NNP

Vignette.  A design without obvious border, it either extends beyond the edge of a coin or medal (and cannot be shown) or it shades off gradually into the background within the object's surface. This art technique allows a designer somewhat more freedom of design and is obviously more pictorial than symbolic. It appears to give importance to the image that is shown; it's as if this is the most interesting detail from a larger picture.

Vignettes that completely fill the entire surface of one side have no field since the

one device occupies the full design area. Such a vignette cannot have any supporting design elements (no subsidiary device, symbols, ornaments or similar) and any lettering is kept to a minimum.

The other concept of a vignette, a design that has no finite border but whose edges shade off gradually or merge into the background – similar to the treatment often found in painting and photography – is uncommon in medallic art. It appears to leave a partial or incomplete device for artistic effect. low relief, however, uses this technique

as the image fades into the background or field of the coin or medal.

For technical reasons a design with a full vignette on one side cannot have a full vignette on the other side. A rim is required on the reverse so this piece can be trimmed (for the trimming tool to come in contact with the rim and not to mash the relief adjacent to the edge). Should the piece be trimmed on a lathe (turned off) this requirement is not necessary.

Cataloging.  Either form of vignette should be noted in describing and cataloging.

It would be best to spell out that the device occupies the "full flan" or that the design shades off into the background. While the later is perhaps common in painting (and in photography has a softening effect), it is not employed that often in medallic art. Such a medal is illustrated, however.

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