Africa Star
A British Second World War campaign star awarded for qualifying service in specified areas of the African and related theatres. Certain clasps and emblems indicate additional qualifications.
Welcome to the Sell My Medals glossary, a reference guide to the terminology used in medal collecting, identification, and valuation. Whether you are researching a military medal, identifying a campaign award, learning about ribbons and clasps, or understanding the significance of a group of medals, this guide explains key medal collecting terms to help you better understand your collection and its history.
A British Second World War campaign star awarded for qualifying service in specified areas of the African and related theatres. Certain clasps and emblems indicate additional qualifications.
A price range or guide published by an auction house to indicate the anticipated selling price of a lot. An estimate is not a guarantee of the final result.
A metal attachment associated with a medal. Depending on the award, it may denote an additional qualifying action or service, or form part of the medal's suspension.
An additional fee charged to the successful bidder by an auction house, usually calculated as a percentage of the hammer price. The rate and any applicable taxes depend on the auction's terms.
A medal awarded for qualifying service in a particular military campaign, operation, theatre, or period. Eligibility requirements vary between awards.
A medal produced to mark an event, anniversary, institution, person, or historical occasion. Commemorative medals may be official awards or privately issued pieces.
An attachment associated with certain medals that records an additional campaign, operation, battle, or qualifying period of service. Its significance depends on the medal's regulations.
A method of mounting medals in which each ribbon is attached to a rigid backing, keeping the medals in a relatively fixed alignment.
The overall state of preservation of a medal, including wear, scratches, edge knocks, corrosion, ribbon condition, repairs, and alterations.
A British campaign medal awarded for qualifying service during the Crimean War of 1854–1856. Clasps can identify participation in specified battles or operations.
A star-shaped campaign award issued for qualifying service during a defined conflict or operational period. Eligibility criteria and qualifying service differ between stars.
An official distinction awarded for service, achievement, or gallantry. The term often refers to an honour with a particular status or precedence within an award system.
A British gallantry award introduced in 1854 for distinguished conduct in the field by other ranks of the army. It was superseded by later changes to the honours system.
Recipient details cut into a medal's surface using engraving. Lettering style, spacing, and placement may provide clues about how and when the naming was carried out.
The official eligibility of a person to receive a particular medal, clasp, or decoration under the applicable regulations. Entitlement may be checked against service records and medal rolls.
The global conflict fought from 1914 to 1918. Medals associated with the war can reflect campaign service, gallantry, and other qualifying contributions.
An award recognising acts of bravery or gallantry. Different decorations have their own criteria, precedence, and eligibility rules.
A British award recognising acts of the greatest heroism or courage in circumstances of extreme danger. It may be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel.
The final bid accepted by the auctioneer when the lot is sold, before any buyer's premium, taxes, or other applicable charges are added.
Words, letters, dates, or other text appearing on a medal. Inscriptions can identify an award, commemorate an event, or record a recipient's details.
Recipient details formed by stamping or impressing characters into a medal's surface rather than engraving them by hand. Naming methods vary by award and period.
A type of award recognising a qualifying period of service and, where required, a satisfactory conduct record. The rules depend on the specific service and medal.
An item or group of items offered as a single unit at auction. A lot may contain one medal, a complete medal group, or a collection of militaria and related historical material.
The study and collection of medals issued for military service, campaigns, gallantry, long service, commemorations, and other achievements.
A broad term for a medal awarded in connection with military service. The exact meaning depends on the award's official title and the circumstances in which it was issued.
Two or more medals belonging to the same recipient and collected, mounted, or preserved together. A group can be especially informative when the awards are supported by service records.
A reduced-size version of an award, often worn with formal or evening dress. Miniature medals are distinct from full-size campaign and service medals.
The arrangement and attachment of medals to ribbons or a supporting bar for display or wear. Common styles include court mounting and swing mounting.
A British campaign medal authorised in 1847 for qualifying army service in specified campaigns between 1793 and 1814. Clasps identify the campaigns or actions for which a recipient qualified.
A British military decoration introduced in 1914 for commissioned officers and, later, other eligible ranks for exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy.
A formal recognition of a person's service or conduct recorded in an official military report. It is a distinction rather than a separate medal in its own right, although an emblem may be worn to signify it.
An official or administrative record listing people entitled to particular medals or campaign awards. Medal rolls can help confirm entitlement and identify a recipient's unit or service details.
An assessment of a medal or collection's likely market value. Factors can include the award, recipient, rarity, condition, provenance, completeness, and current collector demand.
The recipient details officially or privately engraved, impressed, or otherwise applied to a medal. The style and position of naming can help researchers assess its history and authenticity.
A British naval campaign medal issued for qualifying actions and service during the period covered by its regulations. Its clasps record particular engagements or operations.
An institution of honour whose members may receive insignia such as stars, crosses, badges, or collars. Orders differ in purpose, membership, and precedence.
The principal or designated front face of a medal. It may feature a monarch, portrait, emblem, or other official design.
A surface change that develops over time through ageing, handling, or environmental exposure. On medal alloys, patina may be natural, but corrosion or damage should be assessed separately.
The documented ownership and history of an item. For medals, provenance may include family history, service documentation, previous collection records, and auction catalogues.
The process of investigating an item's ownership history and supporting documentation. For medals, this may involve archives, service records, medal rolls, family papers, and previous auction records.
The opposite face of a medal from the obverse. It may show a symbolic design, inscription, scene, or other information associated with the award.
The raised or defined border around the face of a medal. The rim can help protect the design and may carry identifying details on some awards.
The coloured fabric associated with a medal or decoration. Ribbon colours and patterns can help identify an award, while replacement or fading may affect condition and originality.
A bar or strip displaying one or more medal ribbons, commonly worn on a uniform when full-size medals are not worn.
A ribbon fitted to a medal after its original ribbon was lost, damaged, or replaced. A replacement does not automatically make a medal inauthentic, but it can affect originality and collector appeal.
The person to whom a medal or decoration was awarded. Establishing a recipient's identity can help connect a medal to service history and assess the significance of a group.
A reproduction made to resemble an original medal. Replicas may be produced for display, study, or commemorative purposes and should be distinguished from original issues.
A medal supplied to replace one that has been lost or damaged, where replacement is permitted. Its status and history may differ from those of an original issue awarded to the recipient.
The minimum price at which a lot may be sold under the auction agreement. If bidding does not reach the reserve, the lot may remain unsold.
A medal recognising qualifying service in the armed forces or another eligible organisation, often within a defined period, role, or operational area.
An individual medal offered or collected on its own rather than as part of a larger group. Its appeal can depend on the award, recipient, condition, rarity, and supporting history.
The fitting that connects a medal to its ribbon. Suspension designs vary and can help distinguish different issues or versions of an award.
A method of mounting medals in which the medals hang more freely from their individual suspensions rather than being fixed against a rigid backing.
The global conflict fought from 1939 to 1945. Associated medals include campaign stars, service medals, and awards for particular forms of service.
A personnel record documenting aspects of an individual's military service. Depending on the period and record type, it may contain enlistment details, postings, promotions, or operational history.
A military formation or organisational element, such as a regiment, battalion, ship, squadron, or company. Unit details can be important when researching a medal recipient's service.
The United Kingdom's highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy. Instituted in 1856, it is among the most recognisable decorations in British military history.
A British medal authorised for qualifying participation in the battles of Ligny, Quatre Bras, and Waterloo in June 1815. It is an important early example of a British campaign medal issued to named recipients.
A British Second World War medal awarded for qualifying service in the armed forces and certain other eligible services. Eligibility depended on the applicable service and time requirements.