Mystery Asian coin/medal - Can you ID it?

Aethelred

Hi there,

I ran across this mystery coin in a collection that I bought and I was hoping that one of you would be kind enough to share your wisdom with me. This coin/medal is 9.9g and 29mm in diameter.

On the obverse there is a pea(bird) above what looks like a Swiss cross, both of which are enclosed by a wreath. The reverse has inscriptions that to my eye looks Korean, but I could be way off on that. This coin has a plain edge.

Any information would be more than I currently have and would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,
Michael

coinkat

Interesting- I can at least appreciate the difficulty- Could it be some type of a Red Cross medal from China from WW II? Just a wag

ajaan

No

Sapyx

My deductions:

The script is archaic, much like Chinese "seal script", but I think it's Japanese - the first line of the reverse inscription reads "Meiji Year 21" I believe - that would be AD 1888. The trefils that appear on either side of the cross are the same as those that appear on some pre-war Japanese coins.

The character used for the number "10" also appears in the second line. Perhaps it's a Red Cross 10 year service medal?

Alternatively, according to Wikipedia the Japanese Red Cross was founded in 1887, ten years after the first native relief organizaiton was founded; perhaps the medal has something to do with commemorating either of those events.

Wikipedia

satootoko

<< The script is archaic, much like Chinese "seal script", but I think it's Japanese - the first line of the reverse inscription reads "Meiji Year 21" I believe - that would be AD 1888. >>

Right. It is the script used on Japanese personal seals.

<< The character used for the number "10" also appears in the second line. Perhaps it's a Red Cross 10 year service medal? >>

Sometimes a cross is just a cross. Notice the subtle difference between the two symbols - the one in the date shows the horizontal stroke crossing over the vertical one - just as the character is written. Neither line crosses the other on the one in the second line. Read right to left the second line translates as "Japan Red Cross Society".

The reference to Meiji 21 doesn't make a whole lot of sense, as the home-grown Philanthropic Society's name change to Nippon Sekijūjisha upon its acceptance as a member of the International Red Cross occurred on September 2 in Meiji 20, as Sapyx pointed out.

sumnom

One of these medals is for sale on a Chinese auction site along with its ribbon and original box: link

The character that looks like a cross (that is, "10") is in fact ten both in the date and the Japanese rendition of "Red Cross." There is no difference. The literal translation of "Red Cross" in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean is "red ten character." The Chinese use a different word for red but the idea is the same. The cross looks like the number ten so the Society of the Red Cross is rendered "Red Ten Society" in these countries.

The image does suggest that the horizontal stroke is above the vertical but the correct stroke order is horizontal first, then vertical. The appearance of one stroke above the other is probably a matter of wear rather than design. Whatever the stroke order, ten is ten in both cases.

In 1888 the Japanese Red Cross came to the aid of the injured after the eruption of Mt. Bandai. It was their first major deployment. I would guess this medal commemorates that event. See: Mt. Bandai and Japanese Red Cross I wonder if this medal once belonged to someone who participated in the relief efforts.

Aethelred

You guys are amazing! Thank you all for the help.