medallion

A medallion is a round or oval decorative disk that can function as a medal, a piece of jewelry, or an architectural ornament. Medallions may be plain or elaborately engraved, sometimes inlaid with enamel or gemstones, and they can be worn as pendants, used as up-front decorations on buildings, or incorporated into furniture and other decorative schemes. Architectural medallions, also called roundels, are common in neoclassical and baroque design.

Etymology traces medallion to the French medaillon, a diminutive of médaille (medal), with roots in earlier Latin and Medieval forms. The term has long been used to describe both honorary medals and decorative disks, and in some contexts to refer to coin-like, non-legal-tender pieces.

In awards and honors, a medallion is commonly produced to recognize achievement, service, or valor. Military decorations, academic prizes, municipal recognitions, and commemoratives are often issued as medallions or as medals designed to be worn on ribbons, collars, or chains. They are typically struck from metal and may bear emblems, inscriptions, and portraits.

In jewelry and interior design, medallions function as pendants or decorative focal points. A medallion pendant hangs from a chain or cord; in interiors, large medallions may appear as ceiling rosettes, wall disks, or decorative medallions on furniture and cabinetry.

In numismatics, commemorative medallions are produced for collectors and institutions; they resemble medals but are not intended as legal tender. Variants can be found in a range of metals, finishes, and sizes, reflecting the purpose—from personal keepsakes to civic commemorations.