It Takes a Keen Eye to Spot
The Very Hard to Find DR0087 Elongated Coin
The DR0087 may not look unique, but, it’s surely one of a kind when it comes to how short a time it was on-stage and how long a time it may take collectors to find it. Reports and observations by yours truly estimate that the DR0087 penny press machine was operational for only about two hours in total! This coin is making history as the shortest lived elongated coin ever at the Disneyland ® Resort to date. Here’s what we know about it and its near twin coin, the DR0090.
The coins are nicely engraved, feature dot borders and stampbacks. Not to mention the machine is, as you can see by the nicely formed coins, rolling well. Keep the image on the back of the coin in mind, as it is the key difference between a DR0084 and a DR0087.
First Set's Reverse
DR0084-86 Reverse
Within two weeks, the above described set of three coins was taken off stage. On the morning of Friday, October 15th, a report was received here at ParkPennies from Advanced Collector, N. Wooten, that the World of Disney center door machine had returned. It was observed that although the dies or obverse images on the coins did not appear to have changed, the stampbacks had been replaced with new Disneyland Resort two line script type logos as shown here:
Second Set's Reverse
DR0087-90 Reverse
As luck would have it, within a couple of hours of the machine’s arrival, it was inoperative. (Somehow the machine must have known I was on the way. ) Over the next couple of days, this collector and others camped out on more than one occasion with the hope that the machine would be brought back to life. Several attempts were made without success. More than one collector reported that they had witnessed or been told by World of Disney Staff that the machine started smoking at least on one occasion. This collector observed the machine on two occasions acting as if it was jammed and attempting to run without a circuit breaker to shut it off. Surprisingly, the rollers appeared to be clear1.
A few days later, the machine was taken off stage for nearly two weeks while speculation and rumors grew. (All covered here on ParkPennies as it happened of course. ) Then on 10/29/04, ParkPennies staff collector, Boomer, was passing by the World of Disney store on the way to the park stopped to check on the machine.... and noticed a it sitting just inside the glass doors! The store opened about a half hour later. Just inside the center door was the machine and it appeared to have the 10/15/04 set waiting to be pressed! Samples were made and after examination, it was found that indeed the 10/15/04 set had almost returned. The reverse was the same, the images appeared at first glance to be the same, however, the Huey, Dewy and Louie die had been replaced with a similar die. The DR0087 was gone and the new DR0090 was in its place.
Here is a picture of the original Huey, Dewy and Louie die, coin numbers DR0084 or DR0087 (Depending on the type of stampback.) and the new Huey, Dewy and Louie die coin number DR0090 / DR0123.
Would the real Huey, Dewy and Louie DR0087
please stand out? Obverse of DR0084/DR0087 (Left) - Obverse DR0090/DR0123 (Right)
If you'd say they look pretty much the same, you are not alone! Sure, the "Advanced Collectors" among us could find several small detail differences between the the old and new Huey, Dewy and Louie coins especially if they had both coins right next to each other. But how can we tell if we see a coin at a Disneyana show or eBay? Which one is it? The one on-stage for a couple of hours, or not? Makes a big difference yes?
As you know, ParkPennies is all about identifying Disneyland elongated coins. So, here is what we feel is one of the easier ways to tell the DR0087 and DR0090 apart. If you look closely, you will notice there is a small die scratch on the DR0090 at about eight o’clock, starting at the dot just below the webbed foot and extending out and downward. It’s only on the DR0090. (As you know, this would be a "raised" scratch on the coin not to be mistaken for a scratch "in" the coin.) And, there are several other small differences between the two coins. Some of them are highlighted here in the enlarged detail comparison.
A comparison of the early stampbacks used for this set can be viewed via this detail page. (This large image will open in a separate window.) This comparison was made to determine if any change in obverse / reverse combinations were made or if backstamps changed when the DL0087 was replaced by the DR0090. As you can see in the close up comparison, they did not change. And, this collector hopes that such changes never take place.
UPDATE: 5/22/09 Speaking of changes... The stampbacks were upgraded... again. The "dot matrix style" two-line Disneyland Resort script stampbacks used on the DR0088, DR0089, and DR0090 coins was replaced by a two-line "solid lettering style" Disneyland Resort reverse. New coin numbers are: DR0123, DR0124, and DR0125. I hope to re-write this page once I figure out where to start.
We hope you find the information on this web page helpful and will keep on visiting and telling your friends. Your support is very much appreciated!
Happy collecting!
1 Several reports have suggested, implied or speculated that the DR0087 penny die failed while in use. Mentions have been made of a crack or break in the die. This author has not personally seen the die, however, given the many reports and the plausibility of such an event based on the known facts, this rumor is reported here for your own evaluation.
Word of Disney "Ducks Set" Transition Matrix
First Set
September 30,
2004
Second Set
October 15 - 18 2004
Third Set
October 29,
2004
Forth Set
May 22,
2009
DR0084
New Die
DR0087
(DR0084 Die with
New Reverse)
DR0090
New Die
(Replaced DR0087)
DR0123
Carryover DR0090 Die
New Reverse
DR0085
New Die
DR0088
Carryover DR0085 Die
New Reverse
DR0124
Carryover DR0085 Die
New Reverse
DR0086
New Die
DR0089
Carryover DR0086 Die
New Reverse
DR0125
Carryover DR0086 Die
New Reverse
First Reverse
September 30, 2004
Second Reverse
October 15, 2004
Third Reverse
May 22, 2009
From the ParkPennies.com Pressed Penny Reference Guides
First on-stage at the Downtown Disney World of Disney, September 30, 2004. This set of coins replaced the Grumpy, Snow White and Bashful set. Button "A". Obverse same as DR0087. Reverse is logo vs. script type.
First on-stage at the Downtown Disney World of Disney, September 30, 2004. This set of coins replaced the Grumpy, Snow White and Bashful set. Button "B".
First on-stage at the Downtown Disney World of Disney, September 30, 2004. This set of coins replaced the Grumpy, Snow White and Bashful set. Button "C".
(Horizontal image) "Dot matrix" style engraving of the Disneyland Resort Logo. Featured on the DR0084, DR0085 and DR0086 World of Disney Donald Duck pressed penny set. (Picture of logo shown for comparison and clarity.)
This is a representative image of this style backstamp or reverse. However, each coin type in this set will have a slightly different reverse image as each coin type has a separate and slightly unique reverse engraving.
First on-stage at the Downtown Disney World of Disney, October 15, 2004. Replaces Grumpy, Snow White and Bashful. Reverse is updated two-line script type. Button "A".
Enlarged view of DR0084/87 and 90/123 with notes. This image will open in a new window.
Additional references available include a reverse comparison and a ParkPennies.com article about the rare DR0087 here
(Horizontal image) Two-line DISNEYLAND RESORT "dot matrix" style of printing. Featured on the DR0087, DR0088, DR0089 and DR0090 World of Disney Donald Duck pressed pennies. (Picture of logo for comparison and clarity.)
This is a representative image of this style backstamp or reverse. However, each coin type in this set will have a slightly different reverse image as each coin type has a separate and slightly unique reverse engraving. View a close up comparison of the DR0087-90 individual stampbacks side to side here. Read a feeble attempt at clarifying this confusing coin set, their stampbacks and the rare DL0087 here.
Enlarged view of the two-line Disneyland Resort script style stampbacks or reverses from the DR0087, DR0088 (Before and after DR0087 /90 replacement.), DR0089 (Before and after DR0087 /90 replacement.) and the DR0090.
This reverse comparison of the set before and after the loss of the very scarce DR0087 should confirm that no changes were made in the coins or stampbacks other than the replacement of the DR0087 die by the DR0090 die. Just click on the small image, the enlarged image will open in a new window. A ParkPennies.com article about the rare DR0087 can be read here.
Without these extreme details, it just wouldn’t be ParkPennies.com!
First on-stage 05/22/09 at the World of Disney store in Downtown Disney, Anaheim, near the center door location. Replaced the DR0090, same obverse die, new solid lettering reverse. Still button "A".
First on-stage 05/22/09 at the World of Disney store in Downtown Disney, Anaheim, near the center door location. Replaced the DR0090, same obverse die, new solid lettering reverse. Still button "B".
First on-stage 05/22/09 at the World of Disney store in Downtown Disney, Anaheim, near the center door location. Replaced the DR0090, same obverse die, new solid lettering reverse. Still button "C".
(Horizontal pressed penny reverse image) DISNEYLAND RESORT "dot matrix" style of printing. Featured on the DR0087, DR0088, DR0089 and DR0090 World of Disney Donald Duck pressed pennies. (Picture of logo for comparison and clarity.)
This is a representative image of this style backstamp or reverse. However, each coin type in this set will have a slightly different reverse image as each coin type has a separate and slightly unique reverse engraving. View a close up comparison of the DR0087-90 individual stampbacks side to side here. Read a feeble attempt at clarifying this confusing coin set, their stampbacks and the scarce DL0087 here.
) Over the next couple of days, this collector and others camped out on more than one occasion with the hope that the machine would be brought back to life. Several attempts were made without success. More than one collector reported that they had witnessed or been told by World of Disney Staff that the machine started smoking at least on one occasion. This collector observed the machine on two occasions acting as if it was jammed and attempting to run without a circuit breaker to shut it off. Surprisingly, the rollers appeared to be clear1.
