Homma Medal/紀元二千六百二年比島遠征紀念章/本間章

Struck to commemorate the fall of Bataan and Corregidor by General Masaharu Homma, the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Armed Forces.
In addition to two basic types (plain edge and reeded edge) at least ten stamp variations are known. Specimens in bronze and brass are also known.
Medals were manufactured by Crispulo Zamora workshop, Manila.

Silver Homma Medals.

Reeded edge type (strucked on Philippine pesos).

Silver.
Size 35.49 mm.
Weight 18.61 g.

Obverse

Japanese soldier in combat gear facing away at center, gazing at the hills of Bataan and island of Corregidor in background.

比島遠征紀念 - Philippines Expedition Commemorative

紀元二千六百二年 - Imperial Year 2602 = 1942

Reverse.

Two palm trees, stars in middle, Japanese characters throughout field.
A poem to pay tribute to soldiers who died in combat and credits General Masaharu Homma in writing.

 

Silver.
Size 39.09 mm.
Weight 19.88 g.

Clearly struck over a 1908-S Philippines Peso with portions of the undertype showing through including a full date.

From April 20 to April 30, 1942 right before surrendering MacArthur forces had dumped millions of peso into the deep crater south of Corregidor. It is belived that about 17 000 000 pesos were dumped into Manila Bay. The majority of the Philippines Silver Pesos dumped into Manila Bay (actually at Caballo Bay facing the South Dock) in 1942 were minted during the years 1907 to 1912 and 1936. Salvage operations began as early as May 1942 by Filipino divers under the control of the Japanese Navy recovering 108,000 pesos.​

 

Silver.
Size 38.18 mm.
Weight 19.78 g.

 

Plain edge type.

Silver.
Size 35.49 mm.
Weight 18.61 g.

 

Silver.
Size 35.58 mm (sans loop).
Weight 18.14 g.

 

Silver.
Size 35.54 mm (sans loop).
Weight 20.20 g.

 

Silver.
Size 35.54 mm (sans loop).
Weight 18.19.

 

Silver.
Size 35.57 mm (sans loop).
Weight 17.73 g.

 

Silver.
Size 35.75 mm (sans loop).
Weight 22.70 g.

Atypical specimen with added letters "US CVP" (United States Chinese Volunteers in the Philippines?). It weighs about four grams more than other plain edge medals and is two grams heavier than a contemporary Philippine peso. Additionally the loop attached at the top is of different style than others seen of this type. While the design of the dies is consistent with others of the time the reverse bears a considerable amount of "die rust" and surface dimpling while on the obverse some surface pitting and even some pimples can be observed including within the "S" which purports to be stamped into the surface. It is surmised then that this is a cast copy of an original piece which most likely did have the letters "US-CVP" added to the obverse. This may have been done shortly after the Philippines were retaken as a memento for members of the US CVP for their service and creating cast copies was the most practical method of producing enough pieces in a short amount of time.​

 

Silver.
Size 35.55 mm.
Weight 17.10 g.

 

Silver.
Size 35.57 mm.
Weight 18.09 g.
So called "long waves" variation.

 

Silver.
Size 35.46 mm.
Weight 18.6 g.

 

Bronze Homma Medals.

Allegedly trial strike.

 

According to Basso

Coins, medals, and tokens of the Philippines

Zamora had struck three medals in bronze as trial strikes.

 

But since the known number of such bronze medals far exceeds "three trial pieces" many collectors express doubts about their authenticity.

Source.

 

Additional examples of bronze Homma medals.

Even specimens with the loop.

 

Brass Homma Medals.

Brass.
Size 35.85 mm.
Weight 22.52 g.

Most likely after war restrike.

 

Die Trials of Homma Medal.

Lead.
Size 51.54 x 52.09 mm.
Weight 71.49 g.

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. 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.​

 

Lead.
Size 49.39 x 52.75 mm.
Weight 72.91 g.

Struck with the same obverse die as the previous trial and with the date "1942" stamped below, however on this example the numerals are finer and done with different punches as well as being spaced more widely apart. It also lacks the "P.I." found on the other example. Above and to the right of the date is again some sort of privy mark but this one lacks an outer ring and has been marred by eleven tiny peck marks seemingly applied around the time it was made. In the northwest corner of the obverse is stamped a serial number "000136" which is done with punches differing from either of the other two date stamps. On the reverse we find an identical incised inscription as on previous trial in the same style and hand reading, "Trial/ Lead Plate/ C. Zamora/ 8-4-42/ Manila P. I."​

 

The most unusual "customized" gilded version.

Size 35.5 mm.

Ribbon.