Medalcraft Mint Overview
Medalcraft Mint, Inc. is a private American mint headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, specializing in the design and production of die-struck medals, medallions, challenge coins, commemorative pieces, and custom emblems. Founded in 1948, the company has grown into one of the largest private mints in North America, serving government, military, educational, corporate, and private clients. Through its 2018 acquisition of the Medallic Art Company intellectual property and historical archives, Medalcraft also became steward of one of the most influential names in American medallic manufacturing.
Name: Medalcraft Mint, Inc.
Founded: 1948
Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin
Industry: Private mint and medallic manufacturer
Primary Products: Medals, medallions, commemoratives, challenge coins
Production Method: Die struck
Status: Active
Medalcraft Mint Corporate History
Medalcraft Mint traces its origins to 1948, when Orlo Christensen and Gordon Thorson founded West Shore Manufacturing Company in Kewaunee, Wisconsin. Working from a former blacksmith shop with a single press, the company began producing die-struck medals and laid the foundation for what would become one of North America’s leading private mints.
Following Thorson’s death in 1971, Tom Tadych acquired an ownership interest in the company, reorganized the business as Medalcraft, Inc., and expanded production into the custom award and commemorative medal market. During the 1970s and 1980s, the company relocated to Green Bay, Wisconsin, increased its manufacturing capacity through multiple facility expansions, and adopted the name Medalcraft Mint, Inc. in 1985 to reflect its evolution into a full-service private mint.
Under successive ownership, Medalcraft continued to invest in modern manufacturing technology, expanded into government, military, corporate, educational, and commercial markets, and became a leading producer of custom medals, challenge coins, emblems, and commemorative pieces. The company has also produced official inaugural coins for multiple United States presidential inaugurations and has received numerous industry awards for excellence in metal striking.
In 2018, Medalcraft acquired the intellectual property, trademarks, historical archives, and manufacturing assets associated with Medallic Art Company following the liquidation of Northwest Territorial Mint. The acquisition preserved one of America’s most significant medallic legacies while substantially expanding Medalcraft’s manufacturing capabilities and establishing the company as one of the largest private mints in North America.
Medalcraft is documented as the manufacturing mint for officially licensed Texas Sesquicentennial commemorative items issued in 1986. These pieces were produced under contract for Executive Incentives, Inc., confirming Medalcraft’s role within the licensed commemorative production network tied to the Sesquicentennial program.
Medalcraft Mint References
- Medalcraft Mint, Inc. corporate history and company archives.
- Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions corporate records.
- United States Patent and Trademark Office trademark records for Medallic Art Company.
- United States Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Washington, Northwest Territorial Mint, LLC Chapter 11 proceedings.
- Asset Purchase Agreement and related court filings documenting the sale of Medallic Art Company intellectual property and archival assets to Medalcraft Mint, Inc.
- Medallic Art Company corporate history and historical publications. Contemporary Medalcraft Mint publications and catalogs.
- Texas Stacker Archive.
Coins from Medalcraft Mint, Inc. (Green Bay, Wisconsin) (2)
