a replacement ribbon?? (That is, besides the auction actually indicating it....) What were the original boxes like?? Everyone: Whose loaning me the ¥500,000??? My wife already told me "NO", so I'm counting on you'ze guys.....

You are right! I'm getting all of these rebellions, campaigns, saigos and time periods mixed up in my noodle!!

I certainly don't doubt that, but how do you know? The hook doesn't look right, but could just that be the replacement? Rich, do you know if that is an original case, and is that a push button release mechanism?? I haven't tried it, but how about Babelfish?? I know just enough to navigate me where I need to go!! I was cruising through pages actually and saw that one, didn't think anything of it, went to next page, then said, WHOA! BACK UP!! Closer inspection and just about pee'd my pants! It was at 150,000 yen, but I think that seller has a reserve price, who knows what it it though. What do you guys wager, 500,000+ yen?? At least??? This is the Taiwan expedition BTW.

The Real Deal? http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f86939446 If it is, I can't believe a seller would offer such crappy pictures!!:speechless:

O.K., found one in the plastic case! Still no idea what they come with though.....

Indeed!! But by my observations, these Manchukuo medals, especially like the special member's, etc. is like comparing the commonality of a Boxer medal to a China Incident medal!!! I have seen so very few over this past year. And with so few specimens of any type, you knows how many variations of case there could be. Yours could very well be an original!

I'm am super-interested in Port Arthur!! Gotta get oodles of pics.!!! That Enthronement medal, as you know, is a lot harder to find than the Boxers!! I hope you can do it!! I've observed perhaps a dozen for sale over this past year, they seem to fetch in the $400-500 U.S. range for what I consider "average" quality pieces. Here is a pic. of a member's medal with the case and lapel pin, and a special member's medal, case and lapel pin (this was pricey!!). Wish I could claim them as my own!!! You can see they are different though, so my guess is the case you have is not original. The style seems probable, but no writing? They may not all have been marked though, I just don't know enough about 'em.

Cool!! I like these. Gee wiz though, they can be pricey!! I saw a ladies version a few days ago, and I saw a special members and certificate go a few months back for several hundred each. Yes, the seller broke the medal and the document up in hopes to make more money. (Pinhead in my opinion for doing that with a substantially uncommon set!! But I digress....) Fortunately, the same buyer was able to win both auctions.

I can't honestly remember - but something tells me they actually did go to the same buyer. Really!

I try!!! But for every really nice piece, I end up with at least one or two that are not as nice as I thought they'd be. Let's just say my definition of "good" and the average seller's definition is very different and pictures can be deceiving as we all know. Still, gotta take some risks provided they aren't TOO expensive. :speechless:

These were on Yahoo! Japan Auctions.....

Yes, the less common variant's medallion differs somewhat and the suspension bar has a slightly different pattern than this one. You can see the differences in the Orders and Medals of Japan book.

Well, I don't collect Chinese medals, but I've certainly heard the stories about the fakes!! That's really too bad.

Japanese stuff? Have you had any bad experiences?

I figured waiting would pay off, sometimes it's hard to be patient!! I do need to find that more rare variant of course, might be a little less picky on that one.....:blush:

Thanks Paul for that clarification, as I only have Meiji era docs. for the Rising Sun! This is good to know.

I finally found one I liked after nearly a year of looking! I'm sure I've missed plenty of nice specimens, but everything I see always seem to have pretty beat up cases (though often nice medals), or medals in not so good condition, faded, etc. Well, this one ain't perfect, but it ain't too bad. I'm pretty happy with it. Now to just find a nice Boxer Rebellion medal, my goal by the end of the year....

So, I believe the silver colored writing is consistent with the period, earlier ones were of gold, so I think you're good there. I believe this was issued to a civilian, Mr. Masao Daishou (Taishou?). I don't see a military rank there. I'd say there is a good chance the award and certificate go together (at least period-wise), but it's hard to be 100% certain short of acquiring the items directly from a family, or from a VERY reputable seller, or someone you truly trust. Alas, I've seen too many instances of awards and documents being put together and sold as matched, when indeed they were not. I'd like to think the majority are legitimate, and they probably are.

For what it's worth, the ribbons look identical, and unmessed with. If this was painted or touched up somehow, it was done very nicely - and the ribbon must not have been in place - meaning this was done before assembling the piece, or the ribbon was replaced. It shows no signs of whatever the finish is on the ribbon. It would have been hard to apply in my opinion with the ribbon in place. It doesn't have an unusual odor, or anything that an old medal doesn't smell like, so it wasn't done recently, pretty sure it is paint though. So - this must be some type of early, prototype medal - the makers wanted to visualize what it might look like in darkened bronze before finalizing the product so they simply painted it black, and utilized the earlier construction of the 1914-15 medal, and it is worth thousands upon thousands of dollars. :lol: -OR- more likely, it's nothing special!! Some dude just colored it in with a Sharpie to make it look pretty! Anyway, I'd really appreciate any opinions or info on it. Anybody else encounter something like this???

This is interesting - the suspension on the "normal" medal does not have exposed pins, the "painted" - one does! I don't have a lot of examples of these medals; I have 3x 1914-15 and they all have exposed pins. Not including the oddball, I have 3x 1914-20 medals - none of them have these exposed pins. ??? Normal: "Painted":

The catch for the hook is different. I don't think that it indicates anything in particular, but it is interesting (to me anyway).

Reverse:

X

The obverses and bars:

Gents - got this recent odd ball and need opinions on it. Sorry this pics. aren't a little better, but hopefully they offer decent enough in showing contrast bewteen what I'm used to seeing and what I find odd. This one looks as though it has been painted, and seems to show some characteristics of both the 1914-15 medal and the 1914-20 medal. 1st pic. - the one on the right is glossy, and you can see the wearing of the black, whatever it is, and the underlying medal coming through. Dimensionally, the medallions seem the same.