Ornament
Ornament. A small medallic design element, or a small symbol generally used with lettering to separate various elements or words. Ornaments include center dots, stars, rosettes, leaves, springs, berries, and a variety of other small artistic elements. Prior to 1900 these were generally made by punches and applied to the die by diesinkers. After 1900 and the use of the total design being modeled oversize (for pantographic reduction) these were created by the sculptor-artist.
excerpted with permission from
An Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology
For Artists, Makers, Collectors and Curators
COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY D. WAYNE JOHNSON
Roger W. Burdette, Editor