My partner in Signature Art Medals, Mark Schlepphorst, this week asked me for a list of medalshapes. I remembered a list I compiled a few years ago and retrieved it from the computer.

I handed it to him and he read the first line, "Has there ever been an acorn shapedmedal?" Yes, I replied, Medallic Art Company struck an acorn shaped medal. But what about allthese other shapes? I had to admit they are also from tokens in addition to medals, as I hadsearched all token shapes which often included the name of the open area in the center of tokens.So call the list numismatic item shapes to cover all coins, medals and tokens.

In addition to the common name for each shape I also added the formal name. While extremelyaccurate, the formal name often sends a reader to the dictionary to identify its meaning. Why notjust give the common name?

I like redundancy, so in cataloging I often include both terms. (Like lawyers do in writingcontracts: spell out an amount then give the figures in parenthesis.) A newspaper editor wound editout first and leave the second, they so dislike redundancy.

So here's the list of seventy-three (73) numismatic shapes:

If the shape you are seeking is not listed above -- and it's not free-form -- use the term"unusual shape." But remember if it is silhouetted, as around the head of a person, thatis not an unusual shape -- it's just "silhouetted."

Editor Wayne Homren was thrilled with one term (typographic, see above). He ought to be ecstaticwith seventy-three (73)!