War medals being melted down

A recent spike in the price of silver (it has gone up by 150% in a year) has resulted in an increasing number of medals being melted down for scrap. Whilst previously a British War Medal would typically be valued by a medal collector at about £30 to £40, with silver now being bought at £60-£70 per ounce, there is a real danger that these medals will simply sent for scrap by those who don't appreciate the individual stories that can sit behind each medal.

The British War Medal was awarded to those who entered an active theatre of operations, making it the most common First World War campaign medal.  The medal is struck from solid sterling silver, and approximately 6.4 million silver versions were issued, while a small number were produced in bronze.

Physical Specifications 

• Composition: 92.5% silver (Sterling Silver).
• Weight: Approximately 33.15 grams (approx. 1.2 ounces).
• Diameter: 36 millimetres.
• Thickness: 3 millimetres.

The name, rank, service number and unit of the medal recipient can be found on the edge of the medal. On medals awarded to Army officers the name of the regiment or corps was omitted. 

Greg Edmund, Head of Coins and Commemorative Medals at Spink & Son said: “These medals are all that remain of the gallant service and personal sacrifice of our nation’s forebears. To erase their legacy for the sake of £50 is crass in the extreme."

Medal Index Cards

The Western Front Association saved millions of Medal Index Cards when these were in danger of being destroyed. To read about these, click here: Medal Index Cards