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Auction: 13003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 317

Japan, Empire, 1874 War Medal, with clasp 'Taiwan', silver, suspension re-affixed, nearly extremely fine, rare, with original riband with full hook and eye assembly

In 1872 and 1873, sailors from Okinawa and southern Japan were shipwrecked on the coast of Formosa (modern day Taiwan), and were murdered by the Formosan natives. The Chinese Empire, which claimed suzerainty over Formosa, refused to accept responsibility for these acts. As a result, a punitive expedtion of 3,000 Samurai warriors was despatched to Formosa, sailing from Nagasaki in May 1874.

The medal for this campaign was the first 'War' Medal to be issued by the Japanese government, and was issued with the clasp 'Taiwan' (Formosa) to the 3,000 Samurai who took part. As it was originally intended that this medal would act as a General Service medal for future campaigns, the clasp has top pierced lugs designed to accommodate future clasps, in the British fashion, but in the event this did not come to pass.

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Estimate
£2,000 to £2,500