How to Preserve Family Medals for the Future

A campaign medal can carry far more than a name, date and ribbon. It may be the only physical link to a relative’s service, sacrifice or public duty. Knowing how to preserve family medals therefore means protecting both the object and the history attached to it, without trying to make an old medal look newly issued.

The best approach is careful, restrained and reversible wherever possible. Tarnish, small marks and the gentle wear of a ribbon may form part of a medal’s honest history. Heavy polishing, unsuitable cleaning products and poor storage can remove that evidence permanently.

Start by recording what you have

Before cleaning, mounting or framing anything, make a full record. Photograph each medal front and back in good natural light, including the edge where naming or impressed details may appear. Photograph ribbons, clasps, boxes, accompanying documents and any handwritten labels as well.

Write down all known family information while it is still available. This might include the recipient’s full name, service number, regiment or corps, dates of service, theatres of operation, and stories connected with the award. Service papers, discharge documents, citation certificates and photographs of the recipient wearing the medals should be kept alongside the record, though not necessarily in the same display frame.

If you are uncertain about an award, do not make assumptions based solely on its appearance. Similar-looking medals, replacement issues and later commemorative medals can be confused easily. Accurate identification matters, particularly before arranging replacement ribbons, adding clasps or commissioning mounting work.

Handle medals as little as possible

Fingerprints contain natural oils and salts that can mark metal surfaces over time. When handling is necessary, work over a clean, padded table and use clean, dry hands. Cotton gloves are often suggested, but they can reduce grip and lead to accidental drops. Nitrile gloves offer a better hold for particularly valuable or delicate pieces, provided they are clean and powder-free.

Hold a medal by its edge rather than the face, and support the full group rather than allowing medals to hang from ribbons or brooch fittings. Check loose suspender rings, worn stitching and damaged pins before moving a mounted group. A fragile ribbon can tear under the weight of a full-size medal surprisingly quickly.

Keep food, drink, aerosols and household cleaning products away from the work area. It is equally wise to avoid handling medals immediately after applying hand cream or sanitiser.

How to preserve family medals without over-cleaning

Cleaning is where good intentions most often cause lasting damage. Many older British medals were issued in silver, bronze or base metals, and each reacts differently to air, moisture and cleaning compounds. A darkened surface is not automatically a problem. In fact, an even patina may be preferable to a bright, aggressively polished finish.

Start with the least invasive option: use a soft, dry brush to lift loose dust from the medal, ribbon and crevices around the suspender. A clean, soft microfibre cloth may be used very gently on stable metal surfaces, but do not rub repeatedly in pursuit of shine.

Avoid metal polish, abrasive cloths, ultrasonic cleaners, vinegar, lemon juice, toothpaste and domestic silver dip. These methods can strip original surface detail, leave residues in lettering and alter the finish beyond repair. They are particularly unsuitable for named medals, gilt finishes, plated pieces, enamelled insignia and medals with historic value.

Ribbons need even greater caution. Do not wash, iron, bleach or spray them with fabric freshener. Water can cause dyes to run, shrink old fibres and stain the metal where ribbon and medal meet. If a ribbon is weak, stained or incomplete, retain it separately as part of the original group and consider using an accurately matched replacement ribbon only for display or wear.

Where there is active corrosion, sticky residue, verdigris, mould or uncertainty about the metal, seek specialist advice before proceeding. Professional conservation is different from ordinary polishing: the aim is to stabilise the medal and preserve its original character.

Store medals in a stable, dry environment

The right storage conditions prevent more harm than periodic cleaning ever can. Choose a room with a reasonably stable temperature and low humidity. Avoid lofts, garages, sheds, cellars and exterior walls, where damp, condensation and rapid temperature changes are common.

Do not store family medals in plastic carrier bags, PVC sleeves, rubber bands or ordinary cardboard boxes. Some plastics and adhesives release chemicals that can tarnish metal or stain ribbon over time. Rubber can perish and leave difficult residues.

For individual medals, use acid-free tissue paper and archival-quality boxes or inert polyester sleeves. Each item should be separated so medals do not knock together, scratch one another or transfer corrosion. Store ribbons flat where practical, without sharp folds. A small packet of silica gel placed nearby can help in a closed storage box, but it should never touch the medals and should be replaced or regenerated as directed.

If medals remain in their original issue box, preserve the box too, but inspect its lining. Old flock, foam and glue can deteriorate. It may be safer to place the medal in an inert archival enclosure within the original box, rather than directly against a degraded lining.

Choose display methods that respect the group

A well-designed frame protects a medal group from dust, handling and accidental loss while allowing the family to see it. However, framing is not automatically safer if the materials are poor. Avoid frames with bare MDF backing, acidic card, pressure-sensitive tape, glue applied directly to ribbons, or foam that may discolour and break down.

A proper medal display should use conservation-suitable backing materials and secure fixing methods that do not puncture, strain or permanently alter original ribbons. UV-filtering glazing is worthwhile where the frame will be displayed in a bright room, as daylight can fade ribbon colours over time. Even with UV protection, keep frames away from direct sun, radiators, fireplaces and damp walls.

There is a genuine choice between preserving an original ribbon group exactly as found and having medals professionally court mounted for a formal presentation. Court mounting gives a neat, parade-ready finish and prevents medals from swinging, but it may involve fitting replacement ribbons if the originals are too weak. For an inherited group with fragile or historically significant ribbons, a framed presentation alongside the original ribbon material may be the more sympathetic route.

For groups intended for ceremonial wear, professional mounting offers correct spacing, alignment and secure brooch fittings. Empire Medals can provide specialist medal mounting and bespoke framing, helping families choose a finish that suits the medals’ condition and intended use.

Keep originals, replacements and replicas clearly separate

Families sometimes need a wearable set for Remembrance events, reunions or parades while keeping original medals safely stored. This is often the most practical solution. High-quality replicas and replacement ribbons allow a family member to honour a relative’s service without exposing irreplaceable originals to rain, pin damage, loss or repeated handling.

Label replacement items discreetly in your records, especially where several generations may inherit the collection. Do not attach an unverified clasp to an original medal, alter naming, or combine unrelated awards into a single group simply to complete a display. Historical accuracy is part of respectful preservation.

The same principle applies to miniature medals. They are excellent for formal mess dress and occasions where full-size medals are impractical, but they should not be presented as original awards or used to replace missing history.

Review the collection once a year

A brief annual inspection is enough for most family collections. Look for fresh tarnish spots, green corrosion, loose ribbons, insect damage, mould, fading or signs that a frame backing has warped. Check that storage boxes remain dry and that any silica gel has not become saturated.

Use your photographs to compare condition over time. If a change is visible, act early rather than reaching for polish. Rehousing a medal in better materials, moving a frame away from sunlight or obtaining conservation advice can prevent a small problem becoming irreversible.

The most respectful family medal display is not necessarily the brightest or most elaborate one. It is the one that keeps the awards secure, accurately identified and connected to the person who earned them - so that the next person who opens the box or looks at the frame understands that they are holding part of a family’s service history.