Well
Well. The hollow area in a medal case into which a medal is placed. Generally the case is made to fit the medal and the well is made for a snug fit of a particular medal. A case maker’s medal is one in which a low valued medal the same diameter as a precious one; the well is made to fit the low valued one and the precious one is switched before it is presented. Wells sometimes have ribbon lifts for the removal of the medal. Proof surface medals and coins are sometimes housed in an airtight plastic capsule; the well in a case is made to accommodate the container, rather than the coin or medal.
excerpted with permission from
An Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology
For Artists, Makers, Collectors and Curators
COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY D. WAYNE JOHNSON
Roger W. Burdette, Editor