About Medals and Badges

Guides to identifying military medals, badges, patches, uniforms and gear from the Civil War to WWII, with tips on spotting fakes and replicas.

Who this site is for

Collectors, sellers and families who want to identify, date and authenticate military medals, insignia, uniforms and field gear.

How the guides are written

  • Answer first. Each guide leads with the direct answer, then explains the why and the how.
  • Practical numbers. Concrete values you can use, with ranges rather than false precision.
  • Connected, not repeated. Short, focused articles link to the in-depth guide for their topic, so you can go as deep as you need.
  • Dated. Every article shows when it was published.

Please note

These guides are general information, so confirm identification and value with a reputable dealer or appraiser before buying or selling.

Where to start

browse every topic.