Silver Kanji vs. Gold Kanji: Lettering on the Lids of the Japanese Order Cases

Formally silver kanji were introduced on December 28, 1937 by Ministry of Finance Ordinance No. 60 that prohibited the use (as wartime austerity measure) of gold in inscriptions, trademarks, etc.

Excerpt from original ordinance.

"... may no longer be produced ...

4. Gold letters, gold silk, gold dust/powder, and other printing /四 金文字、金絲、金散シ其ノ他印刷用/
5. Gold lettering, trademarks and other signs /五 金文字、商標!他標識/

... ".

Ordinance No. 60 was later reinforced by Ministry of Finance Ordinance No. 51 issued on August 20, 1938.

Two cases for the 4th class Golden Kite order with gold and silver lettering.

Silver Kanji vs. Gold Kanji.jpg
Silver  Kanji vs. Gold Kanji.jpg


Two cases for the 8th class Rising Sun order with gold and silver kanji.

Silver  Kanji vs. Gold  Kanji.jpg
Silver  Kanji vs. Gold Kanji.jpg
 
Medals of Honor provide excellent material for the study of post war "silver to gold kanji" transition period.

Typical for early 1950s honor medal case .

Dark blue ribbon medal set that was awarded on August 11, 1952.

1952 紺綬褒章 褒章 共箱 昭和27年8月11日.jpg


1952  紺綬褒章 褒章 共箱 昭和27年8月11日.jpg


1952紺綬褒章 褒章 共箱 昭和27年8月11日.jpg



Blue ribbon medal that was awarded on October 1, 1952.

Blue ribbon medal   awarded on October 1, 1952.jpg


Blue ribbon medal   awarded on October  1, 1952.jpg


Blue ribbon medal   awarded on  October 1, 1952.jpg
 
Honor Medals will be issued inside cases with silver kanjis until 1957.

Medal issued on May 15, 1957.

May  15, 1957.jpg
May 15, 1957.jpg


May 15,  1957.jpg
 
Set that was issued on August 5, 1957.

August 5, 1957.jpg
August  5, 1957.jpg


August 5,  1957.jpg
August 5,   1957.jpg
 
More or less stable transition to the golden inscriptions occurred around 1958.
The earliest known (for today) set with golden kanjis that was issued on January 29, 1958 (note that the style of the kanjis is a "modern" one).

January 29, 1958.jpg
January  29, 1958.jpg


January 29,  1958.jpg
January 29,    1958.jpg


Such "modern" style of kanjis was in use at least since 1951 https://asiamedals.info/threads/red-ribbon-medal-of-honour-awarded-in-1951.25804/

Red   Ribbon Medal of Honour issued in 1951.jpg


Another example with golden kanjis from 1958 https://asiamedals.info/threads/4th-class-rising-sun-order-awarded-in-1970.26228/#post-357364

Blue Ribbon Honor Medal.jpg
 
Set with a golden kanji (of old style) case issued on February 11, 1959.

February 11, 1959.jpg
February  11, 1959.jpg


February  11,  1959.jpg
February 11,   1959.jpg
 
4th class Rising Sun order awarded on September 18, 1938.

4th class Rising Sun order.jpg


Silver kanji.

4th class Rising  Sun order.jpg


4th class Rising  Sun  order.jpg


4th class  Rising  Sun order.jpg
 
Dark blue ribbon issued on September 18, 1957. Probably one of the last sets with silver kanji (September 27, 1957 is the top known coordinated for the cases with silver kanjies).

September  18, 1957.jpg


September 18, 1957.jpg
 
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