Aviation Art Appraisal

The Franklin Mint Golden Age of Aviation 2-Bar Set

This item comprises a set of two rectangular, gilded ingots, likely commemorative mints, presented within a dark, possibly navy blue, display case or liner. Both ingots are oriented vertically and appear to be made of a gold-toned metal, possibly gold-plated or a gold alloy, with a reflective, polished finish. They are encased in individual clear plastic sleeves or covers, suggesting protection against wear and environmental exposure, though some scuffing or dust is visible on the plastic, particularly over the right ingot. The left ingot features a detailed three-dimensional relief of a biplane, possibly an early aircraft model, with discernible wings, fuselage, and landing gear. Below the biplane, text is embossed vertically, which appears to read "TROPO DU CIEL" and the year “1926”. The right ingot displays another aircraft in relief, which seems to be a monoplane or a sleeker, more modern design than the biplane, but still of an earlier aviation era. Text engraved vertically beside this aircraft is partially visible, reading "PACKAR [unclear] BAY" and the year “1938” is faintly seen below it. The overall presentation indicates a collection dedicated to the 'Golden Age of Aviation', with 'THE FRANKLIN MINT' clearly printed along the right edge of the dark backing, confirming the manufacturer as a well-known minting company specializing in collectibles. The items appear to be in good overall condition, albeit with some minor surface imperfections visible through the plastic covers. The craftsmanship suggests a high level of detail in the aircraft reliefs, typical of Franklin Mint productions. The uniform size and rectangular shape of the ingots, along with their thematic continuity, point to them being part of a larger series.