(1915) Medal The Broken Coin Movie Promo Piece Iron 38mm

Coin Details

Description

This iron medal at 38mm diameter is a promotional piece for "The Broken Coin," a 1915 silent film serial produced by Universal Pictures and directed by Francis Ford. The Broken Coin was one of the earliest adventure serials, featuring a story centered on a mysterious coin that held the key to a hidden treasure. Film promotional medals and tokens were common marketing tools during the early era of cinema, distributed to theater audiences as collectible incentives. The iron composition is unusual for a promotional piece — most were produced in brass or aluminum — suggesting either wartime material restrictions or a deliberate choice to emphasize the ruggedness of the adventure theme. This medal represents the intersection of early cinema history and exonumia, documenting the marketing practices of the nascent American film industry during the silent era. The serial format, with weekly installments designed to bring audiences back to theaters, was a precursor to modern serialized entertainment.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Iron promotional medals from early silent films are extremely uncommon survivors. The intersection of early cinema and numismatics makes this highly unusual.

Cross References

PCGS #887576; The Broken Coin 1915; Universal Pictures; Silent Film Promotional