Need help in ID'ing old sports coins
charliehustle14
Posts: 425 ✭✭✭
Hi guys,
I was going through some boxes in my collection of stuff I haven't looked at for a while, and rediscovered these two coins. I have both the latest Beckett Almanac and Standard Catalog, but don't see these listed anywhere. Does anyone recognize these?
I swear I can remember my dad giving these to me after we got gas at an Esso (now Exxon) station in the town in West Virginia where I grew up. I'm pretty sure the gas station was giving them out. The back has the "1946-1971" dates, so I would guess these came out in '71 or '72. Maybe that was Esso's 25 year anniversary. That would have put me at 3 or 4 years old when I got these. Pretty cool that I can still remember.
These predate my first baseball cards by at least 2 years, so I guess that was the start of my sports collectibles hobby. They're a little scratched up, but I don't really care what they are worth and I'd never part with them (unless, say, we are talking "buy a new house" money...lol). Just curious as to whether anyone else knows what they are. It's bugged me for a long time that I can't ID them as part of a specific cataloged set. In both books, I see the 1972 Esso Hispanic coins, which look similar, but this appears to be a different set.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Todd
I was going through some boxes in my collection of stuff I haven't looked at for a while, and rediscovered these two coins. I have both the latest Beckett Almanac and Standard Catalog, but don't see these listed anywhere. Does anyone recognize these?
I swear I can remember my dad giving these to me after we got gas at an Esso (now Exxon) station in the town in West Virginia where I grew up. I'm pretty sure the gas station was giving them out. The back has the "1946-1971" dates, so I would guess these came out in '71 or '72. Maybe that was Esso's 25 year anniversary. That would have put me at 3 or 4 years old when I got these. Pretty cool that I can still remember.
These predate my first baseball cards by at least 2 years, so I guess that was the start of my sports collectibles hobby. They're a little scratched up, but I don't really care what they are worth and I'd never part with them (unless, say, we are talking "buy a new house" money...lol). Just curious as to whether anyone else knows what they are. It's bugged me for a long time that I can't ID them as part of a specific cataloged set. In both books, I see the 1972 Esso Hispanic coins, which look similar, but this appears to be a different set.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Todd
0
Comments
not sure on the year---but i was going to say Esso before reading your comment. I have several of the Carews.
November 1971 Baseball Digest
So, these appear to be similar to a set issued by the Lincoln Mint in commemoration of Sport magazine's 25th anniversary. I note that the ad says the "medals" are sterling silver or bronze. My coins are obviously a much lighter metal, possibly an aluminum alloy. It's definitely the same design though.
I see several other players listed on Ebay. Would still be curious to know what these are.
Todd
They look to me like gas station giveaways.
Not sure if it had anything to do with Esso, maybe it does?
Esso was formed after the break up of standard oil in 1911.
Although I think it did not use that name at that time.
Each region may have had a different 'token'
I'd agree with you they are aluminum.
Good luck researching them.
Steve