Treasure hunting... is that why you're here at ParkPennies? :-) Well, treasure hunting for die variations is a common topic in emails, so what say we talk about them? We know that two coins from the same die will probably look a lot alike. Many times the die has changed very slightly and is given a suffix of "a" like the DL0007a. Sometimes the die changes a bit more and is given a new guide number, like the DL0021 no © / DL0061 © die variation. However, as insignificant as these differences may seem, they can make a significant difference. You may know or be an advanced collector that often goes treasure hunting. Looking for Disney elongated coins at online auctions, coin shows... looking for those hard to find coin die variation treasures that others might overlook? If you are, you know finding one of those treasures can be a very rewarding and fun part of the hobby.

So, what are some of the coin die variations to look for? Well, one variation is listed on this very guide page, the Mickey Rays nickel. One of my favorites! (The variant coins are shown to the left of this article.) They look much as we might see them in person. Do they look the same? Even if one can spot the small differences, are their values about the same? Which one is of greater value? ParkPennies.com provides information to help you compare the two. Matter of fact, the guides tell us that the Mickey Rays DL0076 is a vintage, retired, collectable pressed nickel that was onstage at Disneyland for about seven years. However, the guides tell us the Mickey Rays DL0225, which was onstage for only a few days and pressed by very few collectors, is definitely the treasure!

Want to research more treasures? Here is a page with some Disneyland elongated coin variations with links to more guide pages. It is one of the resources we hope you'll find useful along with our many guides and news pages. Happy hunting! :-)

DL0199 Vertical elongated quarter image. DISNEYLAND ® , CELEBRATING 75 YEARS WITH MICKEY MOUSE, Plane Crazy Mickey, full length, looking in mirror he is holding, © DISNEY, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot, dot border. First on-stage May 10, 2003. Date off stage needed.

Located in The Main Street Penny Arcade, button "A".

DL0200 Vertical elongated quarter image. DISNEYLAND ® , CELEBRATING 75 YEARS WITH MICKEY MOUSE, Steamboat Willie, full length, standing at ship’s wheel, © DISNEY, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot, dot border. First on-stage May 10, 2003. Date off stage needed.

Located in The Main Street Penny Arcade, button "B".

DL0201 Vertical pressed penny or elongated coin image. DISNEYLAND ® CELEBRATING 75 YEARS WITH MICKEY MOUSE, older version of Classic Mickey, full length, © DISNEY, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot, dot border. First on-stage May 10, 2003. Date off stage needed.

Located in The Main Street Penny Arcade, button "C".

DL0202 Vertical pressed penny or elongated coin image. Tigger, full length, bouncing, facing front, DISNEYLAND ® , BASED ON "WINNIE THE POOH" WORKS BY A. A. MILNE AND E. H. SHEPARD, © DISNEY, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot, dot border. First on-stage May 14, 2003.

Located outside the Pooh Shop, Critter Country, button "A".

DL0203 Vertical pressed penny or elongated coin image. Eeyore, standing, facing front, DISNEYLAND ® , BASED ON "WINNIE THE POOH" WORKS BY A. A. MILNE AND E. H. SHEPARD, © DISNEY, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot, dot border. First on-stage May 14, 2003.

Located outside the Pooh Shop, Critter Country, button "B".

DL0204 Vertical pressed penny or elongated coin image. Roo, full body, being lifted into the air by a balloon, DISNEYLAND ® , BASED ON "WINNIE THE POOH" WORKS BY A. A. MILNE AND E. H. SHEPARD, © DISNEY, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot, dot border. First on-stage May 14, 2003.

Located outside the Pooh Shop, Critter Country, button "C".

DL0205 Vertical pressed penny or elongated coin image. Pooh hugging Piglet, DISNEYLAND ® BASED ON "WINNIE THE POOH" WORKS BY A. A. MILNE AND E. H. SHEPARD © DISNEY, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot, dot border. First on-stage May 14, 2003.

Located outside the Pooh Shop, Critter Country, button "A".

DL0206 Vertical pressed penny or elongated coin image. Pooh and hunny pot, DISNEYLAND ® BASED ON "WINNIE THE POOH" WORKS BY A. A. MILNE AND E. H. SHEPARD © DISNEY, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot, dot border. First on-stage May 14, 2003.

Located outside the Pooh Shop, Critter Country, button "B".

DL0207 Vertical pressed penny or elongated coin image. Pooh with butterfly on his nose, DISNEYLAND ® BASED ON "WINNIE THE POOH" WORKS BY A. A. MILNE AND E. H. SHEPARD © DISNEY, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot, dot border. First on-stage May 14, 2003.

Located outside the Pooh Shop, Critter Country, button "C".

DL0208 Vertical pressed penny or elongated coin image. NEMO, full body, bubbles above, 2 sea stars below, © DISNEY /PIXAR, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot unlike the "D" for Disneyland featured in the 2010 Nemo set, dot border. Replaced DL0054. First on-stage May 17, 2003. Taken offstage in mid 2010, presumably for maintenance. Replaced by the DL0477, a similar image coin, with the addition of a backstamp on 8/14/10.
Backstamp: Blank

Located in the Main Street Penny Arcade, button "A".

DL0209 Horizontal pressed penny or elongated coin image. BRUCE, full body, bubbles behind, sea star below, © DISNEY /PIXAR, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot unlike the "D" for Disneyland featured in the 2010 Nemo set, dot border. Replaced DL0055. First on-stage May 17, 2003. Taken offstage in mid 2010, presumably for maintenance. Replaced by the DL0478, a similar image coin, with the addition of a backstamp on 8/14/10.
Backstamp: Blank

Located in the Main Street Penny Arcade, button "B".

DL0210 Vertical pressed penny or elongated coin image. DORY, full body, bubbles above, 2 sea stars below, © DISNEY /PIXAR, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot unlike the "D" for Disneyland featured in the 2010 Nemo set, dot border. Replaced DL0056. First on-stage May 17, 2003. Taken offstage in mid 2010, presumably for maintenance. Replaced by the DL0479, a similar image coin, with the addition of a backstamp on 8/14/10.
Backstamp: Blank

Located in the Main Street Penny Arcade, button "C".

DL0211 Vertical pressed penny or elongated coin image. DISNEYLAND ® Racer Mickey Mouse in old style helmet and scarf, AUTOPIA 2003 © DISNEY, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot, dot border. Replaced DL0172. First on-stage May 22, 2003. Removed to make room for the DL0232 in early 2004.

Located in the "Gas Pump" machine, Winner’s Circle shop, Tomorrowland, button "C".

DL0212 Vertical pressed penny or elongated coin image. DISNEYLAND ® , train on mountain, BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN, © DISNEY, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot. Replaced DL0110. First on-stage June 6, 2003. This single die machine was removed from stage to make room for the 5/2005 Magical Milestones Anniversary Set and did not return. (Probably replaced by a three-play penny press.)

Located in Pioneer Mercantile. Single die machine.

DL0213 Vertical pressed quarter image. DISNEYLAND ® Mickey Mouse on King Arthur Carousel horse, © DISNEY, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot, dot border. First on-stage June 26, 2003. This set of elongated quarters was taken offstage in 7/2011 and did not return.

Located at The Main Street Penny Arcade, button "A". Price increased to $1.25 4/2011.

DL0214 Vertical pressed quarter image. DISNEYLAND ® Minnie Mouse on King Arthur Carousel horse, © DISNEY, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot, dot border. First on-stage June 26, 2003. This set of elongated quarters was taken offstage in 7/2011 and did not return.

Located at The Main Street Penny Arcade, button "B". Price increased to $1.25 4/2011.

DL0215 Vertical pressed quarter image. DISNEYLAND ® Donald on King Arthur Carousel horse, © DISNEY, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot, dot border. First on-stage June 26, 2003. This set of elongated quarters was taken offstage in 7/2011 and did not return.

Located at The Main Street Penny Arcade, button "C". Price increased to $1.25 4/2011.

DL0216 Vertical pressed penny or elongated coin image. DISNEYLAND ® head and shoulders, MOWGLI, © DISNEY, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot, dot border. Replaced DL0134. First on-stage July 3, 2003. Removed from stage to make room for the 5/2005 Magical Milestones Anniversary Set and did not return.

One of the three machines in Rajah’s Mint, Adventureland, button "A".

DL0217 Vertical pressed penny or elongated coin image. DISNEYLAND ® BALOO, in grass skirt, dancing, © DISNEY, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot, dot border. Replaced DL0135. First on-stage July 3, 2003. Removed from stage to make room for the 5/2005 Magical Milestones Anniversary Set and did not return.

One of the three machines in Rajah’s Mint, Adventureland, button "B".

DL0218 Vertical pressed penny or elongated coin image. DISNEYLAND ® KAA, coiled up, © DISNEY. "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot, dot border. Replaced DL0136. First on-stage July 3, 2003. Removed from stage to make room for the 5/2005 Magical Milestones Anniversary Set and did not return.

One of the three machines in Rajah’s Mint, Adventureland, button "C".

DL0219 Vertical pressed quarter image. NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, Jack Skellington in his "Sandy Claws" suit. (Jack's character may remind some of Belznickel or Belsnickel rather than "Santa".) 2003 © DISNEY © TOUCHSTONE, wire border. First on-stage October 3, 2003. Off stage January 24, 2004.

Located at Pieces of Eight, New Orleans Square, button "A".
See also our Nightmare Before Christmas elongated coin page.

DL0220 Horizontal pressed quarter image. NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2003, Zero with Jack ’o Lantern on tip of nose, facing left, © DISNEY  © TOUCHSTONE, wire border. First on-stage October 3, 2003. Off stage January 24, 2004.

Located at Pieces of Eight, New Orleans Square, button "B".
See also our Nightmare Before Christmas elongated coin page.

DL0221 Vertical pressed quarter image. Oogie Boogie, NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2003, © DISNEY,  © TOUCHSTONE, wire border. First on-stage October 3, 2003. Off stage January 24, 2004.

Located at Pieces of Eight, New Orleans Square, button "C".
See also our Nightmare Before Christmas elongated coin page.

DL0222 Vertical pressed nickel image. 2003, Santa Mickey Mouse with Mickey Mouse ornament, 3 stars on right, THE MERRIEST PLACE ON EARTH, (all lower case letters) DISNEYLAND ® RESORT, © DISNEY, wire border. First on-stage November 28, 2003. Off stage January 24, 2004.

Located at The Main Street Penny Arcade, button "A". See also our guide to all Disneyland Seasonal pressed nickels.

DL0223 Vertical pressed nickel image. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2004, Mickey Mouse in tux, arms out, confetti & streamers in background, DISNEYLAND ® RESORT, © DISNEY, wire border. First on-stage November 28, 2003. Off stage January 24, 2004.

Located at The Main Street Penny Arcade, button "B". See also our guide to all Disneyland Seasonal pressed nickels.

DL0224 Vertical pressed nickel image. DISNEYLAND ® RESORT, Santa Mickey Mouse head, 2003, © DISNEY, wire border. First on-stage November 28, 2003. Off stage January 24, 2004.

Located at The Main Street Penny Arcade, button "C". See also our guide to all Disneyland Seasonal pressed nickels.

DL0225 Horizontal pressed nickel image. MICKEY MOUSE, Mickey Mouse head with rays, © DISNEY, DISNEYLAND ® Large Grip with EARS CONCAVE, dot border. Similar to the DL0076. A scarce coin.
First on-stage February 12, 2004. Off stage February 16, 2004. Of the four days this die was available, the machine was out of service for the best part of two of those days.

Located at The Main Street Penny Arcade, button "B". This is the same artwork as DL0076, but with outlined, concave ears.