Medals were made in ancient times for commemoratives and awards. In the 17th century medals for just artistic enjoyment began to be made. The Golden Age of medal manufacture was the 19th and 20th century. At some of the international exhibitions and World’s Fairs of that time dozens of different medals were made for the event. Today the mints of many governments make many different medals every year, some bought by topical collectors, others by afficionados of medallic art.