The obverse bears bust of John D. Larkin facing left. Under truncation, signature, JOHN D. LARKIN.
The reverse bears image of soap factory. Above, FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY; to left and right, 1875 / 1925; in lower center, Larkin Company logo.
The Larkin Company was founded in 1875 as "J. D. Larkin, Manufacturer of Plain and Fancy Soaps" when John D. Larkin sold his interest in his brother-in-law's company J. Weller & Co. in Chicago to set up his own factory in Buffalo, New York. His first product was a yellow laundry bar named "Sweet Home Soap."
At first, the company's products were sold door-to-door but by 1893 the company's catalog reached 1.5 million households. The Great Depression damaged the company's business deeply and it was liquidated in 1942.
According to Harry Waterson, the Kilenyi specialist, this medal is sought after by architectural collectors. The Larkin administration building pictured on the reverse was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1904 and built in 1906. The building was demolished in 1950.
The medal was struck in bronze by the Whitehead-Hoag Company of Newark, New Jersey. It comes in sizes of 38.4mm and 76.2mm. The smaller variant also comes with a loop at the top for suspension from a ribbon. One large medal was struck in gold and owned by John Larkin Jr. himself. Other than that, no mintages are reported.