Collection of Antique Car Coins
Series 2

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 2. 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 2 Game Card (Coin Side)
Card measures 8.4 inches by 10.6 inches

Back of Sunoco Sunoco Collection of Antique Car - Series 2 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 2 aluminum game coin's reverse features a plaque with "ANTIQUE - CAR - COIN - SERIES 2" in four lines. The top of the plaque incorporates the Sunoco sign with arrow and the bottom of the plaque incorporates the DX diamond logo used on their brand of motor oil. 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 Phelps Tractor	1902 Oldsmobile Curved Dash
1903 Ford Model A Runabout	1904 Packard Touring Car	1905 Cadillac Model D Coupe
1906 Maxwell Speedster	1907 Thomas Flyer	1908 Lambert Friction Drive
1909 Rambler Model 44	1910 Stevens-Duryea Model X	1911 Standard Electric
1912 REO The Fifth	1913 Marmon Six	1914 Humpmobile Series 32
1915 White Town Car	1916 Chevrolet 490	1917 Moon Touring Car
1918 Hudson Super Six	1919 Winton Six	1920 Chandler Sedan
1921 Dusenberg Straight 8	1922 Lexington Minuteman	1923 Rickenbacker Sedan
1924 Willys-Knight	1925 Chrysler Six	Common Reverse

Instant Winner Prizes

Certain of the Sunoco "Collection of Antique Car" coins were struck with a special "instant winner" reverse 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 (Front & Back)

The Bronze Set

The Cadillac instant winner prize was a Franklin Mint Series 2 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 373,317 pieces. They were also available from the Franklin Mint struck in Sterling-Silver. The mintage for the 26 mm Sterling-Silver pieces was 5,776 each. For the record there were also three of each medal produced in Platinum.

Cardboard "Collection of Antique Car" Series 2 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 Car" Series 2 Bronze Set Envelope
Actual Size: 10 ¹/₂ wide by 8 ¹/₂ 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 Car" Series 2 Bronze Set Booklet
Actual Size: 5 ³/₈ wide by 4 inches tall

Sample Page "Collection of Antique Car" Series 2 Bronze Set Booklet