Order of the Rising Sun 3rd Class Mint Mark

[DZR]

Is anyone familiar with this mint mark on my Meiji era Order of the Rising Sun 3rd Class?

[GHP]

According to an expert:

Some interesting information about minting and re-issuing medals.

From Showa 4 [1929] all medals and orders were made at the Japan Mint in
Osaka. Before this date, a number of private manufacturers in Tokyo,
Nagoya, and other cities handled the duties. However, there was some kind
of scandal named Baikun Jiken (Selling Medals Incident) that prompted the
government to consolidate the production. You can read about that incident
HERE.

One suspects that there were other culprits who escaped unscathed. Anyway, because of this scandal, the making of medals was limited to the Japan Mint. No longer were outside companies
allowed to produce medals. And the next head of the Awards and Medals Department was Shimojo Yasumaro, who was a highly respected politician. He ran a really tight ship for the next 11 years and worked hard to regain the prestige for medals and orders. He served as head from 1929 to 1940.

With that said, I cannot clearly make out the stamped kanji -- it is not clear enough to me. It reminds me of "jyuu/yawara" which means soft/flexible (as in Judo, Jujutsu): 柔... but I doubt that's the right kanji.

Cheers!
--Guy

[GHP]

FYI, here's the modern-day mint making an Order (Sacred Treasure). Sorry, it's all in Japanese.

Regards!
--Guy

[GHP]

Found it!

ZOUHEIKYOKU (The Japan Mint).

And my handy-dandy on-line Japanese-English resource says of Zouheikyoku:
造幣局: Mint Bureau

But on closer inspection, the maker's mark does NOT look like 幣 "hei" to me. ...
SOURCE

Now I can go to bed! (02:50)
--Guy
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Nick Komiya]

That is the Hallmark of Shobido (尚美堂） of Osaka. They were established in 1900 and still exists today.

[GHP]

Thanks Nick!

For those who are not initiated into the "mysteries" ... the hallmark is a stylized verision of the character for "beauty" and is the middle kanji that Nick supplied:

美

It is pronounced "bi" [as in bumble-bee] or "utsukushi".

Cheers!
--Guy

[Tim B.]

Thanks Nick,

I have to confess, that when I took that PIC that Guy showed above, several years ago and posted it at GMIC, I was going off what others (some authors on Japanese medals) told me at the time. Of course, not many people were involved in those discussions back then... and a lot of new, more correct information has come out since.

Still say, you should write a book... Merry Christmas Nick!

Tim

[DZR]

Thank you all for your insightful comments. Here's a shot of the piece in its case.

[DZR]

Here's my Meiji Emperor hand signed Rising Sun 3rd Class document. They make a great set.

[GHP]

Here's my Meiji Emperor hand signed Rising Sun 3rd Class document. They make a great set.

To Army Infantry Lieutenant Colonel Shimamura. I'll let Nick decypher all the easy parts!

Oh... 1 April Meiji 39th year

--Guy