Item number: M386

Year: AD 1854

Material: Silver

Size: 63.0 x 63.0 mm

Manufactured by: Philadelphia Mint

Provenance: Stack’s Bowers 2024

This is a silver commemorative medal created in AD 1854 by the merchants of Boston to celebrate Commodore Matthew C. Perry’s successful efforts in compelling the isolationist Tokugawa Shogunate of Japan to open its ports for trade. According to records, the merchants produced one gold medal, 20 silver medals, and 107 bronze medals. The gold medal was presented to Perry himself and was long thought to have been reclaimed and melted down, until it resurfaced at an auction in AD 2007. The silver medals, such as the one in this collection, were awarded to senior officers of Perry’s fleet, while the bronze medals were given to junior officers and sold in the market.

The obverse of the medal features a left-facing portrait of Commodore Matthew C. Perry. Below his shoulder is the signature of Francis N. Mitchell, a medal engraver active in Boston, inscribed as “F.N.MITCHELL.F.” On either side of the portrait are Perry’s rank and full name, “COMMODORE M. C. PERRY.”

The reverse of the medal features a central inscription in fourteen lines of English text, which broadly conveys the gratitude of the Boston Chamber of Commerce towards Commodore Perry. It acknowledges his pivotal role in negotiating the Treaty of Kanagawa with the Tokugawa Shogunate in Yokohama on March 31, AD 1854, as well as the Treaty of Amity with the then-independent Ryukyu Kingdom in its capital, Naha, on June 11, AD 1854. Both treaties significantly facilitated the expansion of American trade in Asia. The inscription is framed by intertwined oak and laurel wreaths, symbolising strength and victory, respectively. At the base, where the wreaths are knotted, is an emblem featuring five ship sails and Perry’s flagship, the USS Mississippi, which he commanded during his expedition to Japan.

Atlantic to Japan to negotiate trade relations with the isolationist Tokugawa Shogunate. On July 8, AD 1853, Perry’s fleet anchored at Uraga in Edo Bay. The imposing black silhouettes of the steamships created a profound shock among the Shogunate and the Japanese populace, marking a significant historical event referred to in Japanese history as the arrival of the “Black Ships” (Kurofune). During this initial visit, Perry delivered a letter from the U.S. President and verbally proposed opening Japan to trade, stating he would return the following year for a response.

On February 13, AD 1854, Perry returned to Japan with the same fleet. This time, the Shogunate was compelled to sign the Treaty of Kanagawa, agreeing to open ports beyond Nagasaki, thereby breaking the isolationist policy that had defined the Tokugawa era. After securing this agreement, Perry proceeded south to the Ryukyu Kingdom, where he negotiated a similar treaty. He then made a brief stop for resupply at Keelung in Taiwan, a region rich in coal. Perry recommended to the U.S. government that Taiwan be occupied as a hub for American trade in Asia. However, the outbreak of the American Civil War ultimately prevented the realisation of this plan.

After Commodore Perry’s departure, the Tokugawa Shogunate was forced to sign a series of unequal treaties with Western powers, which led to growing political unrest within Japan. This turmoil eventually culminated in the sonnō jōi (“Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarians”) movement and the broader Bakumatsu period, which called for the restoration of political power to the Emperor.

By AD 1869, following the conclusion of the Boshin War, which symbolised the formal transfer of power from the Shogunate to the Emperor, Japan entered the Meiji era under Emperor Meiji’s leadership. This period saw sweeping modernisation and reforms, including the establishment of a centralised government, the industrialisation of the economy, and the modernisation of the military. Over time, Japan successfully renegotiated and terminated the unequal treaties imposed during the Shogunate era, eventually emerging as a dominant power in Asia.

In AD 1858, Commodore Perry, who had led the expedition to force Japan to open its ports to international trade, passed away. Despite the contentious nature of his mission, Perry is regarded positively in Japan as a pioneer who set the nation on its path toward modernisation.

In AD 1900, the Japanese government, in collaboration with American civic organisations, erected a commemorative monument at the site of Perry’s landing. To this day, the legacy of Perry’s mission is celebrated in Japan through the annual Kurofune Matsuri (“Black Ship Festival”), which commemorates this pivotal moment in Japanese history.

物件編號: M386

年代: 公元 1854 年

材質: 銀

尺寸: 63.0 x 63.0 mm

製造地: 費城造幣廠

來源: SBP錢幣拍賣 2024

這是一枚公元1854年，美國波士頓的商人社團為了祝賀馬修·培里海軍准將成功迫使閉關鎖國的日本江戶幕府開港通商，聯名打造的銀質紀念章。根據紀錄商會分別打造1枚金、20枚銀和107枚銅。金章是贈與培里本人，一度以為獎章遭到回收鎔鑄，直到公元2007年在拍賣會上重見於世人面前。本館收藏的銀質獎章是授予艦隊的高級軍官，至於銅章則是頒予下級軍官和流通至市場兜售。

獎章正面是培里的左側肖像，肩膀下方是活躍於波士頓的獎章雕刻師法朗西斯·米切爾的簽名「F.N.MITCHELL.F.」。肖像左右兩側是培里的軍銜和全名「COMMODORE M. C. PERRY.」(海軍准將馬修·培里)。

獎章背面的中央有十四行英文銘文，其內容大致是講述波士頓的商會感謝培里在公元1854年3月31日，與日本幕府在橫濱簽訂的《神奈川條約》以及公元1854年6月11日，跟彼時仍維持獨立的琉球王國在首都那霸簽訂的《琉美修好條約》，上述有助於美國商人開拓亞洲市場的條約。獎章的兩側以打結的橡樹和月桂葉環繞，打結處有五面船帆的裝飾和培里赴日指揮的旗艦「MISSISSIPPI」(密西西比)。

公元1852年3月，培里收到美國政府的指派為東印度艦隊的司令官，要他指揮麾下的四艘蒸汽船經大西洋前往日本，要求閉關鎖國的幕府通商。公元1853年7月8日，培里的艦隊下錨於江戶灣的浦賀，蒸汽船龐大的黑色身影對於幕府和民眾造成巨大的震撼，以「黑船來航」名稱記載到日本歷史的重大事件。培里此次來訪僅遞交國書和口頭建議開港，並且表示明年將再度拜訪以了解幕府的答覆。公元1854年2月13日，培里率領原班艦隊再度現身日本，這次幕府被迫簽訂簽訂《神奈川條約》允許開放長崎以外的港口，此舉動破壞江戶幕府建立以來的閉關鎖國政策。培里在得到幕府的保證後，接續前往南方的琉球王國簽訂類似的條約，後續則在盛產煤礦的臺灣基隆進行短暫補給。培里建議美國政府佔領臺灣作為亞洲貿易的轉運站，但是南北戰爭的爆發使計畫無法實現。

江戶幕府在培里離開後，陸續跟西方列強簽訂不平等條約引發國內的政治動盪，最終演變成要求把政治權力歸還給天皇的「倒幕運動」。公元1869年，標示著幕府將權力讓渡出去的戊辰戰爭結束後，日本在明治天皇的帶領下進行全面的現代化改革，陸續成功中止幕府和外國簽訂的不平等條約，甚至躍升為亞洲的霸主。

公元1858年，帶領艦隊迫使日本通商的培里逝世，然而日本對於培里卻有不錯的評價，將他視為日本走向現代化的先驅。公元1900年，日本政府和美國民間協會還共同在培里的登陸地點設立紀念碑，並且至今在民間還有「黑船祭」慶典紀念相關的歷史。