These Heroic Awards Fetch Some Serious Coin
From battlefield bravery to Olympic triumphs, vintage medals and badges shine with history and prestige. They’re more than shiny metal—they’re reminders of courage, achievement, and legacy. In today’s collecting world, some fetch staggering sums: Nobel Prizes selling for millions, Titanic heroism medals, or rare gallantry awards. These treasures capture collectors’ imaginations and history lovers’ hearts. Let’s journey through vintage medals and badges that tell incredible stories and command remarkable value on the open market.
Nobel Prizes: The Gold Standard
When it comes to medals with jaw-dropping prices, the Nobel Prize sits on the throne. In 2022, journalist Dmitry Muratov’s Nobel Peace Prize medal realized an astonishing $103.5 million, the highest price ever paid for a medal of any kind—proceeds went to UNICEF. Earlier records include James D. Watson’s medal at $4.76 million in 2014.
Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg), Wikimedia Commons
Olympic Glory: Jesse Owens’s 1936 Gold
Olympic medals vary wildly, but the icon among icons is Jesse Owens’s 1936 Berlin Games gold. One of his four medals sold in 2013 for $1,466,574—still cited as the priciest piece of Olympic memorabilia. If you want another benchmark, a rare 1904 St. Louis gold fetched $545,371 in early 2025.
New York-air, Wikimedia Commons
Victoria Cross: Britain’s Ultimate Gallantry
The Victoria Cross (VC) is coveted for its rarity and valor. A group including a VC set an auction record at £420,000 in 2021. Individual VCs continue to command six-figure sums—one Great War VC sold for £200,000 in March 2025, underscoring steady demand for top-tier gallantry pieces.
SwissArmchairHistorian, Wikimedia Commons
George Cross: Courage Under Fire
The George Cross, Britain’s highest award for civilian gallantry (and some military acts), also reaches serious heights. In February 2021, Lieutenant Terence Waters’s Korean War George Cross realized a world-record £280,000 (hammer) at Dix Noonan Webb, eclipsing prior records for the decoration.
David Monniaux, Wikimedia Commons
Titanic Heroism: The Carpathia Gold Medal
Struck by Dieges & Clust and associated with “the Unsinkable” Molly Brown’s survivors’ committee, Carpathia medals are catnip to maritime collectors. In 2018, a 14-karat gold Carpathia medal named to the ship’s purser brought a record £45,000, complete with original box and ribbon.
Titanic Relics: Carpathia Crew Medals
Bronze Carpathia crew medals are more obtainable but still highly desirable thanks to their storied provenance. Examples have appeared at Christie’s and Charles Miller, with catalogs documenting the New York presentation in May 1912. Expect strong premiums for complete, cased examples with ribbons.
Shackleton’s Polar Honors
Polar exploration medals tied to Ernest Shackleton and contemporaries bring polar-sized prices. In 2024, a set of 15 Shackleton-related medals sold for over £580,000, and the UK even placed an export bar on Shackleton’s own Polar Medal before it ultimately went to New Zealand’s Canterbury Museum. Narrative is everything here.
Pulitzer Medals: Journalism’s Badge Of Honor
Pulitzer medals don’t approach Nobels in value, but they’re fascinating crossover collectibles. A 1953 Newsday Pulitzer gold medal sold for $7,000 in 2007—proof that rarity and name recognition matter, but so does market focus (journalism vs. science).
Daniel Chester French (1850–1931) and Augustus Lukeman (1872–1935), Wikimedia Commons
Orders Of The Garter: Royal Cachet
Insignia from Britain’s Order of the Garter—particularly “Great George” or “Lesser George” badges—combine courtly glamour with exquisite craftsmanship. In 2024, Spink sold a Great George linked to Prince Adolphus for £100,000; earlier Garter jewels by noted makers have also fetched strong five-figure sums.
Garter Jewels: The Santarelli Touch
Provenance and maker elevate price. Spink documents the sale of a superb Lesser George by Santarelli at £28,750 back in 2005—evidence that artistry plus royal order equals durable demand, even outside headline-grabbing lots.
Order Of The Bath: Historic And Attainable
For collectors who crave chivalric orders at friendlier entry points, Companion’s badges (C.B.) from the Most Honourable Order of the Bath often hammer in the hundreds to low thousands. Recent Spink and Noonans sales show £700 is a realistic ballpark for a decent example.
David Monniaux, Wikimedia Commons
Distinguished Service Decorations
From the Military Cross to the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), British gallantry pieces remain popular. Mid-level awards with clean enamel and good cases often bring hundreds to low four figures, with groupings or named, well-documented recipients pushing prices higher.
German Knight’s Cross Groups
Collectors pay for complete, genuine groups with documentation. A Second World War German Knight’s Cross group to a mountain troops officer realized £18,000 at Noonans in 2021, illustrating how provenance and completeness fuel value in complex sets. (As always, ensure legality and ethical comfort with the category.)
Space-Age Medals: Apollo Robbins
Space-flown “Robbins” mission medallions are a modern twist on medal collecting. Apollo 14 flown silver medallions—carried on the mission—appear with major houses and often bring four- or five-figure prices; a June 2025 example sold via Heritage underscores the ongoing appetite.
Struck by Robbins Company for NASA, Wikimedia Commons
Astronaut Pins And Silver Snoopys
Astronaut qualification pins and Silver Snoopy awards (presented by astronauts for outstanding safety contributions) cross into medal/badge lore. While prices vary and provenance is crucial, space-flown examples and astronaut-owned pieces can command thousands at specialty auctions.
U.S. Medal Of Honor: Read The Fine Print
Collectors sometimes see Medal of Honor headlines, but caution is key: buying, selling, or even possessing a U.S. Medal of Honor (without direct entitlement) is illegal in the United States—though sales have occurred abroad, drawing political scrutiny. Know the law before you bid.
Alexeinikolayevichromanov, Wikimedia Commons
Purple Hearts: Price Hinges On Provenance
Unengraved, later Purple Hearts can be comparatively modest; named World War II examples with research climb. Appraisal guides and live-sale archives show a wide spread—from hundreds into the low thousands depending on story, unit, and condition.
Peter Stevens, Wikimedia Commons
Royal Flying Corps Wings
Early British RFC pilot wings and half-brevet patches are gateway pieces with history. Period examples typically trade in the low hundreds, with officer-quality, silver, or named pieces bringing more. Watch for repairs, reproductions, and condition notes.
Grand Army Of The Republic (GAR) Jewels
Post-Civil War GAR badges are ubiquitous—but presentation pieces in gold (often diamond-set) can surprise. Heritage has offered gold-and-diamond commander’s badges, illustrating how materials and inscription elevate what might otherwise be a modest fraternal medal.
Orders From Around The World
From the Order of Lenin to other high Soviet and imperial decorations, values swing with authenticity and precious metal content. Public asking prices for genuine Lenin orders hover in the low-to-mid thousands, with complete, documented groups at a premium. Vet carefully to avoid copies.
narvarestorer, Wikimedia Commons
Olympic Medals Beyond The Legends
Not every Olympic medal is a six-figure juggernaut. Later-era pieces in less prominent sports may sell for four to five figures depending on athlete fame and completeness (ribbon, case, documentation). The 1904 St. Louis result shows how rarity and historical “firsts” turbocharge price.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
Chivalric Odds And Ends
Outside the headliners, a range of British orders (MBE, OBE, CMG, K.B.E., Knight Bachelor badges) sell regularly. Prices realized pages from major houses show many examples between a few hundred and a couple thousand pounds—great “starter” orders with gorgeous enamel.
Railway, Police, And Service Badges
Uniform badges—railway cap badges, obsolete police shields, and agency-marked pieces—are a vibrant sub-genre. While most sell under the high-end medal market, named or early examples by top makers (e.g., Dieges & Clust) and senior-rank shields can outpace generic pieces.
Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., Wikimedia Commons
How Condition And Completeness Move The Needle
Original cases, ribbons, suspension brooches, and paperwork matter. Specialist guides emphasize four pillars of value: bullion, numismatic/craftsmanship, historical significance, and provenance. A tidy, named medal with research can double (or more) a loose, anonymous counterpart.
Kevinakling, Wikimedia Commons
Buying Smart: Verification Tips
Stick to established auctioneers and dealers, check price-realized databases, and seek documented provenance—especially for high-risk categories. Compare similar lots across reputable results pages to avoid overpaying, and be mindful of local laws on ownership and export. Happy hunting!
AntikBatze76, Wikimedia Commons
Does Anyone In Your Family Own One Of These Incredible Medals Or Badges?
Vintage medals and badges prove history can be worn, carried, and collected. Each blends artistry, rarity, and story—turning tokens into prized collectibles worth thousands or millions. From Olympic medals to gallantry crosses, polar exploration honors to fraternal badges, the variety is as broad as collectors’ passions. The market thrives on provenance and condition, but above all, on the timeless appeal of human achievement. Whether at auctions, museums, or estate sales, remember: these medals aren’t just decorations—they’re history you can hold.
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