There is a whole section of historical science - phaleristics, which studies distinctive signs: medals and orders, badges, miniatures, ribbons, award documents and in general everything that can be associated with signs differences. Traditionally, faleristics is considered a branch of numismatics - a discipline that specializes in the history of coinage. Faleristics as an independent auxiliary discipline has been developing most actively since the 1970s. So what is the difference between medals and orders?
How did medals and orders appear?
In order to understand whether there is any difference at all between medals and orders, you will have to look into the history of the appearance of both:
Brief history of medals. Since time immemorial, only the state or a structure authorized by it has traditionally had the right to mint metal money (coins). For example, in the Middle Ages, the state could extend the monetary right to a separate city, separate land or bishopric. It is important to understand: the right to legally mint a coin is an indicator of the high status and a certain degree of independence of a public institution. At the same time, both in antiquity and in the Middle Ages, there were always problems with the circulation of coins. Until the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the New Age, there was always a shortage of metal money on the market.
For this reason, even in ancient times, coins minted from pure silver or pure gold were already perceived as a huge treasure in themselves. Therefore, they were often used as awards for outstanding services to society. Over time, such coins began to be made unique by placing some special inscriptions or drawings on them. This is how the first medals appeared.
In the Middle Ages, the first commemorative medals began to appear in Europe - special awards that were timed to coincide with an event. Commemorative medals trace their history back to the practice of presenting award coins to noble people during a marriage, birth or christening of a child. An important feature of the first medals was that they still remained a kind of money and, if necessary, could be used as a means of payment. Coins-medals were issued until the beginning of the 20th century. However, gradually the function of the medals shifted more and more from a commemorative means of payment towards the usual distinctive sign.
Brief history of orders. Initially, the orders were strictly a public institution - a closed, extremely honorable and, as a rule, privileged corporation of people. Membership in the order was often a reward in itself, as it allowed a person to change his social status, move higher in the hierarchy of noble men, gain new wealth or powers. Moreover, each order structure had its own symbolism. At first, the symbols of the orders were embroidered on clothing, for example, on a knight's surcoat, which was thrown over protective equipment.
However, fashion changed, heavy military equipment left, but orders remained. Therefore, there was a need to create some new distinctive signs that would emphasize the person's belonging to the organization. They usually consist of a metal badge of the order, a star and a ribbon. During the New Age, the significance of orders as corporations is gradually fading away. In the XVIII-XIX centuries, membership in the order as an organization becomes more and more nominal, while order insignia (signs of power and distinction) are increasingly used as the highest state awards.
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So what is the difference between medals and orders?
Today, in fact, nothing. In any case, if we are not talking about some old European country with echoes of chivalric traditions. Yes, and there it is for the most part the form of a solemn props, an official event. At the time of the 21st century, both medals and orders are state or corporate distinctive signs for a person's merits to one or another public institution. Both that, and another can be applied to a rank endowing the person with privileges or privileges. Most often it is understood that orders are the highest state awards, while medals are awards of a lesser order.
The only really important difference, besides the appearance, is that the orders are not commemorative. Only medals are commemorative. By the way, about the appearance. Orders look more complicated. However, sometimes they even look like medals, for example, the Soviet “Order of Lenin”. Also, orders are not always the highest state award. For example, in the Soviet Union, as well as in many republics that formed after its collapse, the title of Hero remains the highest state award. In Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, the title of Hero is not an order, but a medal - the Star of the Hero.
If you want to know even more interesting things, then you should read about why the awards of Volodya Sharapov caused the veterans are perplexed.
Source: https://novate.ru/blogs/300122/61999/