Ornamentation
Ornamentation. The embellishing of a medallic or numismatic design by the addition of small design elements to supplement the major device and lettering. Ornamentation ranges from small single typographic ornaments – center dots, stars, rosettes – to minor pictorial elements, such as foliage, seals, skylines, clouds, banderoles and others. Also included are the continuous ornamentation on borders, chains, scrolls, spirals, waves, volutes, zigzags and guillouche. Ornamentation is a way designers can add interest, balance or emphasis to their medallic designs. A Pegasus Medal by Adolph Weinman is an example of a medal with high ornamentation.
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