Seaman's Diligence Badge type 1943 from the Ministry of Communications a.k.a. "Marine Golden Kite"/遞信省船員勤勞章 別名「海の金鵄勲章」

Type 1940 badge https://asiamedals.info/threads/sea...unications-a-k-a-marine-golden-kite-no.26786/

Established on July 19, 1943 by Ministry of Communications Ordinance No. 102.

Original description.

1st variation "one screw construction marked 純銀/pure silver".

Silver, gilt.
Size 44 mm.
Weight 32 g.

Reverse

船員勤勞章 - Seaman's Diligence Badge

Marked 純銀 - pure silver.

 

2nd variation "one screw construction unmarked".

 

Four types of cases are known for badges of 1st and 2nd variations.

Case of 1st type.
Lacquered case with inscription 船員勤勞章- Seaman's Diligence Badge.

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Note that the silver kanjis rub off rather easily and when it happens a reddish surface begins to appear underneath.

Case of 2nd type.

Paulownia case with inscription 船員勤勞章- Seaman's Diligence Badge.

Case of 3rd type.

Lacquered case with inscription 船員勤勞章- Seaman's Diligence Badge and additional inscription 海務院 - Maritime Council /On December 19, 1941 the Maritime Council was established as an external bureau of the Ministry of Communications 遞信省/.

海務院 - Maritime Council

Case of 4th type.

Lacquered case with inscription 船員勤勞章- Seaman's Diligence Badge and additional inscription 朝鮮総督府 - Governor-General of Korea

 

Looks like one screw fastening often wasn't enough.
Badge of 1st variation with lost central medallion.

 

3rd variation "two screws construction unmarked".

 

1st variation badge vs. 3rd variation badge.

 

Cased specimen of 1st variation with case of 3rd type (with additional inscription 海務院 - Maritime Council).

Size 43.7 mm.
Weight 31.7 g.
Total weight 107.1 g.

Reverse marked 純銀 - pure silver.

 

Cased specimen of 2st variation with case of 3rd type (with additional inscription 海務院 - Maritime Council).

Size 46 mm.
Weight 29.06 g.

Thickness 12 mm.

Original outer cardboard case.