Show & Tell - Vintage Topps coins
BaltimoreYankee
Posts: 3,228 ✭✭✭✭✭
I always liked the coins that came in Topps packs when I was a kid in 1971 and eventually built a complete set. There are 153 coins in the set. They were apparently issued as follows: #1-51 in Series 2 cards, #52-102 in Series 3 and #103-153 in Series 4. I know for sure that the first group all have gold backs, the second have silver backs and the third have blue backs. The rims on front are blue, orange and yellow (or gold). Rims are very susceptible to wear. The yellow seems to be the most fragile.
I don't know a lot about the 1964 set. Baseballcardpedia says they were "inserted into cello packs and some specially marked wax packs". The set is 164 coins (167 with variations). There were 44 All Star coins and I am only chasing the HOFers in the All Star subset.
The first group pictured here is 1964. Next is 1971. Final pic shows how similar the back are.
Topps resurrected coins in 1987 through 1990, available in packs of three coins. Boxes are still really cheap on eBay. I just saw a 'sold' listing for a 1990 box at 99 cents plus $7 shipping.
Comments
In 1964, I purchased my first packs of baseball cards…and remember the coins in the wax packs. I liked the insert coins.
I was way too young in '64 to collect. I did get to enjoy the various inserts that Topps came out with in the early '70's. I think that was the golden era for Topps between inserts, test issues and full sets for all 4 major sports.
Good group. Also liked the Salada Tea coins.