How Our MoD Licensed Medals Are Made

Modified on Mon, 24 Nov at 3:55 PM

At Empire Medals, we take immense pride in crafting authentic British military medals using traditional methods that honour centuries of medal-making heritage.

MoD Licensing

Our replacement medals are manufactured under licence from the Ministry of Defence (MoD). This licensing ensures that every medal we produce is an officially authorised reproduction, meeting the exact standards and specifications required for British military medals.

Traditional Die-Striking

The medals are die-struck using traditional methods in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, the historic heart of British medal-making. Die-striking is a centuries-old technique that involves:

  • Creating precision steel dies that capture every detail of the medal design

  • Striking metal blanks under high pressure to transfer the design

  • Producing medals with crisp, detailed relief that matches the original specification

This traditional craftsmanship ensures that each medal maintains the quality, weight, and appearance of the original awards.

Materials & Plating

We use bronze, silver, or specific alloys as required by each medal design, ensuring authenticity in both appearance and composition. All medals are plated in the UK to the same specification as the original medals, including:

  • Accurate metal composition

  • Correct plating finishes (silver, gold, or bronze)

  • Proper weight and dimensions

  • Authentic ribbon colours and materials

Made in the UK

Every stage of production takes place in the United Kingdom:

  • Die-striking: Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter

  • Plating: UK facilities

  • Ribbon attachment: In-house

  • Quality control: Telford, Shropshire

Quality Assurance

Each medal undergoes rigorous quality checks to ensure it meets MoD specifications and our own exacting standards. We're committed to producing medals that veterans and their families can display with pride, knowing they honour service with authenticity and respect.

Why Traditional Methods Matter

We could use modern manufacturing shortcuts, but we choose not to. Traditional die-striking produces medals with:

  • Superior detail and definition

  • Authentic weight and feel

  • Durability that lasts generations

  • True representation of the original awards

By honouring these time-tested methods, we preserve not just the medals themselves, but the heritage and craftsmanship they represent.

The Result

When you receive a medal from Empire Medals, you're receiving a piece crafted with the same care, precision, and respect as the original. Our MoD-licensed medals are indistinguishable from the originals in appearance and quality—because they're made to exactly the same specification.


Empire Medals - Honouring service, preserving heritage.

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