Found A Heavy Bronze Medallion, Can you help me identify it?

[Silverfox]

Hi all,
I found this bronze Chinese Medallion around 14 years ago in Fresno California. It was 10 inches deep. It is 2.5 inches across and 4 centimeters high. It is very heavy for a coin. It's got writing on the side of it and the front depicts a group of people giving another group a chicken. There is symbols all over it.

I mailed Mark Parker a photo of it and after 4 months he returned with a letter stating that he had no idea what it was but found it very interesting though. It was found at an old water park / Zoo which dated back to the 1870s and lasted through the 1920s, then the water lagoons were filled in with dirt and houses were built. A lot of sand was in the area where it was found. I found many Seated Libertys, Barbers, V Nickels and Indian Heads with both my detector and a homemade sifter. I Joined a metal detecting club around a week before I found this and won relic of the year. Thanks for looking at my item!

For many more pictures at higher KB go to the web page that I set up for it.

http://members.aol.com/cbluffs/bronzecoinweb.html

 

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[Nashoba]

I don't have a clue, but it sure is a great find!
~Nashoba~

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Very nice token, no help on the ID but, would imagine it dates to the Chinese gold miners and RR workers! HH, Mike

 

[detector de metales]

Hmmm thats a good one! At least you know its good for one Chicken in China!

 

[DirtyHowi]

well, i can tell you it's old and it is definatly chinese, but the writing on it may be too old for the boss to read, it appears from the "picture" on the front to be a high official making a declaration from the king of china, but he's not absolutly certain. he could make out some characters on the reverse about it being a provincial coin, as to age without seeing it up close he couldnt tell me.

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Are you sure thats a chicken? Looks more like a duck...a Peking Duck to be more specific...which is a symbol of Love and romance....so maybe its some type of wedding feast medallion or of that nature......

 

[RevJoel]

Don't mean to be contrary, but I believe the medallion is Japanese. Reason? the sixteen petal Mum on the back of the coin is the same mum that marks the Japanese Arisaka Rifle, and is a symbol of the emporar.

Pax Christi
Rev. Joel+

 

[Oroblanco]

Right on - it is Japanese. Not my area of expertise, but that royal chrysanthemum blossom is a dead give-away. What a cool find!
Oroblanco

 

[SHERMANVILLE ILLINOIS]

IM,

nice find.
Welcome to the board.

Gypsy,
"Tokyo Duck"

have a good un..............

 

[Silverfox]

Thanks for all the replys so far. I hope to get the true ID of the medallion and it's age some day. HH to all!

 

[sllee]

It is a third prize award bronze medal, Year 1911. The words are ancient Chinese, but the medal is awarded by a Japanese Association. Send me an email to discuss it.

The above interpretation is from the archaic Chinese seal script.

 

[DCMatt]

Interesting medal.

It is Japanese, but the men depicted on it are clearly non-Asian. Is this a religious medal of some kind? Men on the right appear to be worshipping and/or offering gifts. One figure on the left appears to have rays of light radiating from him...

I just returned from a trip to L.A. While there, I took an historic tour of Little Tokyo and found out about the Azusa Street Revival. Apparently, there was a huge Pentecostal revival based in Little Tokyo from 1906 - 1930 (?). Your medal could be related to it... If so, the Japanese-American National Museum might be interested. They would also have people there who can read the "old style" kanji characters.

Cool find!

DCMatt

 

[Postalrevnant]

Great find. Congratulations.

Rev