What is the difference between medal and medallion?
It is a matter of size, medallions are large medals. Numismatists in Europe say medallions have a diameter of 80 millimeters or larger; this equivalent in inches (3 3/16-inch) is the dividing line between medals and medallions in America. But “medal” and “medallion” are used so indiscriminately by the public that these definitions are blurred in most people’s minds (who may not even be aware that the concept of size is the distinction). TOP PAGE What about medal and other similar terms? Medalets are small medals, one inch or smaller. Medal is also an umbrella term covering all these terms. There are other related terms: plaquette and plaque. Plaquettes are rectangular (or nearly so) medallic items under 8 inches. Plaques range from 8-inch to perhaps 36-inch (under 18-inch are widely collectible). Tablets are large plaques and are unlimited in size. Plaques and tablets are usually uniface (as these large pieces are intended to be placed against a flat surface, as a wall, side of a monum
