SHELL COIN GAMES
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Mr. President Coin Game Introduced in 1968 the Shell Oil Company's "Mr. President" promotional contest tapped into the public fascination with the 1968 Presidential race between former Vice-President Richard M. Nixon and the incumbent Vice-President Hubert Humphrey. The game, as described on the outside of the game card folder shown below was a promotion where customers would receive a free "coin" with each visit to their local Shell Service Station. The "coins" were to be stored on the inside of the center-fold game card (see below) until a winning grouping was assembled. They could then be redeemed for the advertised prize. 
Outside face of 1969 Shell Oil's "Mr. President" Coin Collection Contest Card 
Inside of the 1969 Shell Oil's "Mr. President" Coin Collection Contest Card  Shell "Mr. President" Coin Game Piece Original Packaging THE "COINS" THEMSELVES These medals were struck by, marked by and copyrighted in 1968 by the Franklin Mint. Struck utilizing a 26 millimeter diameter, they were based on sculptor Harold Faulker's "Presidential Series" (Krause catalog ID PRS) struck in 39mm and 32mm sterling silver proofs released by the Franklin Mint through subscription in 1967. In addition to the Shell promotional 26mm aluminum issues of 1968 that year also saw a 26 mm bronze set produced that was available as one of the game prizes and for purchase through the Franklin Mint. The obverse was modified simplifying and moving the President's name, order of and dates of Presidential service while the reverses were greatly simplified removing the eagle and shield motif resulting in text only. A 10mm "mini-coin" (Krause catalog ID PMC) was issued in 1969. Finally a 39mm sterling silver proof-like set was issued through American Express in 1970. The 1973 Krause Guidebook of Franklin Mint Issues (Krause series ID MPG) shows that the "key coins" were struck with both the common and "instant winner" reverses except for the $5,000 prize for which no "instant winner" was made. It stands to reason that Shell would limit the issue of "instant winners" and the "key coins" in each prize group. It further stands to reason that any of these that did find their way to a player would be redeemed which required surrendering the "key coin" along with the others in that group to Shell. Therefore, when trying to build a set of these today it is quite difficult to find any surviving "instant winners" or "keys." The aluminum game pieces:
INSTANT WINNER PRIZES 
Shell Mr. President Medal Collection Game Instant Winner Criteria PRESIDENTIAL HALL OF FAME The Bronze Set contains four additional medals not represented in the "original" set of aluminum game "coins." Those additional medals commemorate the Presidencies of Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. The Franklin Mint would continue adding to the series as new Presidents were elected. These medals were also struck by the Franklin Mint to the tune of some 1,377,324 each. [Krause Guidebook of Franklin Mint Issues (1973 edition)]  Cardboard "Mr. President" Bronze Set Holder  Original "Mr. President" Bronze Set Envelope The bronze set was shipped with an informative booklet published by the Franklin Mint with text from the Universal World Reference Encyclopedia that gave additional details about the President featured on each medal.  Front Cover "Mr. President" Bronze Set Booklet  Sample Page "Mr. President" Bronze Set Booklet BONUS MATERIAL The year 1992 saw the hotly contest Presidential race between incumbent President George H. W. Bush and Arkansas Governor William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton. To capitalize on this Shell returned to the Presidential themed promotional coin theme. This was not a contest for prizes like the 1968 game but an incentive to fill up with Shell gasoline and receive one of these coins. The challenge was completing the 8 coin set (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy).  Front of Cardboard "1992 Shell Presidential Collector Coins" Bronze Set Holder  Back of Cardboard "1992 Shell Presidential Collector Coins" Bronze Set Holder |
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