Medals
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Medals. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a medal in its modern signification, is independent of the coin and sculptured medallion, medallion, being a piece of metal, resembling a coin in form and size, stamped with images and inscriptions to honor a person or commemorate an event. The Greeks and Romans made profuse use of them, as a record of events in their respective histories, and the art was revived in Europe at the period of the Renaissance. In France it has risen to great perfection, and the series of national medals, beginning under Louis XI., illustrates almost every great event in French history. The fashion spread to England where the battle medals form an excellent series. In Italy princes and popes on ascending the throne commemorated the event by striking medals bearing their portraits, and in the papal series particularly the greatest artists Italy has produced did the work of engraving. The art has had an increasing THE VICTORY MEDAL, UNITED STATES development in the United States and there are portrait medals of all the American presidents. Chief among the engravers of medals in modern times have been Vittorio Pisani of Italy, Jacques Wiener of Belgium, and Roty and Chaplain in France. Midway between sculpture and painting, as Vasari held it to be, and working in the miniature, the art has been shown capable of great expression and beauty. Such works as the "Study" of Roty or his "Medal Wedding" rival the larger arts in their depth and wealth of detail. See SERVICE MEDALS AND DECORATIONS.
The Encyclopedia of Founding (1892)
If it is desired to obtain a convex and a concave plaster-mould from a medal, press tin-foil close into every part of the surface and pour on the requisite thickness of plaster, after which, when it has hardened, take off the medal and oil the tin-foil surface, over which the plaster is again poured. When the latter thickness of plaster has hardened, they may be separated and the foil taken off. Should the medal have under-cut parts which interfere with a direct separation, then use glue instead of plaster, and the moulds may be forcibly withdrawn without materially damaging them. Any other flat object may be treated as above described. See GLUE-MOULDS. Melting a Small Quantity of Iron.--See FONDERIE A CALABASSE.