Source: https://mikebrandlyauctioneer.wordpress.com/2012/09/19/auctioneers-18-u-s-c-%C2%A7-704/
Timestamp: 2017-06-25 13:49:43
Document Index: 508291314

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 704', '§ 704', '§ 704', '§ 507', '§ 507', '§ 704', '§ 704', '§ 704', '§ 704', '§ 507', '§ 507', '§507', '§ 704']

Auctioneers & 18 U.S.C. § 704 | Mike Brandly, Auctioneer Blog
Auctioneers & 18 U.S.C. § 704	19
Posted by Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, CAI, AARE in Auction Law, Auction School, Auctions, Contract law, National Auctioneers Association	≈ 2 Comments
Tags18 U.S.C. § 704, auction, Auction Law, auctioneer, auctioneers, Medal of Honor, medals, medals and ribbons, oak leaf clusters, service medals, service plaques, Stolen Valor Act, Title 32 § 507.8, Title 32 § 507.9	The year was 1923.
The United States Congress wrote a statute, later to be referenced as 18 U.S.C. § 704, prohibiting the unauthorized wearing, manufacturing, or sale of military medals or decorations.
Minor revisions to 18 U.S.C. § 704 were made effective in 1948, 1949 and 1994.
In 2006, President Bush signed into law the Stolen Valor Act, which made it a federal offense for a person to deliberately state falsely that he or she had been awarded a military decoration, service medal or badge.
The 2006 law also permitted an enhanced penalty for anyone who falsely claimed to have been awarded the Medal of Honor.
In June, 2012, in the case of United States v. Alvarez, the Supreme Court of the United States held that the Stolen Valor Act was an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech.
It’s somewhat unclear the current status of 18 U.S.C. § 704. However, it is widely held that military decorations, service medals and badges can indeed be sold at auction withstanding 18 U.S.C. § 704 unless the sale is otherwise “unauthorized” by some other federal statute, rule or marketable title issue.
And there are such rules. Essentially:
Title 32 § 507.8 Articles authorized for manufacture and sale:
All authorized insignia (AR 670–1 and AFI 36–2903).
Appurtenances and devices for decorations, medals, and ribbons such as oak leaf clusters, service stars, arrowheads, V-devices, and clasps.
Combat, special skill, occupational and qualification badges and bars.
Fourrageres and lanyards.
Decorations, service medals, and ribbons, except for the Medal of Honor.
Replicas of decorations and service medals for grave markers. Replicas are to be at least twice the size prescribed for decorations and service medals.
Service ribbons for decorations, service medals, and unit awards.
Army emblem and branch of service plaques.
Title 32 § 507.9 Articles not authorized for manufacture or sale:
Service ribbon for the Medal of Honor.
Rosette for the Medal of Honor.
Service flags (prescribed in AR 840–10 or AFR 900–3).
Army seal.
Commercial articles for public sale that incorporate designs or likenesses of decorations, service medals, and service ribbons.
Commercial articles for public sale that incorporate designs or likenesses of designs of insignia listed in §507.8 of this part, except when authorized by the Service concerned.
Notation on some of the code numbers above:
The medal pictured above is a 1862–1895 Army Medal (Medal of Honor) and an example of an article not authorized for manufacture or sale.
As auctioneers are selling more and more assets from estates, guardianships and the like, it is paramount that both the auctioneer and seller remain aware of which military medals and related items are legal to sell, and which ones are not.
2 thoughts on “Auctioneers & 18 U.S.C. § 704”	Terry Mangum said:	September 19, 2012 at 6:31 pm	I just reread your blog and am still confused on what can and can’t be sold. Obviously the Medal of Honor cannot. But, what can?
Mike Brandly, Auctioneer, CAI, AARE said:	September 19, 2012 at 8:31 pm	Almost everything else.