Coins or medals?

Coins

• These are always legal tender
• The relevant central bank is the issuer of coins 
• Their form is bound by the legal requirements of the issuer
• They bear a fixed nominal value, currency and other attributes of the state
• They can be divided into circulation, commemorative and investment coins
• The nominal value of circulation coins corresponds to their value at the exchange
• The real value of commemorative and investment coins differs from the nominal value

Medals

• Do not confuse them with military honors or sports awards
• Do not confuse them with coins
• They are traditional especially in Central Europe
• They have no nominal value and therefore they are not legal tender
• The issuer of medals is not the state, but a private entity
• There are no limits to their form
• They can be divided into commemorative and investment medals
• Medals made of precious metals bear the hallmark