A vast field, covering many eras and countries. Specialist reference books on every period and country can be found. One book - Price Guide: Orders and Decorations, Germany 1871-1945 by Detlev Niemann (2004) - is highly recommended (I have several in stock at ?50 each plus postage).

This is Napoleon III's medal for the 1859 campaign, mostly fought in northern Italy against Austrian troops. On the reverse is 'Campagne d'Italie' with the names of six battles, including Magenta and Solferino, perhaps the most famous one. The artist's signature is below the emperor's bust, which is surrounded by the logo 'Napoleon III empereur'.

This hallmarked silver plaque is cast in relief with the head of Count Stepan Tisza, Prime Minister of Hungary in 1914, assassinated in 1918 by the Bolsheviks in their short-lived rising in Hungary. Also cast in relief are: his name and title in Hungarian, the date 1907 (top left), and the sculptor's monogram FBO, or a combination of these (right).

The clue to this quite well made modern copy is the rough finish to the edges of the silver frame, showing extensive rough file marks (never found on an original), plus the position of the sharp pin on the reverse (within the diameter of the 'nut' rather than beyond it, as is always the case with originals).

Generic silver medals (the pink reflection is down to bad lighting!), copiously engraved with the details of the awards (see below). It is rare to find 19th-century boxing medals.

This silver award was struck by the city council of Louvain. It was given for civil gallantry, eg stopping a runaway horse and cart, disarming robbers, etc. It has its original silk ribbon, somewhat faded. The medal is about 32mm in diameter.

A clean example of a small Austrian gallantry medal with a Franz Joseph bust, mounted on modern nylon ribbon. This award was the bottom rung of the ladder for KuK gallantry in WW1. The medal is about 31mm in diameter.