Definition

• Costume Jewelry Medal.  An imitation decoration or medallic item made to wear on costumes and fake uniforms. Such medals are usually gaudy, with bright colors and light weight. Most are thin shells made by embossing and have colorful ribbons. Primarily made for theatrical use, the designs may be innocuous or in direct imitation of existing decorations. As copies they are best described as facsimiles. While most costume jewelry medals are intended for theatrical use (stage, TV, film), a fashion fad arose in the early 1980s, climaxing in 1984, in which decorations and medals were a fashion accessory.  Many such fantasy medals were created closely resembling genuine decorations. (This infuriated legitimate recipients of original award medals, but, thankfully, the fad was short lived.) Most costume jewelry medals have very little collector value.  See copies and replicas.

  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

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