Superimposed
Superimposed. In front of, as one design element layered in front of another. It does not mean above, as above means toward the top of the design (the halo is above the saint's head but a sacred heart is superimposed on the saint's chest). In heraldic describing (blazoning) superimposed is called charged, as the design element is advancing toward the viewer. All these terms are used extensively in cataloging and describing numismatic and medallic items so their precise use is important for an accurate description.
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