Regarding an item in my Numismatic Diary last week, Gary Beals writes:

Medalist, Medallist. A designer, engraver, maker or collector of medals; one knowledgeable in medals; also a recipient of a medal. As acreator of medallic art, the medalist must not only be a highly creative artist but also know the many techniques in the field. This talented personmust be proficient in producing the patterns required for any medallic item and the working knowledge must include design, relief, the capabilitiesand limitations of die striking and art casting, and, certainly, patina finishes.

The first medalist was Pisanello, who in 1438 created the first sculpture of what was to be called a pendant medal, a portrait of JohnPalaeologus. Early medalists had to prepare the entire production of a medal, from pattern to casting the final item, and to patina it. They had toknow - and do - every step themselves.

With the introduction of the screw presses for striking coins, in 1530, medals were also struck, but the diameter was necessarily small. Fewmedalists existed at this time. Those that did had to do their own engraving, by hand, and have some mint strike their creations. Thus medalists wereconcentrated at the national mints of Italy, France and England. One enterprising medalist from Belgium (a doctor!), Joseph Pierre Braemt (1796-1864)in 1824 even developed his own reducing machine, where he could model oversize and cut a medal die on his machine.

Medalists since then have increased in number, as the appeal and demand for medallic art spread. It should be noted however, medalists have alwaysbeen resourceful. This is lessened somewhat today with the ease of having private mints and medal makers produce what the medalist creates in his ownworkshop.

Famous medalists. In addition to Pisanello, famous early medalists include Donatello, Leonardo da Vinci, Benvenuto Cellini, Leone Leoni,all Italians, and somewhat later, the German artist Albert Durer. In England Benedetto Pistrucci and the Wyon family of engravers were most noted.French medalists of note is quite lengthy, but mention should be made of David d'Angers, Augustin Dupré, Charpenter, Louis Roty, others. In America:Augustus St-Gaudens, Daniel Chester French, Guston Borglum, Herbert Adams, Laua Gardin and James Earle Fraser, Paul Manship, Frederick Macmonnies,Victor David Brenner, Anna Hyatt Huntington, many others, were famed for their medallic work.

For other meanings of medalist see MEDAL COLLECTING and RECIPIENT. The word is spelled with one or two lls - both are correct.

To read the complete article on the Newman Numismatic Portal, see:
Medalist, Medallist (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionarydetail/516291)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: JUNE 16, 2019(https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n24a25.html)