British military medals
Why British?
With the exception of World War II, most medals are named on the rim, making them very easy to identify. There are hundreds of different regiments and of course different ranks of medals from 1799 to the present day. Many very good replica British military medals and replacement medals are sold to museums. Replica medals are exact copies of the original British military medal for a given campaign and are supplied with a ribbon and plastic envelope to protect the medal. They are high quality alloy cast medals if they come from a good dealer.
Replacement medals are die cut so they are more expensive. Struck in gold nickel and polished in gold silver, they cost more because they have been made by a master craftsman who has carved them by hand and with a small machine: a “die”. This “die” can cost around two thousand dollars alone. Then there’s the actual punch, complete with a machine that typically has a 250-tonne press capacity.
Collectors, dealers, ex-convicted associations, and even entire families frame replicas for display. In this way, members of the same family can exhibit the medals of their ancestors. It is customary for owners to keep the original medals in a safe or bank. Part of the reason is that British military medals can command a very high premium.
Victoria Cross pools get $300,000, while a replica pool of a Rorkes Drift Victoria Cross winner (11 won in one day at Rorkes Drift – Zulu, the movie was based on this battle) with the VC and Zulu Medal it costs only about $30. The Victoria Cross is the highest award in England and the Commonwealth, and is worn as the first medal above any other medal or order. A businessman who sold his company for over $350 million has bought 100 venture capital groups over the years for around $20 million! There are hundreds of different Gallantry and Campaign medals. I’ve seen prices up to $500,000, which was not a VC pool.
To an officer of the Royal Air Force, the famous CBCBE Fighter Operations DSO and 2 Bars, DFC and Bar Group of Nineteen to Air-Vice Marshall JE “Johnnie” Johnson, Royal Air Force, the officially recognized RAF fighter pilot with the highest score of the 1939-45 War: it fetched a world record price of £241,500!
So, as you may have noticed, there is a pretty good market in British military medals and a yearbook of medals with price guides is published every year. There are also miniature medal collectors and even a medal ribbon collectors association.
Other reasons why there is such a vibrant market is that the British have been in so many wars over the years. We have wars when we, as ex-soldiers, were part of a forgotten army. Talk to people about the Malayan war that lasted from 1948 to 1960 or the Borneo confrontation from 1962 to 1965 and you’ll get blank stares from people who were present at those times.
Medals have been a very good investment over the years. Now they are becoming scarce. Families are waking up to the fact that their parents, grandparents, had a history. People are looking for details of their ancestors. Now everything is highly searchable and the main reason is the Internet.
One thing is certain. British military medals are here to stay. Is history.
it’s goodbye from me
Cheers
barry