The collection is packed with fascinating tales from the Rorke’s Drift to the bravery of civilians during the Blitz campaigns, medals for campaigning and gallantry medals are among the easiest to access collection fields.
British awards and decorations are filled with numerous interesting stories. There are two main kinds of awards: Campaign medals as well as gallantry medals.
Campaign medals are given for members of those of the British Armed Forces, Allied forces, as well as civilians taking part in military operations that are specifically designated. More than 80 medals have been awarded in the past since the very first (the Peninsular Gold Medal) was presented by officers back in 1810 with five more medals being given in the 21st century.
Medals for gallantry recognize personal achievements that are the result of members of British army or in acts of bravery among civilians, each with an extraordinary account of heroism.
What are the things people collect?
Collectors tend to concentrate on medals that are issued by their nation. The United Kingdom the selection is vast and there are no limitations on the sale of their medals (as they exist for the USA). There are three major wars in the British Empire: Napoleonic, Crimean and Boer Wars The Indian campaigns, followed by the First World War and ensuing major 20th century British conflict (18 different medals for campaign were given out during the Second World War alone) Divide the collection field.
There are people who concentrate on particular regiments, certain military campaigns or even single awards that are of the highest standard like Victoria Cross. Victoria Cross.
Rare items are always sought-after (short duration campaigns that have little combatants, for instance, those in the Falklands conflict, usually result in fewer medals) however, other bars (especially ones that are associated with battles or engagements that are well-known) could boost the demand. These are especially relevant in the case of Crimean as well as Boer War medals.
The recent trend to eliminate distinctions between awards awarded by officers or other positions has restricted the supply of certain medals. One such example could be that of that of the Distinguished Flying Medal, the equivalent to other ranks that is the Distinguished Flying Cross. In 1918, it was established and then discontinued in 1993, they were given out in such small quantities following during the Second World War that they were highly sought-after.
It was once controversial for the recipients to market their military badges and medals. However, over the last few years, it has become more popular and has seen heroes from Afghanistan and Iraq as well as others placing their medals for sale in order to raise money.
They also have a rarity value in part because they’re newly-created awards or simply because there are so few available. In September of 2010, when the private Paul Darren Wilmott sold the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross that he received just three years ago for bravery that was outstanding in the fight against the Taliban Only 30 awards had been given. It cost him 42,000 pounds to be sold at Bosleys of Marlow.
Beyond the military actions of bravery by civilians receive a myriad of medals with the most prestigious being that of the George Cross (effectively the equivalent to the military’s Victoria Cross) instituted in 1940 to recognize the contribution of non-combatants on Home battlefield throughout the Blitz. In this particular field it’s the significance of the specific medal that is the most prominent factor in pricing.
The Market
In the broad sense the criteria that make an item worth just one or two pounds or a six-figure sum is like objects in other fields of collection such as rarity, provenance and the condition. The design is less significant and it’s rare that the materials that they are constructed have any value intrinsically for that is the case with Victoria Cross, for example is believed to have been made in gunmetal, a material from Russian cannons captured during the time of Sevastopol.
In these general guidelines There is many different factors to be considered, starting from the degree of bravery displayed by the recipient as well as the fame and acclaim of the campaign or action, and the reputation of the individual involved. Medals are usually sold in groups and the mix of different decorations can enhance their value and popularity.
Waterloo medals are a fantastic overview of the various things that affect the prices. This was the very first award to be issued after the one awarded by Cromwell to commemorate during the Battle of Dunbar in 1650. It was presented to all the soldiers involved and 39,000 medals were awarded between 1816 and 17.
In this way, an infantry medal is less common than an artillery award and the cavalry medal is even rarer. You can get a medal issued by one of most prestigious regiments of horses, like The Dragoons, Life Guards or Horse Guards, and then from a top officer and the worth increases.
The condition of the horse can be a factor also, particularly with regard to cavalry medals. They were worn on the field because the continuous jerking of the medals up and down on horses meant they were more damaged and knocked down than artillery or infantry medals.
When it comes to hard cash, this might be a sign that a medal for a trooper in good state from a normal foot regiment could fetch less than PS100 however a more senior cavalry officer’s badge in good condition could sell for thousands. For instance, compare the payment of P10,000 at Bonhams on December 15th, 2010, for the Waterloo Medal awarded to Captain Edwin Sandys of the 12th Light Dragoons to the PS900 which was paid for the award for John Hughes, a trooper from Sandys own troop in the same auction.
London has a wide range in auctions and dealer with huge quantities of medals changing hands on a frequent basis. The current state of the market is evident by the growing number of auction houses located outside London that are now holding special sales, or even setting up separate departments for medals. At the highest level the prominence of Lord Ashcroft as the world’s top collection of Victoria Crosses has helped push the prices up for some time. His huge collection is displayed in a specially designed wing at the Imperial War Museum.
As the dates for the anniversary of wars approach The interest increases. This could be the case in 2014 in celebration of the centenary celebration of the beginning of the First World War and in 2015 for the bicentennial celebration of Waterloo.
The value of medals has increased over the last couple of years, unlike other collecting areas its nature as a world of medals implies that very few collectors purchase items with investment in the back of their minds. This is closest you could be to an emotional and academic area of collection.
The people who participate be interested in the past, and having an award brings them a one step closer to the feat of bravery as well as the person that it honors.
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