The obverse bears bust of Sonny Rollins, three quarters left on textured background. Around edge at left, SONNY ROLLINS; signed on truncation, DAUB
The reverse bears 1972 / (corporate logo M) / 1997 in center. Around, · TWENTY FIVE YEARS · / ON MILESTONE
Sonny Rollins was born in 1930 in New York City and started pursuing music at a young age. During his high school years at Benjamin Franklin High in East Harlem he played in a band with future jazz legends Jackie McLean, Kenny Drew, and Art Taylor. During a life-long career in jazz and blues, he has been awarded many honors, including a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2004 and the National Medal of Arts in 2010. Sonny Rollins has not performed in public since 2012.
The medal celebrates not just Sonny Rollins but also Milestone Records. Milestone Records was originally founded in 1966 by Orrin Keepnews and Dick Katz. The New York company specialized on Jazz and Blues. It was acquired by Fantasy Records in 1972. The medal seems to celebrate either the acquisition anniversary or the cooperation between Sonny Rollins and Milestone Records. Orrin Keepnews produced Sonny Rollins' records for much of this period.
The medal measures 57.5mm in diameter and was struck in silver-plated bronze. The mintage is not known.