Medals

We can trace back to 1438 when the first ever medal was made by Antonio di Puccio Pisano, an Italian who used a casting process in lead and bronze.

The royal mint started producing British and commonwealth medals in 1815 and until 2010 was solely responsible for producing all apart from the Victoria Cross.

The Victoria Cross is Britain’s highest and most prestigious military decoration awarded for valour in the presence of enemy.

 

 

It was designed in 1856 under instructions from Queen Victoria to produce a simple design that would not recognise class.  A total of 1358 of these have been awarded, many posthumously; 3 people have been given 2.

Handcock & Co Jewellers, London, have made every one that has been issued.  The metal is stored at the Central Ordnance Depot, Donnington, and is transported under armed guard.  There is enough to produce around 80 more.

According to records, the whereabouts of every VC medal (apart from 3) is known, and at auction, each could fetch in the region of £400,000.

The Royal artillery has won the most VC medals with a count of 57, the largest collection of these medals is owned by Lord Ashcroft with over 230 and is on display at the London Imperial War Museum.

The George Cross medal introduced in 1940 is also ranking close to the VC in stature and is given out for acts of greatest heroism and courage.
 

 

 

The rarest medal issued with around 8 accounted for is the Naval Engineers Good Conduct Medal.  

Britain's most decorated soldier is Michael John Flynn, “the bullet catcher“, who has served in every war zone in the last 30 years.

America's  highest military award issued is the Medal of Honor.  By law, only U.S service members that distinguish themselves through gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty may receive this medal.  A total of 3528 military service members have been presented this medal out of 41 million who have served, 19 service members have received 2 and John Walker, an American Ranger, has 3.

 

 

The Purple Heart is the oldest military award medal still presented to service members,  It was in 1782 its predecessor, the Badge of Military Merit, was first created.

President John F Kennedy is the only President with a purple heart who was awarded it after serving in WW2 in the Navy.

 

 

 Curry T. Haynes received a total of 10 purple hearts for his service in Vietnam.