Are you struggling to choose a classic inspired medal design for your next event?
Well, you’re in the right place. At Bespoke Medals we have a long history of medal expertise, supplying customised medals to a range of globally recognised events, including the iconic London Marathon!
While our modern medal designs are evolving to be increasingly eye-catching and boasting a range of unique finishes, we understand that some event organisers prefer to adopt a more classic approach to their medals, finding inspiration from some of the most significant medals seen throughout history.
With that in mind, let’s take a look back at some of the most famous iconic medals and discover how these legendary designs have shaped the way we see medals today.
Whilst the celebration of accomplishments is seen throughout history, outdating the metal discs that we know as medals by many thousands of years, many experts agree that the first recognised ‘modern’ medal was created by Antonio Pisano an Italian painter that lived until 1455.
His design, made in 1438 shows John VIII Palaeologus with a pictorial scene on the reverse and was cast in lead or bronze.
Although largely used as a symbol of status, this commemorative medal would set the tone of medal designs for years to come.
Evolving in design and purpose, medals are now used to reward accomplishments in various roles from military, sporting and political.
In fact, there are medals out there that have become globally recognised symbols of culture, history and outstanding achievement.
Some of the most famous medals in the world include –
These gold medals represent outstanding achievements in various fields like physics, chemistry, literature and peace.
First awarded in 1901, the Nobel medals feature slightly different designs depending on the category they are awarded to.
The peace prize arguably has the most unique design, featuring the iconic ‘fraternity’ image on the reverse of three-men linking arms to represent unity and the front of the medal shows a portrait of Alfred Nobel in a slightly different position compared to the other Nobel medals.
There is no higher decoration in the United States military than the Congressional Medal of Honour. This medal has been handed out since the days of the Civil War to military members who ‘distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry’.
Of the 40 million men and women who have served in the U.S. military since the Civil War, only 3,525 have received this prestigious award which comes in one of three variations – Army Medal of Honour, Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard Medal of Honour and Air Force Medal of Honour.
Did you know that winners at the ancient Olympic games weren’t actually awarded medals? Instead, they were given an olive wreath in the shape of a crown.
It wasn’t until the first modern Olympic games in 1896 that athletes were awarded medals.
Initially 1st place competitors were given a silver medal that featured an image of Zeus and Nike the goddess of victory (yes that is where your trainers get their name from) and also featured Acropolis on the reverse.
The gold, silver, bronze system that we all know today wasn’t used until the 1904 Summer Olympics.
These iconic examples show the power of medal design to tell stories, inspire emotions and celebrate achievements.
Using these historic awards as inspiration for your next event, we can help you to craft classically designed medals that go beyond a simple recognition of participation, expressing the real meaning of your event and paying tribute to the rich history of medals.
For support in crafting your medals, contact our experts today, we offer a unique free design service to ensure that you can truly bring your vision to life.