Owner Comments:
1886 - 1887 LUZON CAMPAIGN MEDAL
PCGS MS62
Honeycutt (Second Edition) H-53
Honeycutt (4th Edition) H-52
Basso-809
Perez-Guerra-773 Ac
SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Castells (The Castells House)
Composition: Bronze
Diameter: 34 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
Weight: 21.13 grams
This medal was created by the authority of a royal decree on January 26, 1898. It was created to commemorate the excellent services rendered by the loyal volunteers in the campaigns of the luzon Archipelago. These medals were not given outright by the Spanish government, but only the award certificates as evidenced by a "notification document." These documents were awarded to the soldier who could then go to a medal manufacturer and purchase the medal. Medals sold either without a loop or with a loop suspended from a yellow and red ribbon. At least three different manufactures made the medals. Honeycutt 4th edition lists the three major manufactures as "Castells", "Medina", and "E. Pastells". Each of these variants differ slightly on the diameter and thickness of the planchet. The obverse of the three variants differ in the size of King Alfonso's bust, Alfonso's hair style, and the number of points on the star. The reverse of the three variants differ in font type and size, the presence or absence of a star, and manufactures signature. This specimen of the Luzon Campaign Medal (Honeycutt H-52) was manufactured by "Castells" the most famous amongst the three major medal manufacturers.
Although some reference books state that this award was issued to Filipino volunteers who fought alongside the Spaniards against the Americans during the Luzon Campaign of the Spanish American War I doubt that this is correct as that would be inconsistent with both the date of the royal decree of January 26, 1898, and the 1896 - 1897 date on the medal, both of which predate the Spanish American War. Since the United States did not declare War on Spain until April 24, 1898 and the first U.S. ground troops did not arrive in the Philippines until June 30, 1898 I believe that it is far more likely that this award was issued to Filipino volunteers who fought alongside Spanish regulars against Filipino insurgents during the Philippine Katipunan (KKK) Revolution of 1896 - 1897.
OBVERSE
In the center of the obverse is a bust of King Alfonso XIII facing the right. The bust measures 14 x 20 mm and depicts the young king as he appeared in 1891 at the age of five. Around the bust is the inscription "A Los Leales Voluntarios De Filipinas" which translates as "To Loyal Volunteers of the Philippines". Below the bust is a 5-Point Star.
REVERSE
Inscriptions read:"Campana / De / Luzon / 1896 - 1897". This translates as "Luzon Campaign, 1896 - 1897". The manufacturer's signature "Castells" is inscribed at the lower right.
Purchased June 20, 2024. Purchased in Heritage Auction's 2024 June 19-21 HKINF World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session & Signature Auction - Hong Kong #3117, Session 3, Lot #32494.