A vintage AAU (American Athletic Union) Champion Medal with
Championship bar above the ribbon. The medal is approximately 1 3/4"
in diameter and 3mm thick. It is gold colored and bears the maker's name,
Dodge & Ascher - Chicago. No personalized engraving exists on the back, so
the sport/recipient, if awarded, are unknown. The obverse depicts a
female allegory of victory handing out laurels. The reverse has a design
depicting various pieces of athletic equipment overlaid on a laurel with
the word CHAMPION. The ribbon is due for replacement.
This is one of about 50 medals that my uncle collected and all
that bore dates were before 1942, most in the 1920s and 1930s. From what I
found on the internet, Dodge & Ascher began making high school rings and
jewelry in 1927. By 1930 they had expanded to include the manufacture of
medals. In 1930 Dodge sold the business and continued making medals and
trophies under the name Dodge Inc. Based on this, I am guessing this
medal is circa 1930.