Japan, Occupied Manchukuo. An Enthronement Commemorative Medal, C.1935

Instituted in 1934. In silver with a gilt insignia, measuring 35.3 mm in diameter, edge nicks, original ribbon with hook and eye, near extremely fine.

Footnote: Henry Pu Yi, the ""last of the Manchus"", was born in Peking in 1906, the grandnephew of the Empress Dowager and in 1908, at the age of two, was proclaimed Emperor of China under the Imperial name Hussein-Tung. He abdicated on February 12, 1912, at the age of six, after the Chines Revolution, and retired to his palace in the Forbidden City. On July 1, 1917, he was restored to the throne by the warlord Chang Hsun, but was deposed twelve days later. In 1922, he married a Manchu girl, Elizabeth Yuang. IN 1924, they were evicted from the palace by the warlord Feng Yu-hsiang, and took refuge in the Japanese Legation. In 1932, the Japanese took Pu Yi from retirement to become ""Chief of State"" of the new Manchukuo government, and on March 1, 1934, he became Emperor of Manchukuo in ceremonies held at Shuntien Circle at Hsin Hua Tsun, in the suburbs of Hsinking. After eleven years of puppet rule, he was captured by the invading Russians in 1945, imprisoned by the Chinese Communists for fourteen years, and was a zoo-keeper in Peiping before his death. The medal was established by Imperial Edict No. 19 of March 1, 1934, on the day of the enthronement and was awarded to commemorate that event.

This offering is a part of the "Dr. Albert Goodwin Collection", a preeminent assemblage of world Orders, Medals, and Decorations composed solely by Dr.Goodwin between 1946-1967. Dr. Goodwin had a successful career as an educator and prominent physician in New York as well as actively serving in both World Wars with the United States Medical Corps. He acted as both President and Vice-President of the Orders and Medals Society of America (OMSA) and is responsible for organizing their first convention in 1960. He maintained further membership with the American Society of Military Collectors, the International Orders Research Society, and the American Numismatic Society. His knowledge and passion for history and awards is evident in this meticulously compiled collection that is now available in its entirety for the first time exclusively on eMedals.com.