Show Your Japanese Medal Hallmarks & Maker's Marks

[TracA]

Well, I guess that my last post wasn’t my final installment on this topic. I forgot that I have one more award with a hallmark.

 

Order of the Sacred Treasure 2nd Class breast star with four screws and trident pin construction. (At least I’m considering it a second class breast star instead of an orphaned Grand Cordon breast star. It came in a 2nd Class lacquered case, and I am assuming that it was the case of issue).

 

The hallmark is located on the trident pin fastener and is, I believe, FK, although it was not fully struck so I cannot be 100% sure.

 

Obverse:

 

 

 

Reverse:

 

 

 

Hallmark FK (?):

 

 

Case:

 

 

 

Medalbed:

 

 

[JapanX]

Definitely FK.

This breast star was awarded somewhere around 1984-1986. 

 

Best

Nick

[TracA]

As always, thank you Nick.

 

Tracy

[TracA]

Despite thinking that my Order of the Sacred Treasure 2nd Class breast star was my last post of an order or decoration with a hallmark, this wonderful piece arrived yesterday. I was delighted to discover that it has a hallmark.

 

Order of the Sacred Treasure 8th class for a female. Just like the Order of the Sacred Treasure 8th class for males that I posted about 10 days ago, this one also has the hallmark 幣 (hei). Enjoy.

 

Tracy

 

Obverse:

 

 

 

Reverse:

 

 

 

Hallmark 幣 (hei) on the reverse of the 6h bead. Unfortunately I could not get a very clear photo of the hallmark with my phone:

 

 

[No one]

Dear Gentlemen,

 

I think 大 stands for 大橋 謹製 Ōhashi kinsei as can be seen on this Red-Cross rosette :

 

 

Yours sincerely,

No one

 

 

 

Edited January 28, 2023 by No one

[JapanX]

Regarding mark 大

 

https://asiamedals.info/threads/mark-on-japanese-orders-and-medals-who-and-when.16355/

 

36 minutes ago, No one said:

I think 大 stands for 大橋 謹製 Ōhashi kinsei as can be seen on this Red-Cross rosette.

 

This workshop was official supplier for Japanese Red Cross Society 

 

https://asiamedals.info/threads/russo-japanese-war-relief-commemorative-medal-of-japanese-red-cross-society.24343/#post-351186

 

The problem at the moment, however, is the lack of evidence that this workshop was also involved in manufacturing of government awards. 

 

Regards,

Nick

 

 

Edited January 28, 2023 by JapanX

[No one]

Dear JapanX,

 

OK, so Ōhashi kinsei is link to the Japanese Red Cross medals.

 

And except the Japanese Red Cross medals, "大" is only found on this medal "大正三四年従軍記章" :

 

 

May be one day we will find the answer !

 

Posted November 19, 2022

Tracy, I don`t think this is "II".

This is a typical two-letter mark only it wasn`t punched well enough (shape of suspension ball wasn't helping either).

 

 

Best,

Nick

 

I have the same problem, can't say if it's "II" or maybe a "M" or something else :

 

 

And I have this Sacred Treasure third class with  "--美-" but the neck ribbon is very narrow, never seen somewhere else: 

Yours sincerely,

No one

[JapanX]

Very nice 3rd class made by Shobido workshop in Osaka https://asiamedals.info/threads/mark-on-japanese-orders-who-and-when.25816/

 

Regarding neck ribbon of reduced width - these are privately commissioned (more convenient than standard full width ribbons and quite popular) items that were in use (approximately) from late 1890s and until the end of WW2. I even have somewhere ribbons of reduced width (made by Japanese workshop of course) for Manchukuo 3rd class Pillars and 3rd class Clouds.

 

Nice example of reduced ribbon for 3rd class Golden Kite order https://asiamedals.info/threads/3rd-class-golden-kite-order-awarded-in-1906-to-colonel-torazo-kawasaki-for-the-russo-japanese-war.24570/

 

Best,

Nick

[No one]

Dear JapanX,

 

Thank you.

 

I have this Red Cross Society rosette made by 村検 Mura ken :

 

 

Yours sincerely,

No one

[JapanX]

Very interesting and rare mark!

 

Regards,

Nick

[JapanX]

P.S.  The second (actually the first) kanji (by these photos) looks very close to 杭.

If it is indeed so then 杭村 - Kui-mura.

[No one]

Dear JapanX,

 

Tricky one but you may be right indeed, thank you.

 

 

Yours sincerely,

No one

[No one]

Dear Gentlemen,

 

Well, there are other possibilities, the ones with the arrow could be the most probable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And there is this small document :

 

 

Yours sincerely,

No one

 

 

 

[JapanX]

I think 枚村 - Hiramura.

 

Regarding Japanese mint informational leaflet https://asiamedals.info/threads/fineness-classifications-and-japanese-mint-certification-marks-of-precious-metal-products.13081/

 

Regards,

Nick

 

 

[No one]

Dear JapanX,

 

As the saying goes "If you sit by the river long enough, you will see the document with the kanji you are looking for float by".

 

Some more :

 

- Order of the Rising Sun 5th class, Gold and Silver Rays "UL" :

 

 

 

- Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays (ex 6th class) "CX" :

 

 

- Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays (ex 5th class) "JX" :

 

 

 

- Order of the Sacred Treasure 6th class (for woman) "GK" :

 

 

Yours sincerely,

No one

 

PS : I have a Japanese "ス" hallmark on a Manchu rosette, can I include it here?

 

 

Edited February 2, 2023 by No one

[JapanX]

Nice orders.

I recently added 4th class rising sun order to my "type 2003 collection".

 

 

These are quite thick "build to last" quality pieces.  

 

 

Best,

Nick

[JAN W]

Showa Enthronement Commemorative Medal , Rising Sun VII class , Imperial red Cross Society

[TracA]

Greetings Everyone,

 

I have another addition to this thread. A few weeks ago I obtained a wonderful Order of the Rising Sun 8th class with a lapel bow and Meiji case with gold kanji. The best part about this piece? The prominent ‘M’ mint mark on the reverse at 6h, the mark of the Osaka Mint. Some preliminary research (see Medals of Asia https://asiamedals.info/threads/mark-m-on-japanese-orders-and-medals-who-and-when.14818/ and https://asiamedals.info/threads/silver-kanji-vs-gold-kanji-lettering-on-the-lids-of-the-japanese-order-cases.26112/#post-357009) and the assumption that the case was the case of issue leads me to date this medal from sometime between March 1930 to 1940. Any and all thoughts and corrections to that are welcome.

 

Enjoy.

 

Tracy

 

Obverse with lapel bow:

 

 

Reverse:

 

‘M’ mint mark up a little closer:

 

 

Case lid:

 

[TracA]

Greetings,

 

I just took possession of a magnificent Order of the Sacred Treasure 3rd Class, in a case for foreigners including the purple tasseled cords, with four rivets on the reverse and the Osaka mint mark ‘M’ directly below the rivet at 6hr. The cravate is very pale blue with pink stripes; the rosette is the same colors. No hallmarks on the rosette. Instead of the oval type clasps that I have seen, this cravate has a small wedge-like piece with a locking ball that slides into the slot of a gold colored piece on the other side of the ribbon.

 

With some research on this very forum and at the Medals of Asia website, and assuming that the rosette is original to this award, I think that this piece might date from the mid- to late-1930s. Any and all suggestions/corrections are welcome.

 

Enjoy.

 

Tracy

 

Obverse with rosette:

 

 

Reverse with ‘M’ mint mark:

 

 

Cravate fastener:

 

 

Case lid:

 

 

Inside of the case lid:

 

[TracA]

My next installment for this topic is The Imperial Capital Rehabilitation Commemorative Medal with ‘M’ mintmark. My example has a beautiful tarnish to it and the ribbon colors are vivid (a replacement ribbon?). The ‘M’ mark of the Japanese Mint, Osaka, is on the top of the suspension and it is oriented towards the reverse of the medal. 

 

Per Medals of Asia the earliest known ‘M’ mintmark is from August 1930, and that datestamp actually corresponds to one of these medals. So I would say that this medal is at least from August of 1930.

 

Question: does anyone know when the Japanese Mint stopped minting The Imperial Capital Rehabilitation Commemorative Medal?

 

Enjoy.

 

Tracy

 

Obverse:

 

 

Reverse with the central column of 帝都復興記念章 for Imperial Capital Rehabilitation Commemorative Medal and on the bottom edge from 4hr to 8hr 昭和五年三月 for March of the 5th Showa Year, or March of 1930:

 

 

‘M’ mintmark on the suspension:

 

 

Case lid, which has the name of the medal in gold kanji:

 

Edited March 14, 2023 by TracA
Spacing

[JapanX]

All medals were manufactured by Mint (approximately) between November 1930 and March 1932.

 

Best,

Nick

[TracA]

Nick,

 

As always, thank you for sharing your knowledge.

 

All the best,

 

Tracy

[TracA]

Below is my example of the Showa Enthronement Commemorative Medal. This one has a hallmark ‘N’ on the top of the suspension ball. I think that the medal is quite beautiful.

 

Question: are there any known time coordinates for this ‘N’ mark? Any ideas which manufacturer it might represent?

 

Thank you.

 

Tracy

 

Obverse, with 萬歳 for “Banzai” under the pavilion:

 

 

Reverse with 大禮記念章 for Grand Enthronement Commemorative Medal inside the banner and on the bottom edge from about 4h to 8h reading 昭和三年十一月 for Showa 3rd Year 11th Month, i.e. November 1928:

 

 

Mark ‘N’ on the suspension ball:

 

 

Purple case, with the name of the medal on the lid in gold kanji:

 

Edited March 16, 2023 by TracA

[TracA]

Greetings,

 

I just obtained this wonderful Post 2003 Reform Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays. The triangular ribbon is approximately 45mm wide by 40mm long, light blue with a 4mm yellow stripe that is 3mm from each edge. The award is approximately 46mm by 74mm. The reverse and outermost rays are in silver, the innermost rays and rest of the badge are in gold. 

 

On the reverse the hallmark F5 is stamped at the bottom of the paulownia leaf at 6h.

 

All the best,

 

Tracy

 

Obverse:

 

 

Reverse:

 

 

Hallmark F5:

 

[JapanX]

On 13/03/2023 at 03:16, TracA said:

Greetings,

 

I just took possession of a magnificent Order of the Sacred Treasure 3rd Class, in a case for foreigners including the purple tasseled cords, with four rivets on the reverse and the Osaka mint mark ‘M’ directly below the rivet at 6hr. The cravate is very pale blue with pink stripes; the rosette is the same colors. No hallmarks on the rosette. Instead of the oval type clasps that I have seen, this cravate has a small wedge-like piece with a locking ball that slides into the slot of a gold colored piece on the other side of the ribbon.

 

With some research on this very forum and at the Medals of Asia website, and assuming that the rosette is original to this award, I think that this piece might date from the mid- to late-1930s. Any and all suggestions/corrections are welcome.

 

Enjoy.

 

Tracy

 

Obverse with rosette:

 

 

Reverse with ‘M’ mint mark:

 

 

Cravate fastener:

 

 

Case lid:

 

 

Inside of the case lid:

 

 

Sorry, missed this one.

Pink ribbon (and flat ribbon clasp) is from very early vintage. Approximately 1890-1910. Case and pink button rosette most likely from the same set. Badge is from 1929+ time period. 

 

Regards,

Nick