Earlier styles had a curled piece of plexiglass coming down in the reel developed to replicate a bit of tape drifting down. Here's an example of the early design award, this just one for Ted Nugent's 1980 album Scream Aspiration: 3. The “Gold & Platinum” part in the RIAA https://landenkdsgs.verybigblog.com/34492208/a-simple-key-for-gold-record-awards-for-sale-unveiled