China, Republic. A Medal of the Manchu Restoration, c.1917

(Simplified Chinese: 曹锟; traditional Chinese: 曹錕; pinyin: Cáo Kūn. Wade–Giles: Ts'ao K'un; Courtesy name: Zhongshan (仲珊)). In silver, obverse illustrating the crossed flags of the Republican Army at the left and the Republic of China at the right, reverse inscribed in Chinese "Commander Cao Kun of the West Side", framed by an open-ended wreath, measuring 32 mm (w) x 39.2 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally-pierced ring suspension, edge nicks, original ribbon suspended from a pinback hanger, near extremely fine.

Footnote: General Cao Kun (December 12, 1862 - May 15, 1938) was a Chinese warlord and politician, who served as the President of the Republic of China from 1923 to 1924, as well as the military leader of the Zhili clique in the Beiyang Army; he also served as a trustee of the Catholic University of Peking. The Manchu Restoration of July 1917 was an attempt to restore monarchy in China by General Zhang Xun, whose army seized Beijing and briefly reinstalled the last emperor of the Qing dynasty, Puyi, to the throne. The restoration lasted only a few days, from July 1st to July 12th, and was quickly reversed by Republican troops. 

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.