Probably
the best known unofficial medals in Japan, they appear in many different coinages, but they have the same theme: on the obverse, a lifebuoy surrounding
two men who are clinging to the mast of a ship that is sinking on bad weather seas. On the left lower part the waves are overwashing the buoy. Reverse shows
an emblem of a trident with two crossed axes (on top), with two dolphins at the sides and the inscription "Merit Medal, Imperial Sea Disaster Rescue Society".
There
are three classes: 1st, matt gilded with bright gilt trident and characters, 2nd matt silver with matt gilt lifebuoy and suspender and reverse rim. The 3rd class is bright silver with matt silver
lifebuoy, matt silver reverse with bright silver trident and characters. Suspension has normally the swivel grip combination characteristic of Japanese war medals (and many commemorative), but the
medal can be found in simpler ball-and-ring suspension devices.
Ribbon is
similar to the firsts types of the Order of the Sacred Treasure, with watered light blue with two 5 mm. wide yellow stripes at 3 mm. of the edges.
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