Weapons with famous former owners achieved the top spots in the militaria market this year, while Gatling guns remained as popular among collectors as ever.
Top medals and militaria sale of 2013
 The gold sabre was presented as a symbol of friendship between the two nations |
- A gold Saudi presentation sabre was the biggest selling militaria lot of 2013, achieving $1.2m in November. It was presented to Prince Ahmad Shah Khan of Afghanistan to mark Saudi Arabia's founding in 1932 and is believed to date to the 19th century.
2013's important medals and militaria sales
 The USS Arizona was the only ship not salvaged from the bottom of the harbour |
- A US flag recovered from the wreckage of the USS Arizona after the bombing of Pearl Harbor made $170,500 in February.
- A Continental Flintlock Holster pistol owned by Captain James Cook sold for $227,500 in February.
- A Winchester Model 1886 created for automobile magnate John F Dodge hammered for $333,500 in March.
- An Ottoman gold medal made $152,000 in April.
- An 1883 Colt Gatling gun achieved $227,000 in June.
- The finest known example of an iron frame Henry lever action rifle, of which only 200-400 were made, sold for $662,750 in September.
It was a breakout year for…
- A set of medals presented to the doctor on Shackleton's Nimrod expedition achieved $77,237 - 867% over their estimate of $8,012.
It was a year to forget for…
- Adolf Hitler, whose bejewelled ring failed to meet its $100,000 high estimate.
One you may have missed
 Henry Tudor took the throne from Richard III following the battle, becoming Henry VII |
- A fragment of the flag carried into the battle of Bosworth in 1485 by Henry VII's standard bearer made $6,131.
View our medals and militaria for sale.
