MEDAL (OP. medallic, Fr. nu'(lui//e, from Lat. melallum, from Gk. kdraXXov, metal). A piece of metal, more or less of the form of a coin, stamped on one side or both with image and inscription, With the object of commemorating an event or of honoring• a person, and not intended for circulation as money. This use of the word excludes all ancient and modern coins, even those which, like the American Columbian half-dollar, are commemorative pieces struck only for a spe cial occasion, hut designed for circulation as money. The coins of the Greeks and Romans have so many medallic, i.e. commemorative, characteristics, that the belief that they were really medals rather than coins was a natural one. There is hardly any event of popular interest, whether public or private, in ancient times, espeeially under the Roman Empire, that it not recorded on the coins. Thp term medal lion is for convenience still used of certain classes of ancient coins that surpass the rest in size and technique; but the strictly monetary character of even these is now suffi ciently proved. Though objects of real art, often designed for royal gifts or for ornament, they were still multiples of the regular coins. and as such could be entered into circulation. Such were the magnificent 'medallions' of Syra cuse, real gems of the he-engraver's art signed with the artist's name, and the 'medallions' in gold. silver, and copper of the Roman Emperors, coined under their special control, and hence lacking the usual S. C. (Senatus consult°, 'by order of the Senate') of the senatorial bronze money. Sometimes these Roman medallions are found set in a circlet of fine metal. This was not the work of the coiner, however, hut of the jeweler who adapted the coin to artistic use. If we are to seek anything approximating the medal in ancient. times, it may perhaps be found in certain pagan talismans and in the little Christian medals of devotion.
Alodern medals begin in the period of the Renaissance. The earliest bear the portraits and inscriptions (in Latin) of rulers and poten tates. The subjects are at first drawn ex clusively from classical art ; hence their value as documents of contemporary history, though not of art, is materially lessened. The most famous
Italian medalist of the fifteenth century was Vittorio Pisani of Verona, whose splendid works are signed "Opus Pisani Pictoris." It became the custom for rulers to inaugurate their reign and celebrate its chief events by striking medals. The series of the popes begins with Paul 11. (1464-71), and continues without a break to the present time. Aledals of the earlier popes are the work of a later period. A medallic mint is eonnected with the Vatican. where the best artists are employed. Some of the medal.. of Julius II.. Leo N... and Clement V1I. have an especial interest, as having been designed by Raphael and Giulio Romano, and engraved by Benvenuto Cellini. A sixteenth-century medal of Sicily is probably the first instance' in modern times of the use of a medal as a vehicle of political satire; it is directed by Frederic II. against his adversary, Ferdinand of Spain. Satirical medals were afterwards common in the Low Countries. Some of the Dutch medals are noted for the elaborate views, maps, and plans engraved on them. Of many reigns a complete medallic history can lie written, as, for example, of that of Napoleon Bonaparte. American Presi dents, beginning with Washington, are commemo rated in a series of portrait medals. But it is 110 longer merely kings and rulers and great mili tary and naval events that are. commemorated in medals. Events of general interest in science, art, or literature, movements for the ameliora tion of conditions, learned societies, are all found recorded in these artistic little documents of history.
Besides the purely commemorative medals, there is another class—that of `decorations'— which, beginning at the end of the eighteenth century, has attained an enormous development. These are conferred by the sovereign or the State as marks; of distinetion for eminent services, particularly in the army and navy. Such medals of honor are seldom of much intrinsic value, their worth depending mainly on the asso ciations connected with them. They have rib bons attached. with clasps or small bars, earli of which often bears the name of a battle. Such medals are intended to be worn on the breast. They are of very varied form. the cross being the most common.