Art of manufacturing of medals and art of manufacturing of awards and breastplates closely connected with it takes its beginning from antiquity.

In the epoch of imperial Rome and Ancient Greece gold, silver and bronze medals and coins were in wide circulation.

Appearance of medal-making art in modern understanding was in the end of XIV - the beginning of XV centuries and is inextricably connected with the formation of Renaissance culture. Fine samples of medals were created by such great artists as Pizanello, Matteo de Pasti, Benvenuto Cellini, Albrecht Durer and others.

Sources of Russian medal-making art concern to X century, to the time of bloom of the Kiev Russia. In spite of the fact that there was strong influence of Byzantium, Russian masters of that time, basing on the best Byzantian samples, created the original products.

After the stagnation connected with the Tatar-Mongolian yoke, coin and medal business revived from the middle of XIV century. In XVI century the so-called "zolotoy" (golden) to which sources of medals appearance in Russia ascend. In the end of XVII century with large "zolotoy" eminent people and statesmen were awarded.

The further development medal-making art received during Peter`s I reforms. At this time Russian masters were influenced by the West-European school. Known foreign masters were invited to the Mint, Russian medal-makers left to study abroad. At the same time the first Russian award which received the name "Award of sacred Apostle Andrey Pervozvanny" was founded. Further the Sacred Ekaterina`s award, Sacred Alexander Nevsky, Sacred Anna, Sacred George, Sacred Vladimir, Sacred John Jerusalem, White Orel, Sacred Stanislav, award of Military merits appeared.

Medal-making art developed very actively in XIX century. In this period those bases on which the modern Russian school is based were incorporated.

Various breastplates are extremely interesting also, and they were manufactured with skill and grace.

The great attention was given to creation of awards, medals and marks in Soviet time too. Many awards of Soviet Union without exaggeration can be named masterpieces of medal-making art and crafts of XX century.