Definition

• Thermoplastic.  Nonmetallic compositions made of resins that have been heated and molded, once used for tokens and medals, now replaced by plastics. hard rubber is a thermoplastic composition, but resins other than rubber have been used for forming exonumia items. The physical characteristics of all these items are their plasticity and malleability under application of heat with high rigidity afterwards at normal temperatures are required.
  Tokens and small medals were made of these compositions by the same industry
  that had once struck similar items in metal. The brass industry, located in the central valley of Connecticut (centering around Scovill Manufacturing Company in Waterbury) early on made rubber objects as an adjunct to metal products. This spawned small firms that specialized in the manufacture of thermoplastic objects, buttons and tokens were ideal for this composition. Color could be added to the black color of the natural resins by the use of dyes. The items were molded by a thermodymatic press in a heat and pressure process.

  excerpted with permission from

  An Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology

  For Artists, Makers, Collectors and Curators

  COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY D. WAYNE JOHNSON

  Roger W. Burdette, Editor

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