Skip to main content Skip to main navigation
heart-solid My Visit Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution IK development site for ODI
Press Enter to activate a submenu, down arrow to access the items and Escape to close the submenu.
    • Overview
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Museum Maps
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
    • Overview
    • Exhibitions
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
    • Overview
    • Topics
    • Collections
    • Research Resources
    • Stories
    • Podcasts
    • Overview
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
    • Overview
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
    • Overview
    • Our Organization
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
    • Newsdesk
heart-solid My Visit Donate

Platinum Record Award for the album 1999 given to Prince

African American Museum

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Object Details

Issued by

RCA Records, founded 1901

Owned by

Prince, American, 1958 - 2016

Description

A framed award commemorating the sale of over one (1) million copies of the album “1999” by Prince from the Recording Industry Association of America. The award features a platinum record album with the “1999” center label attached. The label depicts Prince’s proper left eye and eyebrow, with the spindle hole in the center of the iris. Affixed at the bottom of the record is one half of a cassette tape, also covered in platinum. In the label area of the cassette a plaque is attached that is engraved with the text: “PLATINUM SALES AWARD”. Below the cassette tape is a silver plaque divided into thirds. On the left side of the plaque is a small image of the “1999” album cover. In the middle section the plaque is engraved with text that reads: “PRESENTED TO / PRINCE / TO COMMEMORATE THE SALE OF MORE THAN / 1,000,000 COPIES OF THE / WARNER BROS. RECORDS / ALBUM, CASSETTE AND C.D. / ‘1999’”. On the right side of the plaque is a holographic sticker that reads “RIAA / CERTIFIED SALES AWARD”. The album, cassette, and plaque are mounted on dark blue paper, which is covered with black matting board so that only a thin frame of the blue paper is visible as an outline around the items. The wood frame is covered in black vinyl on the left, right and top edges. The verso is covered in brown paper and a metal self-leveling sawtooth picture hanger is stapled at the center top of the frame.

Credit Line

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Date

1983

Object number

2014.97.8

Restrictions & Rights

No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

Type

multimedia works

Medium

plastic, glass, paper, metal, and wood

Dimensions

H x W x D: 21 × 17 × 1 1/8 in. (53.3 × 43.2 × 2.9 cm)

Place made

Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America

See more items in

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Classification

Awards, Medals, and Insignia

Exhibition

Musical Crossroads

On View

NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 053

Data Source

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Topic

African American
Musicians
Rock and roll (Music)

Metadata Usage

CC0

Link to Original Record

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd58f6cc1d1-e391-4891-830a-abdce51903ac

Record ID

nmaahc_2014.97.8

Discover More

Achievements and Impact

Prince's tambourine

Prince Rogers Nelson: Funk, Fashion, and Freedom

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collections

Connecting Through Music

Paintings Featuring African American Musicians

Instruments Used by African American Musicians

Photographs of African American Musicians

Giving Voice to Resistance and Political Movements

Roots of African American Music

Jazz and Blues

Bessie Smith: Empress of the Blues

African American Music

Bessie Smith: Empress of the Blues

Credits and Additional Materials

Rock and Roll single stamp

Treasures of Rock and Roll: Iconic Artists and Artifacts

Greetings from Minnesota 37 cent stamp.

Explore America: Minnesota

arrow-up Back to top
Home
  • Facebook facebook
  • Instagram instagram
  • LinkedIn linkedin
  • YouTube youtube

  • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
  • Shop Online
  • Job Opportunities
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use