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The Japanese Overstrike

 

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From the silver pesos recovered from between Corregidor and Caballo Islands, Japanese Lt. General Masaharu Homma (1888-1946) created a unique coin for presentation to his officers. The coin, a restrike over the US minted silver Philippine pesos struck in 1907-1912, was designed to commemorate the Japanese victory and to honor their fallen comrades. The dies were cut by the engraving firm of Crispolo Zomora & Sons in Manila in accordance with a  sketch of the design said to have been provided by Homma personally.

The design shows a Japanese enlisted man looking across Manila Bay towards the mountains of Bataan and, in the background, Corregidor.

The reverse design shows crossed coconut palms and the four star constellation, The Southern Cross. The Japanese legend reads, " Commemorating the Expedition to the Philippines, Era 2602 year" 2602 corresponds to 1942 and to Showa 17 which is 2602 years after the founding of the Japanese Empire.

However, what is most significant - and the reason I have included this coin on the website - is that the early strikes failed to obliterate the entire design of the U.S. minted silver peso beneath. As this photograph clearly shows, the words "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" still can be seen.

It has been estimated that only a few hundred of these medals were actually struck and given to Homma's officers. So few have survived that many coin and medal collectors have never even seen them!

Mark up one further Japanese shortfall involving their Corregidor campaign.

 

   
 

*This coin is owned by Daniel MacRaild, a regular contributor of materials on this website.

 

   
 

POST-WAR RECOVERY OPS 1945-88 | SPEEDY GONZALES  |   BATTERY MORRISON  | AH-MOON'S   |  THE ENGINEERING TUNNEL   |   GRAVE - GOLD   |   THE MARCOS CONNECTION   |   THE NORTH DOCK GOLD HOLE   |   THE FOURTH LATERAL   |   THE NORTH HARBOR SALVAGE BARGE   |    THE PRESIDENTIAL YACHT "CASIANO"   |   THE LORCHA DOCK   |  SILVER PESOS    |  NO MORE GOLD   |   CONCLUSION

CORREGIDOR - THE TREASURE ISLAND OF WWII    |    GOLD IS ALSO BALLAST    |    THE GOLDEN PATROL OF THE USS TROUT |  SALVAGING A SILVER TREASURE  | THE JAPANESE OVERSTRIKE