1922 Medal Weeks/DeForest 50th Ann. Gilt Bronze

Coin Details

Auction Record

$42 MS66 01-16-2023 eBay

Description

This 1922 gilt bronze medal commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of a milestone associated with Weeks and DeForest, produced by Medallic Art Company. The gilt bronze composition — bronze with an applied gold wash — was a premium treatment that gave medals a distinguished golden appearance suitable for presentations and awards. The Weeks-DeForest connection relates to an institutional, corporate, or organizational anniversary celebrated in 1922. The fiftieth anniversary designation places the founding event in approximately 1872, during the Reconstruction era and the Gilded Age. Anniversary medals were a staple of Medallic Art Company's commercial production, as American corporations, institutions, and organizations regularly commissioned medals to mark significant milestones in their histories. These medals served dual purposes: honoring the past and generating goodwill among employees, members, and stakeholders. The gilt bronze finish elevated this above a standard bronze issue while remaining more economical than solid gold, representing the premium tier of base-metal medal production that Medallic Art Company offered to clients seeking an impressive commemorative without the expense of precious metals.

Rarity Notes

Gilt bronze. Medallic Art Co. 50th anniversary commemorative. Corporate and institutional anniversary medals were typically produced in limited quantities for the commissioning organization. Scarce.

Cross References

PCGS #531463