China, Empire. A Precious Star (Pao Xing) Merit Medal

"Circular silver medal with stylised cloud suspension to top and bottom; the face with a central plain glass cabochon held by triangular prongs within a hammered circular border, surrounded by a stippled ground, a dragon to either side, Chinese characters above, all within a Greek key border; the reverse of similar design with a plain disc upper centre; diameter 39.5mm, height 55mm; on an old plain red ribbon showing the marks of a French style mounting.

The medal probably dates from early in the second half of the 19th Century and may well have been awarded to a junior European officer of the Ever-Victorious Army.

A similar example in gold is in the Harry Mohler Collection, Hoover Institution, Stanford University."

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.