You’re cleaning out a grandparent’s trunk or poking around a local estate sale. Among the mothballs and old yellowed photographs, you find it. A small, hinged box. Inside, a five-pointed star hangs from a light blue ribbon punctuated by thirteen white stars. It’s heavy. It looks important. It is a dusty Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration in the United States, and honestly, you might be holding a legal landmine.
Most people see a piece of history. They see a hero’s legacy. But the United States government sees a strictly regulated federal asset that is technically illegal to buy, sell, or even trade.
This isn’t like finding a rare comic book or a vintage Rolex. You can’t just toss it on eBay and wait for the bidding war to start. In fact, doing that could land you in front of a federal judge. There is a very specific, very rigid culture surrounding these medals, and if you’ve inherited one that’s been sitting in the dark for fifty years, you need to know exactly what the rules are before you try to "restore" it or move it.
The Legal Reality of the Dusty Medal of Honor
Let's get the scary stuff out of the way first. Under 18 U.S.C. § 704, the unauthorized wearing, manufacturing, or sale of any military decorations or medals is a crime. But the Medal of Honor? It gets special treatment. While selling a Purple Heart might be frowned upon by collectors, selling a Medal of Honor is a federal misdemeanor that can lead to fines and up to a year in prison.
The FBI actually has agents who specifically monitor auction sites. They aren't looking for high-level drug lords; they're looking for that dusty Medal of Honor someone tried to list for $10,000.
Why is it so strict? Because the medal represents the "Gallantry and Intrepidity" of individuals who went above and beyond the call of duty. The government’s stance is that you cannot put a price tag on that kind of sacrifice. It belongs to the recipient, and then it belongs to their family as a matter of heritage—not as a liquid asset.
It’s kind of a weird legal limbo. You can own it if you inherited it. You can display it in your home. You just can’t treat it like property you can swap for cash.
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The Problem with "Cleaning" History
If you’ve found a medal that’s been neglected, your first instinct is probably to grab some brass polish and a rag. Stop. Collectors and historians will tell you that the "dusty" look—the patina—is actually part of the medal's story. Depending on the era, these medals were made of different materials. Civil War versions were often bronze. Later versions might be gold-plated brass or even sterling silver with gold plating. Taking a harsh chemical to a 100-year-old medal can strip the finish and destroy its historical integrity.
More importantly, the ribbon is usually the first thing to go. Silk rots. It gets brittle. If the ribbon on that dusty Medal of Honor is shattered or fraying, don't try to staple it or tape it back together. There are professional conservators who handle textile preservation. They use acid-free materials to stabilize the fabric so it doesn't turn to dust the next time a breeze hits it.
Identifying What You Actually Have
Not every "star on a blue ribbon" is a Medal of Honor. Since 1862, there have been several different designs. There’s the Army version, the Navy version (which the Marine Corps also uses), and the Air Force version, which wasn't established until 1965.
Before 1913, the designs were even more confusing.
If you're looking at a dusty Medal of Honor from the Civil War era, it might look like a simple bronze star with Minerva fending off Discord. It’s easy to mistake it for a Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) membership medal, which was a veteran's organization. Many families think they have a Medal of Honor when they actually have a very common (though still cool) commemorative piece from a 19th-century parade.
- Check the back. Real medals are often (but not always) engraved with the recipient's name and the date of the action.
- Look at the "V" attachment.
- Count the stars on the ribbon.
- Look for a hallmark on the side or back of the medal, such as "HLP" or "LI" (which stand for Lordship Industries or His Lordship Products, though they famously lost their contract for selling medals illegally in the 90s).
The "Stolen Valor" Complication
There is a huge difference between a family heirloom and a medal found in a thrift store. If you find one at a garage sale, chances are it’s a "copy" or a "strike" that wasn't officially issued. However, even high-quality replicas can fall under the "illegal to sell" umbrella if they are too close to the original design.
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In the collector world, there is a massive amount of tension regarding these items. Some believe every medal should be in a museum. Others think families have the right to keep them. But if that medal is "dusty" because it was stolen from a museum or a veteran's home decades ago, the government can seize it without compensating you.
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society keeps a very tight record of recipients. If you have a named medal, you can cross-reference it with their database. If the name matches a hero from the Battle of the Bulge, you aren't just holding a piece of metal; you're holding a national treasure.
What to Do If You Inherit One
So, the medal is sitting on your kitchen table. You’ve realized you can’t sell it, and you’re worried about the FBI knocking on your door because you posted a photo of it on Reddit. What’s the move?
First, document everything. Take high-resolution photos of the front, back, and the box. If you have the original "citation" (the piece of paper that explains why they got the medal), keep that with it. The citation is actually what makes the medal "real" in the eyes of many historians. It provides the context of the heroism.
Second, think about preservation. You want to get it out of the dusty environment.
- Buy an acid-free archival box.
- Keep it out of direct sunlight. UV rays eat the blue dye in the ribbon for breakfast.
- Keep it in a climate-controlled room. Basements and attics are the enemies of old medals because of the humidity swings.
If you don't want the responsibility of owning it, you can donate it. But be careful. Not all museums are created equal. Some smaller local museums might take it, only to have it sit in a back room or, worse, get stolen because they don't have security.
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The best place for a donated Medal of Honor is usually a branch-specific museum, like the National Museum of the United States Army or the National Museum of the Marine Corps. They have the resources to properly conserve the piece and ensure that the "dusty" relic is cleaned (professionally) and displayed with the respect it deserves.
The Value That Isn't Money
It’s tempting to wonder "what it’s worth." On the black market? Maybe thousands. But the real value of a dusty Medal of Honor is the genealogical link.
Most people who find these medals in their family history find a side of their ancestors they never knew. They find out that quiet, unassuming Great-Uncle Joe actually crawled through a literal hellscape in 1944 to save his entire platoon. That realization is worth more than any price a shady collector would pay you in a dark corner of the internet.
Actionable Steps for Medal Care and Verification
If you are currently looking at a medal and aren't sure where to turn, follow this progression to ensure you stay on the right side of the law and the right side of history.
- Verify the Recipient: Visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Society database. Search the name engraved on the back. If there is no name, it may be an unissued "extra" or a replica, but treat it as authentic until proven otherwise.
- Assess the Condition: Do not use water, soap, or polish. If the medal is covered in grime, use a soft, dry makeup brush to gently whisk away surface dust.
- Storage: Remove the medal from any damp or decaying original velvet boxes if there is visible mold. Place it in a polyethylene bag or a small archival box.
- Consult a Professional: If you want to know the history without the risk of "selling," contact the Center for Military History. They can provide context on the specific "strike" or version of the medal you have.
- Legal Safe Harbor: If you feel the medal was obtained under questionable circumstances before it reached you, you can contact the Medals of Honor Historical Society. They often work to reunite "lost" medals with the proper authorities or family lines without focusing on prosecution for accidental possession.
The worst thing you can do with a dusty Medal of Honor is ignore it or treat it like junk. It is a physical manifestation of a moment where someone decided that another person’s life—or their country's cause—was more important than their own survival. Whether it's sitting in a museum or on your mantel, it deserves to be kept clean, safe, and respected.