Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
November 2015 Baltimore Auction - Sess. A-C 5-6 November 2015
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PHILIPPINES. Japanese Occupation. Homma Medal Obverse Die Trial in Lead, 1942. VERY FINE.
51.54 x 52.09 mm; 71.49 gms. cf.Basso-150. By Clemente Zamora. VERY RARE and important early die trial for the already scarce medals issued by General Masaharu Homma, commander of the Japanese 14th Area Army, who oversaw the Japanese conquest of the Philippines. The trial is struck on a nearly square piece of lead which has been machine smoothed on the side to which the trial was struck. It bears the familiar image of a Japanese soldier in his combat gear faced away gazing towards the island of Corregidor with a legend above which translates, "Commemorating the Expedition to the Philippines." Below the trial is stamped "1942 P.I." with a small ring stamped above with what seems to be a partial privy mark within. The date and location stamps were clearly added after the initial trial stamp as the numerals somewhat impinge on the lower periphery of the obverse stamp. The die used in this trial can be identified as SB(7) from the 2008 study of observed die combinations on Homma medals both in silver and bronze as well as these lead trial pieces conducted by Ray Czahor. Probably the most compelling area of note on this piece is actually found on the reverse where an inscription has been lightly scratched in with a very fine sharp instrument reading, "Trial/ Lead Plate/ C. Zamora/ 8-4-42/ Manila P.I." So we have seemingly the signature of the engraver who created the dies and produced these medals in Manila for the Japanese forces. What is of particular note is the date which as it would be read in the USA would indicate the date August 4th but another likely reading would be the 8th of April as in most part of the world dates are written with the day's numeral first. This would also line up more with the actual timeline of the war in the Philippines as the American and Filipino defenders of the Bataan Peninsula surrendered on April 9th and preparations for the final assault on Bataan had begun at the end of March so the idea of this medal being commissioned and trial pieces being struck before the actual surrender had come is not unreasonable. There is also the argument that General Homma was removed from command shortly after the fall of Corregidor at the beginning of May for delaying the Japanese invasion timetable and thus if we take the attribution that these medals were issued by him they would likely not have been produced as late as August. This remarkable piece is in a shockingly good state of preservation given the perilous era and unfavorable climate of its origin. A few light scratches can be seen in the fields of the die stamp but beyond that there are no flaws or issues of note. The actual strike is somewhat light giving a bit of flatness to the soldier's legs and distant hillsides but all design elements are present and distinct. An intriguing and exciting piece for those interested in the Japanese occupation of the Philippines and surely to become a major addition to any collection from this era. VERY FINE.
From the Ray Czahor collection.
Estimate: $700.00- $1000.00
51.54 x 52.09 mm; 71.49 gms. cf.Basso-150. By Clemente Zamora. VERY RARE and important early die trial for the already scarce medals issued by General Masaharu Homma, commander of the Japanese 14th Area Army, who oversaw the Japanese conquest of the Philippines. The trial is struck on a nearly square piece of lead which has been machine smoothed on the side to which the trial was struck. It bears the familiar image of a Japanese soldier in his combat gear faced away gazing towards the island of Corregidor with a legend above which translates, "Commemorating the Expedition to the Philippines." Below the trial is stamped "1942 P.I." with a small ring stamped above with what seems to be a partial privy mark within. The date and location stamps were clearly added after the initial trial stamp as the numerals somewhat impinge on the lower periphery of the obverse stamp. The die used in this trial can be identified as SB(7) from the 2008 study of observed die combinations on Homma medals both in silver and bronze as well as these lead trial pieces conducted by Ray Czahor. Probably the most compelling area of note on this piece is actually found on the reverse where an inscription has been lightly scratched in with a very fine sharp instrument reading, "Trial/ Lead Plate/ C. Zamora/ 8-4-42/ Manila P.I." So we have seemingly the signature of the engraver who created the dies and produced these medals in Manila for the Japanese forces. What is of particular note is the date which as it would be read in the USA would indicate the date August 4th but another likely reading would be the 8th of April as in most part of the world dates are written with the day's numeral first. This would also line up more with the actual timeline of the war in the Philippines as the American and Filipino defenders of the Bataan Peninsula surrendered on April 9th and preparations for the final assault on Bataan had begun at the end of March so the idea of this medal being commissioned and trial pieces being struck before the actual surrender had come is not unreasonable. There is also the argument that General Homma was removed from command shortly after the fall of Corregidor at the beginning of May for delaying the Japanese invasion timetable and thus if we take the attribution that these medals were issued by him they would likely not have been produced as late as August. This remarkable piece is in a shockingly good state of preservation given the perilous era and unfavorable climate of its origin. A few light scratches can be seen in the fields of the die stamp but beyond that there are no flaws or issues of note. The actual strike is somewhat light giving a bit of flatness to the soldier's legs and distant hillsides but all design elements are present and distinct. An intriguing and exciting piece for those interested in the Japanese occupation of the Philippines and surely to become a major addition to any collection from this era. VERY FINE.
From the Ray Czahor collection.
Estimate: $700.00- $1000.00