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Which metals are commonly used to make medals?
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medal
Pierre and Marie Curie depicted on the obverse of a medal from the Unio Internationalis Contra Cancrum (International Union Against Cancer) commemorating the Curies' discovery of radium in 1898.
Medals are most commonly crafted from gold, silver, bronze, or lead. While these materials are standard, precious metals are typically reserved for finer productions.1
Specific military decorations often utilize these materials for their symbolic and physical properties. For example, the U.S. Army’s Medal of Honor is formed from a bronze star. The choice of metal can be influenced by the intended prestige of the award, with various techniques—such as casting, striking from a die, or the repoussé process—employed to shape the final design.21