HILLMILITARYMEDALS.CO.UK

We have created a guide to collecting military medals which we hope will be useful for collectors of British Military Medals as well as other military collectors.  This will hopefully help in identifying what to look for when buying original medals (or any other military medal) including World war 1 and World war 2 full size medals as well as a brief overview of replacement, replica and miniature medals.

Did you know ?

• British Military Medals will only increase in value so when you are buying you are investing as well as collecting.
• Family members of medal winners are entitled to wear medals on the opposite side to serving members.
• Most medals are not added to household home insurance.

 Tips for buying and selling Full Size Original medals -

• Is the medal / medals named around the rim on the bottom edge or reverse of the medal/ medals.
• Does the medal / medals come with paperwork ie papers of issue and entitlement.
• Does the medal come with original ribbons ? and are they the correct medal ribbons.
• Are the medals in good condition ?
• Does the medal / medals come with box of issue ?
• Is the medal damaged or chipped ?

All these factors will increase the value of original medal sets whether you are buying or selling medals and although not all original medals such as World War 2 - WW2 campaign stars come named most silver or cupro nickel medals are named on the bottom rim.

British World War 2 Medals - In Order of Wear

• 1939 - 45 STAR                                            £13.00                         
• ATLANTIC STAR                                             £34.00
• AIR CREW EUROPE STAR (ACE)                       £290.00
• AFRICA STAR                                                £20.00
• PACIFIC STAR                                               £39.00
• BURMA STAR                                                £23.00
• ITALY STAR                                                  £17.00
• FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR                           £19.00
• DEFENCE MEDAL                                             £16.50
• WAR MEDAL 1939 - 35 (END OF WAR MEDAL).    £13.50

The Average Value for each of the above WW2 Medals is a combination of our findings and medal yearbooks which can be used as a guide based on current market prices and valuations.

It is worth pointing out that combinations of the above medals increase the value of the group as do clasps such as 8th army for the africa star and the overall condition (see grading chart section) also if the medals are mounted have paperwork or box of issue.

Dont be put off from asking a seller a question whether it be through a medal fair, shop or internet site because most sellers are collectors themselves and decent people.

Some regiments are more collectable and this increases the value of medal sets and generally speaking regiments like the Royal Engineers and Royal Signals will not be as hard to find and so the value of these medal sets will be lower than that of the Elite British regiments such as The Guards, The Parachute Regiment, Ghurkas, Royal Marines and special forces SAS, SBS.

The different types of medals are as below -

A good start for medal collectors are Full size museum standard copy medals or replicas which have the original medal ribbon (in most cases) and are a good quality and realistic price such as the Victoria cross medal which you can obtain for less than 15 pounds and the original is priceless. (There are some really bad versions of these on some auction sites).

British Full size Replacement medals -Are the closest to original medals as you can get as they are made from the same metal and have original medal ribbons although un-named they are normally under £60.00 pounds and can be engraved like original medals and are intended to replace lost or stolen medals and are worn by serving and Ex-Servicemen and Women.

British Miniature medals (aka mess dress medals) - Are never named as they are not issued like full size medals but purchased to wear and worn when full size medals are not practical ie dinner functions on Mess Dress uniforms and will increase the value if added with full size medal sets.

For more detailed information about miniature medals please see our British Miniature Medal Guide.

British Full Size Original Medals - Full size medal normally named as issued.

Please see the medal grading ledger guide for a more detailed description of the various medals types in our information section.

A good guide to prices is in the medal yearbook which is published yearly and has detailed prices which vary from year to year.

Thanks for reading and happy collecting.

Tim.

HILLMILITARYMEDALS.CO.UK