Posted 05/23/2011 1:04 pm
Your link is dead so I really do not know what medals you are referring to.
The US Mint does make bronze medals in 3" and 1 1/2" sizes. Some of them, such as Presidential medals, have been reissued a number of times but the finish on the medals is usually different. Most medals receive an artificial patination to protect the bronze and this process typically changes with reissues. Some early medals are indeed worth moon money, especially 19th century inauguration medals, while others are much more affordable. Never clean a medal, it will be ruined just like a coin. Conservation methods used on bronze coins would generally be safe for use on bronze medals but there is always a potential for the alteration of the patination.
The US Mint does make bronze medals in 3" and 1 1/2" sizes. Some of them, such as Presidential medals, have been reissued a number of times but the finish on the medals is usually different. Most medals receive an artificial patination to protect the bronze and this process typically changes with reissues. Some early medals are indeed worth moon money, especially 19th century inauguration medals, while others are much more affordable. Never clean a medal, it will be ruined just like a coin. Conservation methods used on bronze coins would generally be safe for use on bronze medals but there is always a potential for the alteration of the patination.
