Bring Back Hockey Coins. They Were Better Than Sex. August 24, 2008
This is a set of Sherriff/Salada hockey coins from 1961-62. I’ve had these since I was eleven years old. They came in Jello and potato chips, and I pressured my mom to buy handfuls of Jello instead of just one or two. So we had a kitchen cupboard with lots of open boxes of Jello in it. I also ate more potato chips than any one human should possibly eat.
At school we would play closest to the wall, just like hockey cards, and I was devastated if my hoard of coins had dwindled. But on the other hand, if I went back to class after recess with dozens more than I had started out with, then all was right with the world. I think it was kind of like having sex before I really knew what sex was.
You could send away to the company for the shields, which I did, but after putting them in their holes and trying to hang them on the wall, most would fall out because they didn’t fit well. So I added small amounts of glue to the backs. When you see these coins in their shields on ebay, which you don’t see very often, most have been glued like mine.
These plastic hockey coins began the year before, in 1960-61 and I had a bunch of them years ago, but not anymore. They also came out as metal coins in 1962-63, and I still have the full set of these. And there were no shields available for these other years.
The coins made a comeback in 1967, but I don’t think they became all the rage like they were in the earlier years. These later coins have become quite rare and valuable because, I suppose, there just weren’t that many.
Baseball and football also had their own coins, as did old cars and airplanes. But it’s the hockey coins that I cherished the most.
They should bring back hockey coins for the modern generation. Maybe they’d get kids away from computer games for awhile.
What an impressive collection! Back in 2001, I picked up a few medallion/stamp pieces issued by Canada Post, commemorating the NHL All Stars. I gave a couple to my dad, and kept one of Jean Beliveau. It’s in a nice metal case with a velvet lining.
My brother had a ton of cards, but I have no idea what happened to them. Perhaps they’re still somewhere under the stairs.
Hi Sandra. Thanks for that. For some reason your other comment didn’t go through. I’m not sure what happened. Is it possible to do it again?
I think I pretty much said the same thing! Looking forward to the new season. I have a hockey novel being released around that time.
I was born in 1966 and do not remember much of the Shirrif Coins but remember them vaguely popping up in coin and stamp stores as a kid.
But I do remember collectiong the Esso Hockey Book Album and stickers back around 1971 and the Loblaws Album and stickers from 1974.
Still have them in my collection and I have been collecting Habs oddballmemorabilia for since I was 5 such as postcard sets, export ‘a’ calendars, team pocket skeds, team issued photos, media guides, promo titems, pucks, stanley cup final programs home and away, game programs from the forum, etc…anyhing oddball pertaining to our beloved habs. no upper deck, fleer, cards, etc… in my collection! Just regional items!
This is a passion for me, can be expensive but it’s a hobby I cherish!