Medalist

A medalist (American English) or medallist (British English) is an artist who designs medals, plaquettes, badges, coins and similar small works in relief in metal. Somewhat confusingly, "medalist/medallist" is also used in sport and other areas (but not usually in military contexts) for the winner of a medal as an award.

Historically medalists were typically also involved in producing their designs, and were usually either sculptors or goldsmiths by background. In modern times medallists are mostly primarily sculptors of larger works, but in the past the number of medals and coins produced were sufficient to allow specialists who spent most of their career producing them. From the 19th century the education of a medalist often began with as an engraver, or a formal education in an academy, particularly modeling and portraiture. On coins a mark or symbol signifying the medalist as the original designer was often included in a hidden location on the coin and is not to be mistaken for the symbol of the mint master. Artistic medals and plaquettes are often signed prominently by the artist.