The History of Deal Toys and Financial Tombstones
From Clay Tablets to Lucite Blocks
Why We Commemorate Success
For as long as people have made agreements, we’ve found ways to mark them. A signed document records the transaction — but a tangible object preserves the story. From clay seals in Mesopotamia to Lucite tombstones on Wall Street, deal markers have carried the same message for thousands of years: this mattered.
“The instinct to commemorate a deal is timeless. Whether it’s carved in stone or cast in Lucite, a physical symbol of achievement connects people to the moment and to one another.”
Origin Story: The Ancient Roots of Commemoration
Clay, Stone and Ritual
From Egyptian pharaohs to Greek traders, gift-giving was central to commerce. A cup, textile, or medal didn’t just thank a partner — it bound them together. The same principle still drives modern corporate gifting and recognition today.
Gifts as Symbols of Partnership
From Egyptian pharaohs to Greek traders, gift-giving was central to commerce. A cup, textile, or medal didn’t just thank a partner — it bound them together. The same principle still drives modern corporate gifting and recognition today.
Industrialization: the Birth of the Trophy
The 19th century transformed commemoration into spectacle. When the Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869, a solid-gold Golden Spike marked the moment. When the first Transatlantic Cable succeeded, Tiffany & Co. turned pieces of that cable into presentation gifts.
These were early corporate awards: proof that big ideas deserved a physical legacy.
The Rise of the “Tombstone Ad”
By the early 1900s, financial institutions publicized deals in stark, text-only newspaper boxes — the “tombstone ads.” They served legal and reputational purposes alike. Bankers clipped and saved them as quiet trophies. Eventually, someone had the idea to cast one permanently in clear acrylic — and the modern deal toy was born.
The Creative Explosion
As global finance expanded, so did creativity. Designers shaped deal toys into rockets, skyscrapers, golf balls, and even Oreo cookies — each telling the story of a unique transaction. Materials diversified: Lucite mixed with crystal, metal, or wood; 3D laser etching appeared; and every banker’s shelf became a résumé in sculpture form.
Polaris continues this lineage — combining hand-crafted artistry with precision manufacturing to translate complex deals into objects that speak.
The Digital and Sustainable Era
Today’s deal toys are as diverse as the industries they celebrate. Some integrate LED lighting, 3D-printed models, or NFC links to digital media. Others use recycled acrylic, bamboo, or bioplastic to reflect clients’ sustainability values.
Even in a digital age, the tradition endures because meaning endures. A well-crafted piece on the desk reminds everyone involved: we built this together.
Medieval and Renaissance Traditions
Guilds and trade leagues used ritual and craftsmanship to celebrate success. A new master craftsman’s “masterpiece” wasn’t just proof of skill; it was a symbolic contract of belonging.
The Renaissance magnified this practice — banking dynasties commissioned medals, art, and ornate gifts to immortalize profitable ventures.
At Polaris, we view these artifacts as the ancestors of today’s deal markers — both celebrate craft, partnership, and reputation.
Lucite and the Modern Deal Marker
Lucite, first developed in the 1930s, was strong, transparent, and surprisingly elegant. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, bankers began embedding newspaper tombstone ads inside Lucite blocks as keepsakes for closing dinners.
These simple rectangles became icons of Wall Street culture — tangible proof that a deal was done and done well.
By the late 1970s, Lucite markers had evolved into creative expressions: miniature prospectuses, embedded objects, or humorous symbols.
What mattered wasn’t just the deal itself, but the story behind it.
A Tradition Polaris Carries Forward
At Polaris Custom Awards, we see every project as part of this centuries-long story — from clay contracts to Lucite innovation.
Each deal marker we design is a modern heir to that history: a blend of art, engineering, and storytelling that transforms a business milestone into a lasting legacy.
Thinking about commemorating your next transaction?
Let us help you create a deal marker that’s worthy of what it represents.