The Main Street USA Pressed Nickels
Disney's First Elongated Coin Backstamp
© 2008 ParkPennies

The Disneyland Park Main Street USA
Elongated Nickels

As advanced collectors will remember, the Disneyland Main Street USA elongated coin has had a few changes over the years. When first introduced, the Main Street USA "pressed penny" was special not only because it was a nickel, but, it was also the first ever Disney elongated coin to have an image on both sides. The pressed coin souvenir was very popular, welcomed by park guests and souvenir collectors alike.

The original die with the original grip and original backstamp is known by guide number DL0251. At the time, the coin was vended from a single die or single play penny press. Before long, the die's coin grip was enlarged to better grip the nickels being pressed, making the DL0251a. Heaven knows the designers of the penny press machine probably never envisioned that it would ever be so popular or that it would ever press nickels. Given the machines' design and that heavy use, the failure of the back die wasn't a surprise. When the back die was replaced, guests could press the original obverse die with enlarged grip and a new backstamp, the DL0380. Replace the backstamp one more time and we have the DL0408. Possibly acknowledging the high machine use, the single play mechanism was replaced by a stronger three play mechanism and corresponding larger, stronger die. The new die offered the same artwork with a poorly received, coarser, two dimensional "CNC" engraving, the DL0415. Although the new DL0415 was a stronger, larger die now in a stronger three play or three die penny press mechanism, the back die or in this case, the engraved back shaft, eventually wore out (sunk) and when replaced offered the DL0432, the DL0415 with only a slightly changed backstamp.

Now, even I'm confused! Well, the short version: As you can see by the images above or the larger images linked below, there were two primary coin engravings and several different backstamps. All the backstamps, read Disneyland ® Resort. However, each backstamp type is placed just a bit differently on the back of the coin and / or features slight font variations to confirm the die change.

I know a few readers will wonder why we even mention these very slight changes, much less assign a guide numbers for them. However, many advanced collectors will remember, if not insist, that whenever a die is changed, back die (backstamp) or obverse die, a new coin is formed. Accordingly, a new guide number is then assigned to describe the new coin. Indeed, this reference is really a listing of coin dies / die combinations as represented by the coins they have pressed. As you can see, we do our darnedest to list them all. After all, if we didn't, it just wouldn't be ParkPennies.com.

Readers of this reference guide are of course free to ignore details or changes that are, in their personal opinion, just too small. ParkPennies.com is here to share them with you and give you the option to decide for yourself what you wish to collect from the many different Disneyland coins issued. (It may drive you crazy trying to forget about a variation. But, you are free to try along with us. ) We trust that the number of coins offering only small differences will remain few and far between. As you can see, they can be very hard to find and attribute.

We hope that the ParkPennies.com detail images above and these even more extreme close up images of the DL0380 / DL0408 Elongated Coin, the DL0415 / DL0432 Elongated Coin, and the guide excepts below will help you attribute your DL0251 / DL0251a / DL0380 / DL0408 /DL0415 / DL0432 Disneyland elongated coin souvenirs.

To view the full guide, please see:
DL Disneyland Park Pressed Penny Guide Section 8
DL Disneyland Park Pressed Penny Guide Section 9
Disneyland Elongated Coin Variations
All Disneyland Elongated Nickels Guide

First on-stage 7/30/04 in the Penny Arcade, Main Street, This coin is was the first elongated Disney coin to feature a backstamp. Replaced Lady and the Tramp DL0127. Replaced by the DL0251a.

For comparison and identification of the DL0380 / DL0408 reverse, here is a scan of the DL0251 and DL0251a reverse.
(Horizontal elongated nickel image) DISNEYLAND ® PARK. Dot matrix style lettering. First backstamp at any Disney Park. This is the very first "backstamp" or reverse ever at any Disney park. First issued on the DL0251 and later on the DL0251a. This "dot matrix", very early style reverse reads "Disneyland ® Park". On November 12th, 2006, this die set was taken off-stage and returned November 15th 2006 as DL0380 with a new backstamp or reverse of DISNEYLAND ® RESORT.

First on-stage 4/05 in the Penny Arcade, Main Street. This is the modified DL0251 die. Replaced by the DL0380.

For comparison and identification of the DL0380 / DL0408 reverse, here is a scan of the DL0251 and DL0251a reverse.
(Horizontal elongated nickel image) DISNEYLAND ® PARK. Dot matrix style lettering. First backstamp at any Disney Park. This is the very first "backstamp" or reverse ever at any Disney park. First issued on the DL0251 and later on the DL0251a. This "dot matrix", very early style reverse reads "Disneyland ® Park". On November 12th, 2006, this die set was taken off-stage and returned November 15th 2006 as DL0380 with a new backstamp or reverse of DISNEYLAND ® RESORT.

(Vertical elongated nickel image) DISNEYLAND ® , Nifty Nineties Mickey and Minnie Mouse, full length, standing behind logo, MAIN STREET U.S.A., © DISNEY. Image is cent-size. Larger modified gripper when compared to the DL0251. (The DL0380 and DL0408 are identical except for their backstamps.) This coin is a part of the "Lands Set".
Backstamp: DISNEYLAND ® RESORT. See also the DL0380R vs. DL0408R comparison for a very similar, but different backstamp.
This coin with DISNEYLAND ® PARK backstamp is a DL0251a.

First on-stage at The Main Street Penny Arcade on 11/15/06. Replaced the similar DL0251a. On about 5/28/07 the backstamp was replaced with a very similar design, please refer to the DL0380R vs. DL0408R comparison. This coin is from a single play machine.

(Horizontal elongated nickel image) DISNEYLAND ® RESORT. Detail view of the DL0380, Nifty Nineties elongated nickel reverse. On-stage at The Main Street Penny Arcade on 11/15/06. (This backstamp design was replaced by a very similar one on 5/28/07, please see the DL0380R vs. DL0408R comparison.) This coin is a part of the "Lands Set" and is from a single play machine. For a similar coin with DISNEYLAND ® PARK backstamp please refer to DL0251 and DL0251a.

(Vertical elongated nickel image) DISNEYLAND ® , Nifty Nineties Mickey and Minnie Mouse, full length, standing behind logo, MAIN STREET U.S.A., © DISNEY. Image is cent-size. Larger modified gripper when compared to the DL0251. (The DL0380 and DL0408 are identical except for their backstamps.) This coin is a part of the "Lands Set".
Backstamp: DISNEYLAND ® RESORT. See also the DL0380R vs. DL0408R comparison for a very similar, but different backstamp.
This coin with DISNEYLAND ® PARK reverse is a DL0251a.

First on-stage at The Main Street Penny Arcade on 11/15/06. Replaced the DL0251a. Replaced by the DL0415. On about 5/28/07 a very slight change was noted in the backstamp design, please refer to DL0408R. This coin is from a single play machine.

(Horizontal elongated nickel image) DISNEYLAND ® RESORT. Detail view of the DL0408, Nifty Nineties elongated nickel reverse. First on-stage at The Main Street Penny Arcade on 05/28/07. (This backstamp design replaced a very similar one one. Please see the DL0380R vs. DL0408R comparison.) This coin is a part of the "Lands Set" and is from a single play machine. For similar coins with DISNEYLAND ® PARK backstamp please refer to DL0251 and DL0251a.

Comparison between DL0251 small gripper and the DL0251a / DL0380 / DL0408 large gripper coins.

(Vertical smashed penny or elongated coin image) DISNEYLAND ® , Nifty Nineties Mickey and Minnie Mouse, full length, standing behind logo, MAIN STREET U.S.A., © DISNEY. Image is cent-size. This coin is a part of the "Lands Set". This coin has "line art" rather than three dimensional engraving as seen on the DL251, DL0380, and DL0408 and a slightly different backstamp lettering and placement when compared to the DL0432. (Hey, ParkPennies.com is all about the details!)
Backstamp: DISNEYLAND ® RESORT.

First on-stage at The Main Street Penny Arcade on 9/6/07. Replaced the DL0408. Replaced by the DL0432. This coin is from a three play coin press machine, modified to use just one of the three dies at the time of this coin's introduction.

(Horizontal reverse image) DISNEYLAND ® RESORT. Detail view of the DL0415, Nifty Nineties elongated nickel reverse. First on-stage at The Main Street Penny Arcade on 09/06/07. This coin is a part of the "Lands Set" and is from a three play coin press machine, modified to use just one of the three dies at the time of this coin's introduction. See also the very similar DL0432, the same coin die with a slightly different backstamp placed closer to the center of the coin, for comparison.

(Vertical smashed penny or elongated coin image) DISNEYLAND ® , Nifty Nineties Mickey and Minnie Mouse, full length, standing behind logo, MAIN STREET U.S.A., © DISNEY. Image is cent-size. This coin is a part of the "Lands Set".This coin has "line art" rather than three dimensional engraving as seen on the DL251, DL0380, and DL0408 and a slightly different backstamp lettering and placement when compared to the DL0415. (Hey, ParkPennies.com is all about the details!)
Backstamp: DISNEYLAND ® RESORT.

First on-stage at The Main Street Penny Arcade around 9/20/08. Replaced the DL0415. This coin is from a three play coin press machine, modified to use just one of the three dies at the time of this coin's introduction.
This machine was removed from stage in March of 2009 and returned March 19th 2009 with the Disneyland Mountain Anniversary set, DL0444, DL0445 and DL0446.

(Horizontal reverse image) DISNEYLAND ® RESORT. Detail view of the DL0432, Nifty Nineties elongated nickel reverse. Shown here for comparison with the DL0415 backstamp or reverse. First on-stage at The Main Street Penny Arcade around 09/20/08. This coin is a part of the "Lands Set" and is from a three play coin press machine, modified to use just one of the three dies at the time of this coin's introduction. The DL0415 and DL0432 are differentiated by the slight difference in their backstamp lettering and placement.

(Horizontal reverse image comparison) DISNEYLAND ® RESORT. Detail view of the DL0415 and DL0432, Nifty Nineties elongated nickel reverses or backstamps. Although there are small differences in the "texture" and sharpness of the lettering, the most apparent difference is the placement of the backstamp. The newer DL0432 coin has an improved backstamp placement nearer the center of the elongated coin reverse.

(Vertical smashed penny or elongated coin image) DISNEYLAND RESORT ® , Nifty Nineties Mickey and Minnie Mouse, full length, standing behind logo, MAIN STREET U.S.A., © DISNEY. Image is cent-size. This coin is a part of the "Lands Set". All other Main Street USA pressed coins have been nickels. This is the first pressed penny.
Backstamp: DISNEYLAND ® RESORT.

First on-stage at The Main Street Penny Arcade around 9/10/11.