1985 Peabody Coal Award Mug-by Carson Casting Co.-Pennsylvania

This item is a custom made Statesmetal Tankard style 16 fluid ounce mug. It was designed and hand-casted by Carson Casting Company in Freeport, Pennsylvania. Statesmetal is pressed aluminum alloy to resemble the patina of pewter and is endothermic.
The mug was made as a Safety Award for the First Quarter of 1985 (Jan to March) for the Eastern Division of Peabody Coal in Henderson, Kentucky. The award was given out as giftware for select employees of Peabody Coal in the Eastern Division Office as well as the company’s main headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri.
The history of quarterly safety awards dates back to the early days of industrialization. American oil & gas, coal and steel companies created the culture where safety was often seen as a means to protect workers from accidents and injuries in high-risk work environments. As industries grew and became more complex, the need for safety became more critical, leading to the development of safety awards as a way to recognize and reward efforts to maintain a safe working environment. Over time, these awards have evolved to include various types and categories, reflecting the diverse needs and priorities of different industries and organizations of Americas modern workforce. Today, safety awards continue to play a vital role in promoting a culture of safety and reducing workplace incidents and injuries.

PEABODY COAL COMPANY:
Peabody Coal Company began in 1883 as a small Chicago-based coal delivery service founded by Francis Peabody. It expanded into mining operations in Illinois in 1895 and secured its first major utility contract in 1913, which fueled its growth into a major coal producer. The company underwent significant ownership changes, including mergers with Sinclair Coal and acquisitions by Kennecott Copper, Hanson PLC, and Lehman Brothers, before eventually going public as Peabody Energy in 2001 and later filing for bankruptcy in 2016.
In 1883, Francis Peabody starts Peabody, Daniels & Company in Chicago, selling coal purchased from others. By 1890, the company was incorporated as Peabody Coal Company. Peabody opened its first mine in Williamson County, Illinois in 1885 and begins expanding its mining operations. After tremendous success the company secured a long-term contract with Chicago Edison, marking a shift towards supplying large utility customers.
Peabody lists on the Midwest Stock Exchange as its reputation grows as a leading major coal producer and in 1949 Peabody Coal lists on the New York Stock Exchange.
With so many changes and expansion
and also facing competition from strip mining companies, Peabody merged with Sinclair Coal in 1955 but retained the Peabody name. That was just the beginning of ownership changes.

TIMELINE OF OWNERSHIP CHANGES-
1968: Kennecott Copper Corporation acquires the company but is forced to divest it eight years later due to antitrust violations.
1976: A consortium of companies forms Peabody Holding Company to buy the business back.
*In the 1980s: Peabody expanded its operations in the Eastern United States, acquiring the West Virginia coal mines of Armco in 1984. In April 1986, Peabody Coal's Eastern Division office employed approximately 260 people. These employees were part of the administrative staff for both the Eastern Division in Henderson, Kentucky, and the Indiana Division office in Evansville, Indiana, which were centrally located to the company's operations in the Illinois Basin.
The total number of people working in all Peabody Coal mines and related support facilities at that time was around 12,000. By the late 1980s, a major layoff in the Eastern Division area mines reduced the workforce in that general region significantly.
The company sought to broaden its metallurgical coal portfolio through the purchase of Eastern Gas and Fuel Associates' seven West Virginia mines in 1987.
1990: British conglomerate Hanson PLC acquires the company.
1998: A unit of Lehman Brothers acquires Peabody.
2001: Lehman Brothers takes Peabody public as Peabody Energy Corporation in an initial public offering.
Recent history and challenges
International expansion: The company expands its operations internationally, including to Australia, becoming a significant exporter to Asia.
2016: Peabody Energy files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to debt and declining coal demand.
Present: Despite the bankruptcy, the company continues to operate mines in the U.S. and Australia.
Areas of the United States reliant on Peabody Energy's coal supply generally correspond to the regions where the company operates its mines: the Powder River Basin (Wyoming and neighboring states), the Midwest (Illinois and Indiana), and to a lesser extent, the Southwest (Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico).
Peabody sells coal to electric utility companies and industrial customers across more than 21 U.S. states. The company's customer base in these regions consists primarily of electricity generators and steel manufacturers.

CARSON CASTING COMPANY:
Carson Casting Company was founded in 1956 by Thomas F. Carson Sr., originally as a manufacturer's representative firm for industrial metal castings. The business experienced significant growth and leadership. The company has been passed through three generations of the Carson family. In 1970, Carter Casting Company changed names to Carson Home Accents. CHA focused on wholesale manufacturing and distribution of products for the gift, garden, and home decoration markets, including traditional "Statesmetal" pewter merchandise. This company is based in Freeport, PA at 189 Foreman Rd. Carson designed and hand made the Statesmetal pieces.

This item is from the estate of Richard Morris (age 76) in Grapevine, TX. Mr. Morris was a retired Human Resources Executive for Peabody Coal and later Peabody Energy and worked in the St. Louis Peabody Corporate Office. Born in Kentucky, Richard was a star baseball player at the University of Missouri. While attending UM, Richard met his wife of 55 years, Beth. Richard was also a graduate of Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri. Sadly, Richard passed away May 16, 2025.

This mug has tremendous graphics and is well crafted. The coal mining images on the body are very detailed and elaborately done. Pristine condition!
Statesmetal is aluminum so when you chill the mug before pouring liquid in it, your drink will stay cold without ice or a koozie.

Weighs: 1 lb 8 ounces
4-15/16” Tall
4-3/16” Diameter Base
3-1/8” Diameter Mouth
Handle/Grip 3-5/8” X 1-15/16”
Custom made by hand
Comes with original instructional insert but not original box (XIII Germanic Series)
Stand in photo not included in sales transaction

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