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Hi all,

New to the forum and WW2 medal collecting.

I need some help and guidance before I start collecting.

I have been an avid collector of many things over the years and I’m incredibly OCD with how I collect and store items (like a lot of collectors I’m sure)

I recently looked into my grandfathers WW2 record and managed to get hold of his military record and history and I found it incredibly fascinating. It sparked an idea of starting to collect WW2 medals.

I’ve started to do some research today and found the obvious traps of needing to find out what’s fake and what’s not etc. it before I even begin with that I need to figure out how to store and display anything I buy correctly.

I’m struggling to find a proper solution for this. I like the idea of a binder or protective case to store any medals in, firstly for protection but so I can sort and organise my medals but looking into it there doesn’t seem to be an obvious solution here that won’t potentially damage the medals (PVC envelopes cause sweating etc from what I’m seeing)

* Is there a solution?

* How do you all store and display your medals?

I don’t want them out on display but want access to them so I can enjoy them and look through them etc

* What’s my options?

Sorry for the long post but I really want to start off on the right foot and certainly don’t want to damage anything of historical significance by making early mistakes.

Any help or guidance here would be greatly appreciated and hopefully soon I can become a part of this community on here.

Thank you in advance for anyone who inputs to this thread.

Derek

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I keep my collection in Riker display cases, very high quality and really affordable.

Those do look great actually. A little bulkier that I’d like maybe but for sure a potential option.

Thanks for this

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Generally there is no solution for stopping the effects of PVC and even if you wrap the medals inside something, still keeping them in a plastic folder will over tine cause discoloration. I myself use archival grade boxes that often come with a foam or special surrounding that have a lesser effect. They are generally more expensive but I think there worth it in the long run. If you've got any more questions feel free to ask. 

Firstly thanks for the info.

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Do you mean like this?

No, not exactly. I have a photo of my collection which I could send but I'm quite new to Reddit so I don't know how to post pictures in the comments. Mine looks like a grey box, has grey metal edging, 8 compartments with a special foam that protects them. Only problem is I can't view them from the outside but for me with limited space at a rental I can't really make a fancy display. 

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Shelve from the box i built for them. Total 10 shelves.

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Case, cheap, has a glass.

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First, there is no real attempt to fake US medals (though there are some overseas counterfeiters of the Medal of Honor, which is illegal to buy/sell in the US). What you need to understand is that all WWII medals are still being manufactured by official suppliers. The difference in quality is fairly obvious, so until you get a feel for it, don't fall into the trap of just buying a medal because it's related to WWII. Know the differences in quality, construction, and various broaches.

The best resource is “The Call of Duty (Military Awards and Decorations of The United States of America)” by Strandberg and Bender.

Second, there are loads of ways to store and display medals. One of the worst (in my opinion) is in binders - especially if using plastic sleeves. The ribbons get compressed or wrinkled and the metal can corrode through lack of air and offgassing of the plastic. Most collectors favor Riker cases.

Though I haven't done this, I think there are two other great options. One is to use a tool box and line the drawers with felt or non-acidic padded mats. Another option is a coin collector’s cabinet. [Can’t figure out hyperlinks here, so just search for “wooden tool chest” and “coin collector display box”.]

I’m actually Scottish so US medals aren’t my only focus but I’ll for sure check that out as I’m sure in time I’ll get round to US medals.

I’m a huge baseball collector (I know that’s contradicting me being Scottish and not from the U.S.) and I know the importance of focus in a crowded market so I’m not even really sure where I’ll start tbh but most likely British medals… maybe ones from where my grandfather fought etc… I’ll figure that out in time.

Riker cases seem the way to go. I’ll look into this in more detail. I’m just really OCD and know the importance of looking after of collectibles and add to that these are historical items it makes it all the more important.

I really appreciate the lengthy reply and the time taken to do that. Already getting a good feeling about this community of collectors and for me that’s a big part of the enjoyment… getting to know cool people and generally learning off them.

Thanks everyone.

Riker mounts…

Excuse my inexperience here but how do they hold medals etc included place? Is it compression against the glass?

Or are people using some sort of thread or archival tape to hold medals and ribbons in place whilst displaying?

I think in general it’s just pressure of the padding against glass. You can get creative and source acid free mounting boards (like picture frame mats) and somehow pin the medals to them.

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