Dollar Commem Question - 1992 Nolan Ryan

BigDowgie

I've been looking back into some of the Commemorative Dollars I've picked up along the way and have always wondered about this one. Was the question ever raised about the 1992-D Olympic obverse design being the 1991 Fleer Baseball Card for Nolan Ryan? It's a little too coincidental that so many of the details and the pose are identical to the card. Was there a story on this that I did not catch back then?



lostincoins......many thanks! Interesting read, and of course the designer is not going to spill the beans!!!

Windycity

Sure looks like it.

LanLord

Yes, question was raised. I believe it's stated in some commem books, although I don't believe I've ever heard any formal announcement from the US Mint.

oih82w8

Regardless of what the mint says, it is obvious that the design was taken from the baseball card although the face appears to be different. Just about everything else is the same in comparison; the glove, the wrinkles on the left side of the shirt, the stance is unquestionably the same.

lostincoins

Here is some reading for you right from our hosts on this.
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BigDowgie

lostincoins....many thanks! The write-up is very interesting. Of course the designer is not going to spill the beans!

TonerGuy

Ryan and/or Fleer should have sued... Hellen Keller would have caught that before minting the coin...

JJSingleton

It has often been called the Nolan Ryan dollar.

stealer

Is he wearing goggles in the mint rendition? Good lord, how bad can our commem designers be?

lasvegasteddy

the look of that hand holding the ball is sad
like he's got a lobster claw for a hand instead

those eyes on that coin too are sad...almost like swimmers goggles
i'd hope the sculptuer isn't too proud of his work here as it's very amateur

but yeah...looks like the card was used for the model

segoja

sure looks similar

CaptHenway

We use to give out one of those cards with every dollar we sold. It's him.

edix2001

"I don't know. -----> ... third base."

CoinJunkie

Typical modern commem. They got everything "right" except the face!

BLUEJAYWAY

<< <i>Yes, question was raised. I believe it's stated in some commem books, although I don't believe I've ever heard any formal announcement from the US Mint. >>

Yes. Gov't speak. Never comment on the obvious or in this case the "obverse".