Preserving Medals: Tips and Techniques
Invented in the 15th century and painstakingly decorated by hand, Pisanello introduced modern commemorative medals to society. This small hand-held token included profile portraits on the obverse side of the medal and this design formula has remained to this day. Bearing inscriptions or designs, medals are given out to commemorate events, a person, or as an acknowledgement of bravery and, as such, should be preserved for future generations. We at Trophy and Medal Boutique have a range of medals that can be custom designed to recognise sporting prowess or to honour outstanding valour.
Correct Cleaning and Storing Conserves Medals
Unlike museums that can keep artefacts in stable and carefully controlled environments, preserving the medals that one receives to put on display or keep tucked away for prosperity need to have a little tender love and care to keep them looking as good as the day they were awarded. We have compiled this list of useful tips and techniques to ensure that your medals last:
-
Cleaning

- Polishing won’t enhance your medal. This continuous abrasive action will damage the design.
- Before using any chemicals to clean the medal, test it on a small section. If the chemical harms the medal, stop immediately.
- Remove the ribbon by removing the stitching on the ribbon.
- Dip the medal in a small container of acetone and wipe it off with a cotton bud.
- With a soft bristle toothbrush dipped in water, apply careful circular motions to remove any surface dirt. Rinse frequently.
- To prevent any future corrosion, lacquer the medal and hang it up on a piece of protruding wire to dry. Use tissue paper that has been twirled to a point to blot any lacquer that may drip from the medal.
- Leave the medal hanging up for 24 hours to dry.
-
Storing
- Handle the medal as little as possible as acid transferred from fingers can harm it.
- Before putting it in a box, wrap the medal in fabric that has been washed and that hasn’t been dyed. Acid-free tissue paper, soft cotton, and linen are the best.
- When being displayed in a case, avoid cardboard, certain types of wood, velvet, and woollen felt as these materials will cause the metal to corrode and tarnish.
Correctly cleaning and storing your medals is the most effective way of preserving them.
Since 1989, we at Trophy and Medal Boutique have perfected the die-cast method used during the manufacturing process, ensuring that the medals you receive from us last. Our medals are available in a variety of shapes and sizes to be customised according to your specifications. If time is of the essence, we have standard stock medals for most sports in specified sizes readily available when you need them. For affordable medals, trophies, plaques, and promotional items, contact us.