A silver medal is often struck in 950 or 925 thousandths: check the hallmark. Its base value is the fine weight multiplied by the day's price, to which a collection premium may, more rarely, be added.
Silver medals are frequently struck at a high fineness, often 950 or 925 thousandths, but not always. The first check is to spot the hallmark: a Minerva head attests to solid silver and its fineness, while an engraved mention may specify the content.
Be careful not to confuse a solid silver medal with a silver-plated or gilt-on-silver one. In the absence of a clear hallmark, a professional can confirm the nature of the metal. To read the marks correctly, our guide on French silver hallmarks presents the Minerva, the crab and the maker's mark.
The base value of a medal is calculated like any silver item: fine weight × the day's price. Multiply the weight by the fineness to get the weight of pure silver, then by the silver price per gram. This is the incompressible foundation of the value.
Beyond the metal, some medals carry a collection premium: old medals, limited series, renowned engravers or sought-after subjects. This premium is rarer and more uncertain than for investment coins; it depends entirely on demand. For most common medals, it is the metal value that dominates. Do not overestimate the numismatic dimension without specialist advice.
The choice of channel depends on the medal's nature. For a medal with no collection interest, a buyback professional values it at its metal value, after checking the hallmark and weighing. For a potentially sought-after piece, a numismatic opinion may be useful before deciding.
In all cases the legal framework applies: identity, register and payment by bank transfer or cheque above the cash limits. Request several free quotes and compare the rates, the metal value being identical from one buyer to another. To put professionals in competition on the metal value, use our silver buyback page.
Silver medals are often struck in 950 or 925 thousandths, but this varies. You must check the hallmark, such as the Minerva head, or the engraved mention to know the exact fineness before any value calculation.
Sometimes. Some old, limited-series or sought-after medals carry a collection premium. But for most common medals, the value rests on the metal: fine weight multiplied by the day's price.