The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 4, January 23, 2005, Article 23

JOHN WAYNE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL

Dick Johnson writes: "In last week#39;s news story on Mint
Director Fore#39;s attack on colorized coins, I mentioned
that this practice started with the goldplating of the John
Wayne Congressional Medal in 1979. American coins
have been plated, perhaps, since William Rogers
Company brought the silverplating process to New
England in 1847. This was done capriciously of course,
by workers in the silverplating industry perhaps, but
never with any commercial intent.

I cannot recall any coin the U.S. Mint has ever plated.
The U.S. Mint, to my knowledge, never had plating tanks
on their premises until they started making galvano patterns
of coin designs beginning in 1921. Tanks for making
galvanos can also be used for electroplating and galvanos
were first made at the Mint for Anthony de Francisci#39;s
silver dollar model in that year. Even medals, which can
easily be plated for award classes of gold and silver made
from bronze by plating, was never done by the Mint.

The occasion arose in 1979 when the U.S. Congress
authorized a Congressional Medal for actor John Wayne.
Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro prepared the obverse
portrait and the 3-inch medal was struck. At that time,
the public could purchase bronze medals struck from the
same dies as the gold medal bestowed to John Wayne
for the princely sum of $3.

Two entrepeneurs in Connecticut recognized the appeal
this medal could have by the public. But how could they
commercialize on it? Their solution was to goldplate the
3-inch medal. While gold was hundreds of dollars an
ounce at the time, the amount of the precious metal on
each medal was minimal – gold can be deposited in such
a thin coating that a few microns changes the entire surface
the gold color.

They first offered the John Wayne Medal in gold at $10
each. Their hunch was correct, orders poured in. They
purchased the medals from the Mint by the thousands.
Frank Gasparro was proud his design of this medal --
#666 in the Mint#39;s List Medal series -- which sold more
than any other 20th century medal. The medal#39;s popularity
was noted in an article in The Numismatist (vol 94, no 3,
March 1981, pp 638-40).

I once hired a paste-up artist who had worked in the
advertising department for these two Connecticut
businessmen. She told me a little of their story. As best
as I can remember, they made tons of profit, but couldn#39;t
continue working together and broke up somewhat
harshly.

My records show I sold two John Wayne medals when
I was a medal dealer. But I have never seen one goldplated.
They must all still be in the hands of the public."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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