(1929) Medal Ford Motor Company Matte Bronze Medallic Art Co. NY

Coin Details

Description

This matte bronze medal was produced by Medallic Art Company of New York in 1929 for the Ford Motor Company, commemorating an aspect of Henry Ford's vast industrial enterprise. The Ford Motor Company commissioned numerous medals during this era to mark corporate milestones, honor employees, and celebrate the company's role in transforming American manufacturing and daily life. By 1929, Ford had revolutionized automobile production through the assembly line, made the automobile affordable to ordinary Americans with the Model T, and was transitioning to the new Model A. Medallic Art Company was a natural choice for this commission, as the firm had built its reputation producing medals for major American corporations, institutions, and government agencies since its founding in 1903. The matte finish, designated "AE" for bronze in numismatic shorthand, gives the medal a soft, non-reflective surface that emphasizes the sculptural modeling of the design rather than surface brilliance. This finish was a hallmark of Medallic Art Company's artistic approach, inspired by European medal-making traditions that valued the interplay of light and shadow on modeled surfaces over high polish. The medal represents the intersection of American industrial power and artistic craftsmanship that MACO embodied throughout the early twentieth century.

Rarity Notes

Bronze with matte finish. Produced by Medallic Art Company, New York, for the Ford Motor Company. Corporate presentation medals of this era typically had limited production runs for executives and honored employees. Scarce.

Cross References

PCGS #923003