Medal from Poet-General: General Homma Medal for the Invasion of the Philippines

[JapanX]

Yep, this famous Lieutenant General Masaharu Homma...

His colleagues thought that he is "too soft" for the front lines and contaminated by western ideas about conserving the lives of his men...

His enemies thought that he is a cruel monster directly responsible for famous "Bataan Death March"...

Both points of view are wrong of course

Basic info about our Lieutenant General our colleagues can find here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaharu_Homma

Let`s go straight to the phaleristic treasures

For a start here is a valuable info from the book "Coins, Medals and Tokens of the Philippines" by Aldo Basso, that was published in 1968 (thanks for the scans Rich ).

Edited December 16, 2012 by JapanX

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Please note this part of the text

[JapanX]

Interesting, that this source claim that no medals were strucked in bronze (with the exception of 3 trial pieces)!

Close ups of obverse and reverse of this silver medal from 1968 book.

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Time to take a look at the piece from my collection

Loop version of the medal (note the stamp differences from book example )

[JapanX]

Excellent quality!

Edited December 15, 2012 by JapanX

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Reverse (I bet that this is handwriting of our Lieutenant General ... Nice calligraphy )

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Amazing details ...

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

So what`s up with the bronze version of this medal?!

Personally I saw only silver ones (both times )

But in the Paul Murphy and Steven Ackley book “In the name of Living God” p. 153 we find the picture of such medal (without the loop) and the following description.

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

So what is this bronze version?!

Simply the "trial piece" or indeed version "for soldiers"?

Any info chaps?

Ideas?

And while you are thinking about how to help me out (I know you have kind hearts ) - better quality pictures of exactly the same bronze version of the medal that we saw in the Murphy/Ackley book.

Please note, that this is (again!) different stamp ...

Edited December 15, 2012 by JapanX

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

In conclusion a few (known and not very well known) photo portraits of the "father of the medal"

[JapanX]

Impressive bar

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Together with distinguished collaborators ...