Medal

Medal distributed by Cecilia Gonzaga's family to political allies. Renaissance Italy, designed by Pisanello (1447)

Three versions of United States Medal of Honor

A medal is a small metal object that is given as an award for doing something important or to commemorate something. There are medals for sports, military, academics, etc. Some medals have religious meaning. The Miraculous Medal has been distributed worldwide, for example. The Nobel Prize is a gold medal given to a few people every year.

Military decorations, service awards, and medals are often confused with one another. Decoration is the term for awards which require acts of heroism or achievement (such as the British Victoria Cross or American Silver Star). A service award or campaign medal is awarded for serving in a place and time (such as the Iraq Campaign Medal). In either case, an award or decoration may be presented as a medal.

Olympics

In the Olympic Games and many other sports competitions, medals are give to the top three people who took part in the competition. The winner of the competition is given the gold medal. The silver medal is given to the person who came second. The third placed person is given the bronze medal.

Medal Media

Obverse of medal distributed by Cecilia Gonzaga's family to political allies, a common practice in Renaissance Europe. Designed by Pisanello in 1448.
Reverse of the same medal, this copy with a suspension hole added later (inside a crescent moon in the design).
Medal depicting Herbert C. Hoover by Devreese Godefroi
Various prize medals with obverse designs, suspension rings and ribbons typical of medals intended to be draped over the head and hung from the neck
Plaquette by Peter Flötner, Vanitas, 1535–1540, gilt bronze. Created purely as an art object for a collector's market.
Bronze medal of Isabella d'Este, princess and patron of Renaissance humanists, distributed as a gift.
Silver Geuzen medal commemorating the Capture of Brielle in 1572 by the Sea Beggars; this was produced commercially
Medal of the Emperor John VIII Palaiologos during his visit to Florence, by Pisanello (1438). The legend reads, in Greek: "John the Palaiologos, basileus and autokrator of the Romans".
The United States' Medals of Honor (l to r: Army, Navy, Air Force), for "Conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty".
Commemorative medal of Finnish president J. K. Paasikivi, designed by Heikki Häiväoja

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