Definition

• Recognition.  A medallic award, often with the recipient's portrait or name, bestowed to him or her for performing some beneficence to mankind. A recognition award should not be confused with a prize award where many contestants vie for distinction of winning the prize medal. A recognition is an honor not a race or contest. Indian Peace Medals were, in effect, early recognition medals. In a few instances they were made in different sizes to reflect the different ranks of the Indian chief recipients. Recently such recognition awards have been called "lifetime awards" or "lifetime achievement awards." Some congressional medals with portraits of the honoree are also such recognition awards.

  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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