Overview of the 1986 Texas Sesquicentennial Logo Program
The 1986 Texas Sesquicentennial Logo Medallions were an official commemorative medal series approved for manufacture and sale under the Texas 1986 Sesquicentennial Commission’s licensing. Each series incorporates an approved variation of the official Texas Sesquicentennial logo while commemorating a different aspect of Texas history.
Licensed manufacturers produced multiple commemorative medal series under this program, each approved for use of the official Texas Sesquicentennial logo. Although each series features a distinct historical theme, all are connected through the Commission’s official logo licensing program.
Six Crests of Texas
The Six Crests of Texas commemorate the six sovereign nations that have governed Texas: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the United States. Issued as part of the Texas Sesquicentennial Commission’s official commemorative products program, the series combines the official Texas Sesquicentennial logo with six individual national crest designs representing each period of Texas sovereignty.
The series was produced in multiple metals and presentation formats, including individual medals and boxed sets. Documented examples were manufactured by both Johnson Matthey and Tri-State Refining. Promotional literature identifies Tri-State Mint as the manufacturer in association with Texas Commemorative Sesquicentennial Coins, Inc., the assumed name used by Colonial Coins, Inc. for its Texas Sesquicentennial commemorative program. Surviving specimens demonstrate that later Tri-State issues were struck using the same medal dies originally employed by Johnson Matthey.
Composition and Packaging
Metal Types
- .999 Fine Silver
- 24K Gold-plated bronze
- .9999 Fine Gold
Packaging Formats
- Individual medals
- Three-medal sets
- Six-medal sets
Documented examples include both standard issue and presentation packaging. Contemporary advertising from October 1985 offered the series as individual gold-plated medals, three-medal sets, six-medal sterling silver sets, and individual pure gold medals. Surviving examples confirm that additional presentation formats were produced during the program.
Design
The Six Crests Medallions share a common obverse featuring an approved variation of the official Texas Sesquicentennial logo. The reverse differs for each medal, depicting one of the six sovereign nations that have governed Texas.
The series consists of six medal designs representing:
- Spain
- France
- Mexico
- Republic of Texas
- Confederate States of America
- United States
References
- Texas 1986 Sesquicentennial Commission. Commission Policy Determining Use of the Logo. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
- Texas 1986 Sesquicentennial Commission. Commemorative Products Program Records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
- Texas 1986 Sesquicentennial Commission. Medallion Subcommittee Records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
- Texas 1986 Sesquicentennial Commission. Official Products Inventory. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
- Texas Secretary of State. Corporate Filings: Texas Commemorative Sesquicentennial Coins, Inc.
- Johnson Matthey. Texas Sesquicentennial Commemorative Medallions Proposal and Marketing Materials. 1985.
- Tri-State Mint. Texas Sesquicentennial Commemorative Medallions Promotional Brochure. 1986.
- Contemporary newspaper advertising for the Texas Sesquicentennial Commemorative Medallions program, 1985–1986.
- Original product packaging, presentation cases, and promotional literature.
- Physical examination and die comparison of documented Johnson Matthey and Tri-State medallions from the Texas Stacker Collection.
- The 1986 Texas Sesquicentennial. Texas 1986 Sesquicentennial Commission. Austin, Texas.
Coins in this Collection (12)
