1980 topps prototype coins

[rgpete]

Trying to find out additional information about my presentation board. My understanding that these were never produced and that about 12 coins exist to date

[ALR-bishop]

SCD says they came in bronze and silver and gold colors. If so, that's 9. I have a set and know a guy with 2 of the 3. My guess is that there are more than 12. If there were one set of each that is 9 and if there were two sets of each, 18. But, there are not many from my experience

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img023-1.jpg

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/img024-1.jpg

[rgpete]

Topps board purchased mid 90's

[ALR-bishop]

You bought them off the Topps Message Boards ? From past visits there, that is amazing

[rgpete]

Was purchased in 1995 at a flea market. I did not know it was a presentation board for the coins until I contacted Topps Archive Blog back in 2010

[ALR-bishop]

If it is Topps Mr Hornish is the guy to ask

[rgpete]

Toppcat informed me that was a topps in house presentation piece, I dont know his last name. Is Mr Hornish a different person? If so is does he post on this blog.

[toppcat]

I do indeed post here on occasion, although not as often as I would like. Those coins are quite rare and unlike most other Topps presentation pieces, which are often just mockups or artists renditions and not a true, discrete object, the coins are production items since the had to be molded (or cast-I have never handled on so can't be sure). I would think at least 3 or 4 of each type were made and am still curious about the ones with holes. It would not be like Topps if there were only 1 or 2 of each as most of their tough in house production pieces exist in quantities of 4 or more, although not all do (such as 1970 Cloth Stickers).

For the curious, my blog posts on the Coins can be found here: http://toppsarchives.blogspot.com/search/label/1980%20Topps%20Baseball%20Coins

PS-Al is being modest; he knows just as much as anyone when it comes to Topps test and proof issues.

[rgpete]

Dave you had this on your blog and I spoke to you in person. Just trying to find out additional information , such as if they were made in the US or overseas, and also by posting might bring more out. My thoughts are that these could have been something going to be placed in complete sets as an extra. Also could be a concept predecessor to the bronze,silver and aluminum cards of the mid 80's some 5 to 6 years later. thanks Ron

[ALR-bishop]

I have a full run of these sets, 83 to 91 I think, in each metal- silver/bronze/ aluminum ( not 83), plus the extra premium pewter for the sets..it's a sickness.

Don't know if they are related to the coins but seem to be a different concept...much nicer than the clunky coins

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/GalleryofChampions001.jpg

http://http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539
/GalleryofChampions002.jpg

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/GalleryofChampions004.jpg

http://http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/GalleryofChampions002.jpg

[ALR-bishop]

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/Bishop539/GalleryofChampions002.jpg

[mightyjosie]

I know this thread originated years ago but i wanted to share my find. Just today i purchased on ebay a rare silver reggie jackson topps coin. Similar to the one that went for auction on huggins and scott. I am a super collector of reggie jackson and i am very exicited.

[ALR-bishop]

Congrats MJ. Very tough item

And welcome to the board.

[Mark70Z]

Sounds like a great pickup. Can you post a pic when you have an opportunity?

[rgpete]

I found it on Ebay the coin went for $1,050 Huggins & Scott Auctions the PSA 8 Silver Jackson went for $1,800 not including the buyers premium. That was a good buy.

[mightyjosie]

Yes, sorry i haven't logged in for about a month. Yeah that is a picture of it. Very happy to find it. Its a great addition to the Reggie Room

[stlcardsfan]

Uh, with the caricature of that Reggie I can see why these weren't issued!

[ALR-bishop]

Unrecognizable images did not prevent the issue of the 1965 Embossed set :)

[hcv123]

Unrecognizable images did not prevent the issue of the 1965 Embossed set :)

Put the players names on them - so we knew who they were.:D

[ALR-bishop]

Good point Howard, but then in 1968 they did the limited release of the Plaqs. They had the names on the base but if the base got separated from Plaq the players' own mother would not have recognized them. At least they had the checklists with real photos of the players.

One of my favorite variations is in that set, the "big nose" versus "small nose" Mantle. :)

[toppcat]

$1050 or $1800 is a steal for one of these IMHO. They are essentially each one-of-a-kind.

[mrmopar]

Someone who worked for Topps at some point recently reached out via my blog and offered me a Garvey coin for $1500. As much as I would like one, that is way more than I am willing to spend for one, regardless of how unique they are. I know there are several floating around, 2 for sure owned by folks in this thread.

This person apparently sold the recent Reggie coin as well.

[ALR-bishop]

Curt-- did he sat what color or metal ?

[mightyjosie]

Hello, I thought i would share this information since we are all interested in the 1980 topps test coins.....Last week at the National in cleveland ohio I did an in person submission for same day service. The coin that the former topps employee sold me on ebay was real and came back a psa 8. I spoke to him in some length on the phone shortly after the purchase. Very nice man and i am happy that the reggie coin found its way to the reggie room. ...He also sold the garvey and the carew ones on ebay. If you are the owners of them congrats, nice pieces...also when searching huggins and scott completed auctions, you will see that the final bidding for the the coin went to 2300.00. LOL, to me its priceless and i will never sell it

[rgpete]

Hello, I thought i would share this information since we are all interested in the 1980 topps test coins.....Last week at the National in cleveland ohio I did an in person submission for same day service. The coin that the former topps employee sold me on ebay was real and came back a psa 8. I spoke to him in some length on the phone shortly after the purchase. Very nice man and i am happy that the reggie coin found its way to the reggie room. ...He also sold the garvey and the carew ones on ebay. If you are the owners of them congrats, nice pieces...also when searching huggins and scott completed auctions, you will see that the final bidding for the the coin went to 2300.00. LOL, to me its priceless and i will never sell it

How can PSA grade the coin as a 8 when they are prototypes and have no Bench Mark to compare with other coins When did baseball cards cross over to metal coins grading ? The best it should have got was authentic I have the only and so far the original Topps Presentation Board with their selected Prototype Coins to present a new product for testing that never happened

[mrmopar]

Sorry Al, I must have missed this at the time. I never asked, but he did send me photos. Kind of looks gold when compared to a quarter, but more silver close up with nothing to contrast. Could just be the quality of the photo and the light too.

Someone else on the board bought it from him. I put the two together.

Curt-- did he sat what color or metal ?