Disclaimer. Collectalia is not a legal, tax or insurance advice site. The information on this page is general and based on French legislation in force as of 09/11/2026: it may change, does not necessarily apply outside France and does not take your situation into account. Always have it checked by a notary, a lawyer, an accountant or your insurer before acting on it.
Key points
- A medal collection is described by the issuer, the event commemorated, the year, the engraver and the metal.
- Tokens, plaquettes and decorations follow the same logic, with their own sub-categories.
- Diameter, weight, mintage and condition complete the identification and the valuation.
Medal and token collection: what to keep track of
The medal is the cousin of the coin, but it tells a different story: an event, a person, an institution. For a commemorative medal, the event and the date are the first piece of information. Then come the authority or body that had it struck, the name of the engraver, the metal and, when known, the mintage.
Tokens (guild, attendance, gaming, trade) often have less literature, and your inventory then becomes your best documentation. Decorations and orders, finally, require you to note the ribbon, the fittings and the accompanying documents, such as a warrant or a diploma.
What a medal or token record contains
| Field | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Authority or issuer, designation | Know who had the piece struck and name it clearly. |
| Event commemorated, year | Link the medal to its subject and date it. |
| Engraver | An important criterion of interest and value; often signed on the piece. |
| Metal: gold, silver, silver-gilt (vermeil), bronze, copper, pewter… | A basic element of the valuation. |
| Mintage | Distinguish a common striking from a limited one. |
| Grade or quality | Record the condition, and who assigned it. |
| Diameter, thickness, weight | Complete the identification; spot a restrike or a copy. |
| Obverse and reverse photos, documents, valuations | Prove the real condition and follow the value over time. |
The sub-categories separate commemorative medals, decorations and orders, tokens and plaquettes.
Engraver, mintage and condition: the criteria of value
For the same subject, two medals can have very different values depending on the engraver, the metal, the size of the mintage and the condition. Note who assessed the condition and when, and keep the history of valuations with their date and author. For a medal in precious metal, note the exact weight: it is used for valuation and identification.
Value and insurance
A medal cabinet fits in a drawer and is easily carried off. After a theft, you will have to prove what it contained: photos, a detailed list, invoices, valuations. Check that your home insurance policy covers these objects and up to what amount. Also keep your proofs of purchase: on resale, the tax treatment depends on the nature of the object (see our guide flat-rate tax or capital gains tax).
Succession
Inherited medals without a list are often sold by the weight of the metal by heirs who do not know their interest. An inventory that flags the important pieces, shows where the medal cabinet is and gives the name of a trusted numismatist avoids this risk. For family decorations, note to whom they were awarded and why: it is often what the heirs want to keep.
Photos from your phone and sharing
Photograph the obverse, the reverse and the edge, on a neutral background, with raking light that brings out the relief and the engraver’s signature. To have a selection valued, share it through a password-protected, time-limited link. If you also collect coins, see managing your coin collection; for military decorations, see antique weapons and militaria.
With Collectalia
Collectalia manages medals, tokens, plaquettes and decorations: one record per piece with authority or issuer, event commemorated, year, engraver, metal, mintage, grade, diameter, thickness and weight, obverse and reverse photos taken from your phone by scanning a QR code, documents and successive valuations. Import of an existing Excel file, advanced search, PDF reports and a Succession module. Free trial, free read-only access for the family.
Disclaimer. Collectalia is not a legal, tax or insurance advice site. The information on this page is general and based on French legislation in force as of 09/11/2026: it may change, does not necessarily apply outside France and does not take your situation into account. Always have it checked by a notary, a lawyer, an accountant or your insurer before acting on it.