THE 1968 ILLINOIS SESQUICENTENNIAL MEDAL

Editor Wayne Homren asked about this Illinois Sesquicentennial Medal in last week’s issue. This medal has an interesting story and spawned a new era in medal manufacturing. The artist was medallist Trygve Rovelstad (1903-1990). It was struck by Medallic Art Company, then of New York City. That answers Wayne’s questions. Now for the story.

The medal was issued by the Illinois Sesquicentennial Commission, whose director was Illinois native Malvin Hoffman. Malvin got a taste of expositions at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, where he worked at the Illinois Pavilion. When the position opened for the Illinois Sesqui Commission he was named to head it.

Mal knew of the medals Medallic Art made for the New York Fair so he ordered art medals for Illinois. MACO commissioned Illinois sculptor Trygve Rovelstad to design and model the medal. He was the artist of the 1936 Elgin Commemorative Half Dollar and had created decorations and medals previously so they could expect a quality medal design.

Franklin Mint was active at this time so their salesmen called on Mal to also make a medal, a proof surface version which MACO could not do. So Mal ordered these from Franklin Mint as well (cataloged 32/C49/P among three varieties)..

Mal was a super medal salesman and promoter of medals. When time came to reorder he called MACO president Bill Louth. He wanted to buy both kinds of medals from MACO. “We have only medal presses, Mal. We don’t have a coining press.” Louth related.

“But I like dealing with you guys instead of all the requirements for Franklin Mint,” said Mal. “Give us a big enough order and we will buy a press that can strike your proof medals,” replied Louth.

He did. And MACO did. The firm bought a brand new Schuller coining press in Germany and had it delivered by air freight. You can image the size of that bill!

Time was of the essence to get medals produced while the Illinois celebrations were still going on. MACO had to install the new press, learn how to use it and prepare dies to commence striking. On top of this Louth demanded a new hallmark to place on the coin relief medals

Nine obverse dies were made and ten reverse dies before everyone was satisfied. The new hallmark was a tiny French Head – the firm’s logo since the 1932 – in a circle was placed on the obverse side.

The year 1968 marked a new era for Medallic Art Company. For fifty years it only struck medals on giant knuckle-joint presses (the first press was purchased surplus after World War I). Even one series of proof surface were struck on a medal press. Finally MACO could now strike coin relief medals like Franklin Mint.

Mal Hoffman’s ability to sell medals in Illinois didn’t go unnoticed by MACO officials. They hired him to manage all the firm’s American Bicentennial activities for 1974 through 1976, more than 200 medal issues.

It should be mentioned the Illinois Sesquicentennial Medal, 2½-inch, was cataloged 1968-128. The coin relief medal 1½-inch was 1968-129.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: MARCH 25, 2018 : 1968 Illinois Sesquicentennial Bronze Medal (http://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n12a21.html)

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