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

[JapanX]

Naturally many numismatist`s become interested in our medal.

I found out that at least two articles devoted to the medal were published on numismatic journals.

Young, James W. (Jan., 1986) The Homma Medal. Numismatist, Vol. 99, p. 21-29

Bertalanffy, Felix D. (Aug., 1977) Japanese Occupation of the Philippines - the "Homma medal". Numismatics international Bulletin, Vol. 11, no. 8 pp. 249-251.

Unfortunatly I couldn`t locate them...

Any help with these two pieces will be greatly appreciated.

[JapanX]

Type S2

"Silver with loop"

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Type S3

"Silver with loop"

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Type S2 and Type S3 have obvious stamp differences.

For example ...

(S2 is on the left)

[JapanX]

There are Type S3 medals without the loop (well, looks like somebody simply forget to soldered loops)

[JapanX]

Another one

[JapanX]

Recently Type S2 with broken loop was sold at FJP auction for $300

[JapanX]

Type S1 with improvised loop

[JapanX]

Now let`s turn our attention to the bronze version.

Type B1 without the loop

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Piece from Murphy/Ackley book was obvious made by the same stamp

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Type B1 with the loop

Same stamp as before - only loop is added by way of soldering

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

Additional examples of B1 with and without the loop

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

and B1 with the loop.

Edited December 21, 2012 by JapanX

[JapanX]

[JapanX]

No so long ago this B1 without the loop was sold at ebay

[JapanX]

Interesting that American Numismatic Society have bronze (!!!) version in its collection.

The description from the catalogue

BRONZE GILT MEDAL of Homma

Descriptive Information

Object Type: MEDAL

Date on Object: 1942

Manufacture: cast

Material: BRONZE GILT

Measurements: 35.5 mm

Shape: round

Department: Medal

References

Basso-150

Administrative History

Previous Collection:

Niles, Eleanor Perez

Issuer: Homma, Gen. Masaharu

Region: Philippines

Mint: Crispulo Zamora, Manila

Event: Commemorate the capture of Bataan and Corregidor by the Japanese

Obverse Legend: COMMEMORATING THE EXPEDITION TO THE PHILIPPINES.

Obverse Type: Japanese soldier in battle dress looking towards the Island of Corregidor.

Reverse Legend: 9-vertical line poem by General Homma on the Japanese conquest.

Reverse Type: Two coconut trees with fronds.

Edited December 19, 2012 by JapanX

[JapanX]

Now the only question is why there are so many variations and two variants (i.e. silver and bronze?) ...

Especially since it is widely belived that

"It has been estimated that only a few hundred of these medals were actually struck and given to Homma's officers. So few have survived that many coin and medal collectors have never even seen them!"

(for full text go to http://corregidor.org/chs_trident/homma/homma_01.htm )

Hmmm...

[JapanX]

The material for this posting was practically ready when I found this short note from 6th ANNUAL PHILIPPINE COLLECTORS FORUM (PCF) AT THE ANA WORLDS FAIR OF MONEY that was held on August 1, 2008

"Mr. Ray Czahor made a brief presentation entitled "A short discussion of the Japanese Homma Medal and Varieties". This medal was given to Japanese soldiers for their victory in conquering Fort Corregidor Island and the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines during the opening months of WWII. They are interesting and desirable because they are very scarce and some were over- struck on the smaller U.S.-Philippine pesos. To own one is a prize in any collection. Ray provided a very professional handout on the results of his exhaustive study entitled: "A Study Of The Die Varieties Of Philippine/Japanese Homma Medals". This will now allow any one to decipher what variety they may own, and help in their authentication. Ray also put together a display of 30 Homma medals and lead trial strikes of various kinds/ varieties. Due to the rarity of these pieces this was an amazing feat, Thank you Ray, for your efforts, and scholarly presentation."

[JapanX]

I was like WHAT?!

30?!?!

And then I found these photos ...

I guess they were made at this 2008 forum.

Not 30 , but 23 piece for sure.

Including original bronze trials!!!

Edited December 19, 2012 by JapanX