These are the first Disney pressed nickel designs in the world. They were issued in 1995 to very enthusiastic Disneyland guests and were soon followed by the extremely popular Annual Disneyland Holiday Pressed Nickel Series in November of 1995.

Top Hat Mickey elongated nickel attribution of the DL0058, DL0058a onstage coins vs. the DN0019 prototype can be difficult at first. (As if finding examples of each isn't?) This guide entry offers some of the notes and references I hope will be of use to fellow collectors. As shown by the images, the DL0058 is the original state of the die with a coin grip that is about .045" thick, the DL0058a is the same die with a modified coin grip, that is about .065" thick and the DN0019 is the original prototype, a die that was engraved with a "penny-sized" image. Many DL0058's were pressed at the park, few DL0058a's and the only DN0019 known to us were test rolls, very scarce. As in most guide descriptions, click on the images to see larger scans or detail pages. Images can be held in most browsers via opening new "tabs" or using the ParkPennies.com "Frames" option at the top right corner of this page.

DL0058 Retired Top Hat Mickey Pressed Nickel or elongated coin image. Mickey Mouse in tux with top hat and cane, full length, facing right, © DISNEY, "e" for Eurolink Design Corporation replaces the dot nearest the center of the gripper slot, DISNEYLAND Full size image, dot border. Similar artwork to the very scarce DN0019 smaller image "Penny Art" version and the hard to find enlarged coin grip DL0058a. First on-stage March 1995. The die returned from the 2003-2004 seasonal rotation as the larger grip DL0058a on February 12, 2004. This pressed coin set was originally located at The Main Street Penny Arcade, button "A". Exchanged annually during Holiday Season with "Seasonal Nickels". Larger pressed penny image in frame or window # 1   2   3      Very large DL0058 Top Hat Mickey pressed nickel image.

DL0058a Retired Top Hat Mickey Pressed Nickel is from the same die as the DL0058, except it is a coin pressed after the modification of the coin grip which was made larger and higher / deeper than the DL0058's. (~.045" vs. ~.065") First on-stage February 12, 2004. Removed from stage February 16, 2004. Of note: When the machine returned on February 12, the appearance of the machine had not changed, same case and same marquee. So, collectors saw no external indications that the coins had changed. This pressed coin set was originally located at The Main Street Penny Arcade, button "A". The DL0058a, DL0060a, and DL0225 were onstage for only a few days, during which, the machine was pressing "short" and stickered out of order most of the time. The machine had been off stage for maintenance in 2004 and when it returned, the few collectors that noted its return believed that the coins were still unchanged since their debut in 1995. Only after the machine was taken off stage for the last time, a few days later, were the coin changes noted. Therefore, the DL0058a, DL0060a, and DL0225 are unusually scarce for onstage coins. Similar artwork to the very scarce DN0019 smaller image "Penny Art" version and the hard to find enlarged coin grip DL0058. Larger pressed penny image in frame or window # 1   2   3     Very large DL0058A Top Hat Mickey pressed nickel image.

Detail comparison of the nickel-sized (full-sized) DL0058 / DL0058A elongated nickel vs. the scarce DN0019 prototype pressed nickel with a smaller or "Penny Art" sized image. The easiest way to identify these coins is by the larger margins on a nicely pressed small image DN0019. Wide margins are only apparent on a DL0058 if it is "pressed long".

Conversations over the years 1999 to 2005 with the manager and also a longtime Cast Member associated with the craft that was in charge the penny presses at the time, confirmed to Robert Hoff, of www.ParkPennies.com, that the dies were originally ordered and intended to press "nickel-sized" coins. However, possibly because these were the first nickel-sized dies ever ordered by Disney, they were engraved "penny-size" in error. When coins were pressed, their images were found to be too small. The dies were replaced before the machine was placed onstage.

Please use this link for an Introduction to the DL Disneyland Park Pressed Pennies Collection and this link for an Introduction to all Disneyland Resort Pressed Coin Collection Guides.
Editor's note: We are often reminded that the preferred numismatic term is "Elongated Coins". However, as the rebellious, risk taking, devil may care ParkPennies.com contributors that we are, temptation often gets the better of us. As a result, you may see the more casual, terms like: stamped coins, pressed coins, pressed nickels, pressed dimes, pressed quarters, smashed pennies, flattened pennies, crushed pennies, squashed pennies, rolled pennies, mashed pennies, stamped pennies, smushed pennies, stretched pennies, memory pennies, keepsake pennies, flattened pennies, and souvenir coin medallions to describe these fun pressed coin souvenirs. :-) Here are some pages about the often asked questions of How many pressed coins are at Disney? and How much do pressed coins cost? Just for fun, here is a page with a bit of a different take on Pressed Coins Facts and Fiction with tips on how different coins press, cool pressed coin jewelry, early penny presses... Happy Collecting! Boomer and the folks at ParkPennies.com :-)