An Introduction to Medallions

Obverse of 1966 Easter Rising Gold Medallion Reverse of 1966 Easter Rising Gold Medallion 1966 Easter Rising Gold Medallion in Box

Medallions, unlike most coins, are created with the express purpose of being a collector’s item. For this reason, they tend to have been produced using a higher relief and better production standards for aesthetic reasons, whereas coins intended for circulation have to be mass produced rapidly in order for them to fulfil their primary role as an exchange medium. Often, the medallions of any given nation or period of time will have been designed by the same engravers responsible for the designs on coins. Benedetto Pistrucci, the Italian engraver and Chief Medallist at the Royal Mint considered his 1849 'Waterloo' Medallion to be his Magnum Opus, rather than the 'St George' reverse design on the sovereign for which he is most famous for.

Although we are primarily a coin dealer, we feel that medallions and other exonumisma are a much-neglected potential hobby. In addition to their generally greater rarity and higher production values, they tend to commemorate important historical events. In the case of Karl Goetz’s Lusitania medallion, for example, they have even influenced historical events.

Other medallions commemorate great sporting events, coronations, state visits, celebrities and important individual and even events relating to a local area. Things that those issuing the medallions feel are worthy of commemoration and/or the buying public would also have felt worthy of commemoration!

We have acquired many different medallions on a wide range of subjects over the years. We are happier to buy some of these medallions than sell them, especially the older ones minted for wealthy and aristocratic collectors and correspondingly produced in a manner to match their own high standards of quality. They were after all used to the finer things in life!

These medallions, and medallions in general, should be viewed as works of art in their own right, ones which are, in spite of their comparatively low mintage, often cast or struck in precious metal for very reasonable premiums over their precious metal content and certainly more reasonable than those of the average sculpture or oil painting in comparison to their intrinsic worth!

For more information and medallions for sale, please see our Medallions Index.

The Chard Medallion Collection
This page is published as part of a small collection of interesting medallions acquired in the course of our coin business.
Many medallions are of local historical interest, others of wider interest. Many are beautiful examples of medallic art.
Most are not primarily for sale. We hope they will add to your interest and enjoyment of our site.