Provenance

The documented ownership and history of an item. For medals, provenance may include family history, service documentation, previous collection records, and auction catalogues.

Understanding medal terminology can help when researching military medals, campaign awards, gallantry decorations, medal groups, and inherited collections. If you have medals you would like to have assessed, learn more about our medal valuation service.

Related Medal Collecting Terms

Medal Roll

An official or administrative record listing people entitled to particular medals or campaign awards. Medal rolls can help confirm entitlement and identify a recipient's unit or service details.

Service Record

A personnel record documenting aspects of an individual's military service. Depending on the period and record type, it may contain enlistment details, postings, promotions, or operational history.

Recipient

The person to whom a medal or decoration was awarded. Establishing a recipient's identity can help connect a medal to service history and assess the significance of a group.

Unit

A military formation or organisational element, such as a regiment, battalion, ship, squadron, or company. Unit details can be important when researching a medal recipient's service.

Entitlement

The official eligibility of a person to receive a particular medal, clasp, or decoration under the applicable regulations. Entitlement may be checked against service records and medal rolls.

Replica Medal

A reproduction made to resemble an original medal. Replicas may be produced for display, study, or commemorative purposes and should be distinguished from original issues.