The plaquette's obverse bears bust of Edison facing right. On right side, EDISON; signed with Sinnock's monogram J © R / S
The reverse bears the legend LIGHT'S / GOLDEN JUBILEE / 1879 - 1929 / AN ART MEDAL / MADE BY / MEDALLIC ART COMPANY / NEW YORK
Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) was of course the serial inventor and businessman who is generally credited with inventing the electric light bulb, the phonograph, the telephone and many other important innovations in the field of electricity and power transmission.
Light's Golden Jubilee was a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Edison's incandescent light bulb, held on October 21, 1929, just days before the stock market crash of 1929 that swept the United States headlong into the Great Depression. The Jubilee also served as the dedication of Henry Ford's Greenfield Village, originally known as the Thomas Edison Institute.
This plaquette is one of two instances on which the Medallic Art Company used the term "Art Medal" in 1929. The other is the medal commemorating J. Ramsay MacDonald's visit to the U.S.
The plaquette measures 58mm x 77mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.
References: MACo 1929-057
