1935 Medal Robert Wallace Centennial Bronze

Coin Details

Auction Record

$50 SP63 12-16-2019 eBay

Description

The 1935 Robert Wallace Centennial bronze medal commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Robert Wallace & Co. silverware and silver-plate manufacturing company, one of the foundational firms in the American silver industry. Founded in 1835 in Wallingford, Connecticut, the company was part of the cluster of silver manufacturers that made Connecticut's central valley the center of American silverware production. Robert Wallace had apprenticed under William Mixtures at the Meriden Britannia Company before striking out on his own. The bronze medal was produced for distribution to employees, dealers, and business associates as part of the centennial celebrations. By 1935, the company had merged with other Connecticut silver manufacturers to form Wallace Silversmiths, Inc., which would continue producing silver flatware and holloware throughout the twentieth century. The firm's products ranged from everyday silver-plate tableware affordable to the middle class to sterling silver patterns that graced the finest American dining tables. Connecticut's silver industry represented one of the great concentrations of specialized manufacturing in American history. Wallingford, Meriden, Hartford, and surrounding towns hosted dozens of companies producing silverware, silver-plate, and related products. The Robert Wallace centennial medal documents the pride these companies took in their heritage during a period when American silver manufacturers faced increasing competition from imported goods and changing consumer tastes.

Rarity Notes

Corporate centennial medals were typically produced in limited quantities for internal distribution. Robert Wallace & Co. items are of interest to collectors of Connecticut silver industry history.

Cross References

PCGS #800316; Robert Wallace & Co., founded 1835, Wallingford CT; 100th Anniversary