Enviromint

Based in Elk Grove Village, IL, Chicagoland Paper Recycling was founded in 1975 by John Obie. While initially it was mostly a paper recycling company, opportunities allowed it to expand into photographic film recycling. In 1983, the company developed a non-lethal method for recovering silver from waste film and began selling the reclaimed silver on the open market.

In 1984 while John Obie watched the Cubs at the NLCS, he had an idea to create commemorative silver medallions from the recovered silver. That same year, the company released a one troy-ounce .999 pure silver medallion for the Chicago Cubs Division Title. After the successful release of the first medallion, Mr. Obie sought and secured a license with Major League Baseball to commemorate all its teams. Eventually this concept was expanded and the company became a licensee of Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League. The company would later hold licenses with other sports and entertainment properties for such brands as Batman, Star Trek and the Beatles. 

Initially the company contracted to have the issues minted, but eventually purchased equipment allowing them to bring the production in house. CPC created ENVIROMINT in 1992 specifically for the minting of medallions. The company quickly moved into a 5,000 square foot facility in Mt. Prospect, IL. Medallions are produced in bronze, pure silver, 24 karat select, and pure gold. A variety of sets are produced including the proof set containing 3 identical, matched numbered coins, one pure silver, one 24kt select, and one bronze. The first numbers in a mintage went into the proof sets. Card and coin sets, 5-piece coin sets, and other types of sets were also produced.  All medallions were limited mintage and individually numbered. The mintage was determined during the design process and no medallions were ever reissued.

All were manufactured in-house and minted to the highest quality. The dies used for were created by one of the country's best known die-engravers. The silver and 24kt select medallions were minted with .999 Fine Silver and many have a proof-like finish. Throughout its existence, ENVIROMINT produced the official flip coin which was used in the Rose Bowl game, as well as the championship coins for each of the winning teams of the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup and the NBA Finals. Well over 1000 sports and entertainment medallions were produced.  The company ceased producing medallions around the year 2000.

ENVIROMINT Products

     • MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL 1 Oz rounds
     • Peanuts, Batman, Star Trek, and the Beatles 1 Oz entertainment rounds
     • Miscellaneous 1 Oz rounds with various motifs