Definition

• Medal Cheat.  A person who wears decorations they are not authorized to wear. It comes to the attention of authorities – or medal enthusiasts –  when such a person takes part in some official activity wearing unauthorized decorations. It is illegal and countries having medal award programs have laws prohibiting this use. The person obtains such decorations on the secondary market, it is not illegal, or course, to own these, but it is to wear them as if the person was correctly bestowed such honors. Such action greatly diminishes the intrinsic value to those recipients who earned the distinction. In America this practice is prohibited by the Stolen Valor Act of 2005.

  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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