PHILIPPINES. Japanese Occupation. Homma Medal Obverse Die Trial in Lead, ca. 1942. VERY FINE.cf.Basso-150. 50 x 50 mm, weight: 71.86 gms. By Clemente Zamora. strongVERY/strong strongRARE/strong. Important early die trial for the already scarce medals issued by General Masaharu Homma, commander of the Japanese 14th Area Army, who oversaw the Japanese conquest of the Philippines. This trial is struck on a nearly square piece of lead which has been machine smoothed on the side to which the trial was struck. The obverse die trial contains the date "1942 P.I." stamped below. On the reverse we find an incised inscription: "Trial/ Lead Plate/ C. Zamora/ 10-27-42/ 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. Struck image well executed with full design detail, on a surface remarkably free of corrosion as might be expected in the tropical climate of origin. A historically significant piece that would fit well into any collector of World War II numismatic related material, especially that of the Pacific Theater.
