Benjamin Franklin Eight Billion Medallion Newburyport Pewter Towle Mug

Can you help me figure out the meaning of the round medallion soldered to the mug? It reads: EIGHT BILLION, franklin, 1971.

MEASUREMENTS: 4 and 5/8" ht.
Capacity: 14.5 oz. filled to the rim.

MAKER'S MARKS: NEWBURYPORT PEWTER, TOWLE, 7642 with logo of a ships wheel with two stars underneath it.

I'm stumped. What the heck is this all about?

 

My guess is a total of 8 billion in $100 bills printed with his likeness on them...only.

 

There is something about the font in which Franklin is printed that's making little sparks in the back of my brain. For the life of me I can't think of why, though.

I've got to believe that this was some kind of corporate give away to employees in response to something that achieved that "eight billion" level in 1971. I tried The Franklin Mint and Franklin Templeton Investments - but neither used that profile view of BF and FT Investments wasn't founded until 1992.

It sure does look like the Franklin profile on the Half Dollar, but that was discontinued in 1963. Also does not explain the font.

 

I see your font point Bakers.....

 

Might have something to do with Franklin Investments, which went public in 1971.

 

Thankyou! You've both given me ideas I hadn't thought of.
The only thing I was coming up with was the idea that it had something to do with the fact that he was a mathematical genius (along with all of his other intellectual attributes). Which I had never known until I started trying to figure out what the meaning of this medallion is. That idea was getting me nowhere.
Appreciate your help.

 

Thanks moreotherstuff! I think we posted at the same moment, LOL.

 

I like that Franklin Investments idea!

 

I hunted logos but didn't find them ever with that one...

 

I didn't either, but that is the font connection I was searching for. The date is perfect and the nature of the Eight Billion makes a great deal of sense.

 

Franklin Resources Inc.... went public in 1971,

I'm thinking look there.....

 

No kidding.