Collection of Antique Car Coins
Series 1

Introduced in 1969, one year after Shell Oil Company’s very successful "Mr. President" promotional coin game, Sunoco's "Collection of Antique Car Coins" was the first true collector's promotion. This promotion was based on the 75-medal Franklin Mint "Collection of Antique Car Coins" that was produced over two years and in three 25-medal sub series. Sunoco would only utilized the first two of the three 25-medal series. This exhibit will focus on Series 1. The promotion did include coins with special "instant winner" reverses like the Shell games; however, unlike the Shell games the two 25-coin sets were not broken up into prize groups with low mintage keys that had to be turned in to claim the prize making them unobtainable today. This meant one had a reasonable chance of actually assembling the aluminum set through continued patronage of their local Sunoco service station.

Front of Sunoco Collection of Antique Car - Series 1 Game Card (Coin Side)
Card measures 8.4 inches by 10.6 inches

Back of Sunoco Sunoco Collection of Antique Car - Series 1 Game Card

THE "COINS" THEMSELVES

Struck by the Franklin Mint in 1969, the aluminum "Collection of Antique Car" coins were distributed through the Sun Oil Company (Sunoco) as a promotion at their service stations. The “Collection” was split into two series of 25 coins each distinguishable by their reverses. The 26 mm in diameter Series 1 aluminum game coins featured a reverse with "ANTIQUE CAR" on top and "COIN SERIES 1" on the bottom around the periphery and two Sunoco trademarks – first the Sunoco sign with arrow and the second the DX diamond used on their brand of motor oil in the center. Both series of the "Collection of Antique Car" coins can be found in Krause Guidebook of Franklin Mint Issues (multiple editions) under the Franklin Mint catalog code ACG.

The aluminum game pieces:

Common Reverse	1901 White Steamer	1902 Studebaker Electric
1903 Winton Touring Car	1904 Autocar Type VIII	1905 Apperson Model B Tourer"
1906 Franklin Barrel Hood	1907 Locomobile Cup Racer	1908 Stanley Steamer
1909 Ford Model T	1910 Sears High Wheeler	1911 Mercer Raceabout
1912 Simplex Speedster	1913 Lozier Light Six Sedan	1914 Stutz Bearcat
1915 Packard Twin Six	1916 Dodge Sedan	1917 Pierce Arrow Model 66
1918 Cadillac Landaulet	1919 Buick Sedan	1920 Dupont Tourer
1921 Detroit Electric	1922 Daniel's Town Brougham	1923 Oldsmobile Six
1924 Chevrolet Superior Six	1925 Lincoln Sport Sedan	Common Reverse

Instant Winner Prizes

Certain of the Sunoco "Collection of Antique Car" coins were struck with a special "instant winner" that would win the prize listed in the detachable rules sheet shown below.

Sunoco "Collection of Antique Car" Coin Game Instant Winner Criteria
Detachable Rules Sheet (Mouse over to see Back)

The Bronze Set

The Cadillac instant winner prize was a Franklin Mint Series 1 bronze set (Franklin Mint catalog code ACS). These 26 mm bronze medals also available directly from the Franklin Mint had the Sunoco game reverse replaced with the marquee of the automobile featured on the obverse. The Krause Guidebook of Franklin Mint Issues (1973 edition) reports the mintage for each of the Series 1 bronze medals at 325,024 pieces. They were also available from the Franklin Mint struck in Sterling-Silver. The mintage for the 26 mm Sterling-Silver pieces was 5,627 each. For the record there were also two of each medal produced in Platinum.

Cardboard "Collection of Antique Casr" Bronze Set Holder
Actual Size: 10 inches wide by 8 inches tall
Click on any medal in the picture above to see a enlargement of its obverse and reverse!

Original "Collection of Antique Cars" Bronze Set Envelope
Actual Size: 10 ¹/₂ inches wide by 8 ³/₈ inches tall

The bronze set was shipped with an informative booklet produced by Western Publishing Company that gave additional details about the states featured on the medals.

Front Cover "Collection of Antique Cars" Bronze Set Booklet
Actual Size: 5 ¹/₂ inches wide by 8 ¹/₂ inches tall

Sample Page "Collection of Antique Cars" Bronze Set Booklet

"Collection of Antique Cars" Registration Card
Actual Size: 7 ³/₈ inches wide by 3 ¹/₄ inches tall