SHELL COIN GAMES


Man In Space Coin Game

Introduced in 1969 the Shell Oil Company’s “MAN IN SPACE” promotional contest built on the success of the previous year's "Mr. President" coin game. It also, tapped into the public fascination with the bold manned space program of the United States that culminated that year in the Apollo 11 lunar landing. The game as described on the outside of the game card folder shown below was a promotion where customers would receive a free “coin” with each visit to their local Shell Service Station. The “coins” were to be stored on the inside of the quad-fold game card (see below) until a winning grouping was assembled. They could then be redeemed for the advertised prize.

Shell Space Medal Collection Game Card Outside

Outside face of 1969 Shell Oil's "MAN IN SPACE" Coin Collection Contest Card
Card measures 8.5 by 12 inches

Shell Space Medal Collection Game Card Inside

Inside of the 1969 Shell Oil's "MAN IN SPACE" Coin Collection Contest Card

THE "COINS" THEMSELVES

While you often see these advertised as a Franklin Mint product in online auctions they are not! The first clue is the lack of the Franklin Mint mintmark on the medals. The second is the fact the series is not listed in the Krause, Guidebook of Franklin Mint Issues (1973 or 1981 editions). But the final and conclusive clue is the "Man In Space" Coin Collection Contest Card, the bronze set's original envelope and cardboard holder are all copyrighted by the Glendinning Companies, Inc. In 1969 the Glendinning Companies formed a new subsidiary called “The Danbury Mint” in Westport, Connecticut. In 1973, the Danbury Mint and its sister division were incorporated as MBI. Today, MBI’s website boasts the first Danbury Mint product was a 21 medal series issued in commemoration of the first moon landing under the name "Men In Space".

Apollo 11 Comparison
Danbury Mint "Men In Space" Medals to Shell's Coin Game "Man In Space" Coins
Left-to-Right: Danbury Mint Sterling-Silver, Danbury Mint Bronze, Shell Aluminum, Shell Bronze

The aluminum game pieces:

The Mercury Missions

Mercury 3 / Freedom 7 Mercury 4 / Liberty Bell 7 Mercury 6 / Friendship 7

Alan B. Shepard
Mercury III
Freedom 7
 
 

Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom
Mercury IV
Liberty Bell 7
$1 Key
 

John H. Glenn
Mercury VI
Friendship 7
 
 
Mercury 7 / Aurora 7 Mercury 8 / Sigma 7 Mercury 9 / Faith 7

M. Scott Carpenter
Mercury VII
Aurora 7
$5 Key
 

Walter M. Schirra
Mercury VIII
Sigma 7
Bronze Set Key
 

L. Gordon Cooper
Mercury IX
Faith 7
 
 

The Gemini Missions

Gemini III Gemini IV Gemini V

Young - Grissom
Gemini III
 

White - McDivitt
Gemini IV
 

Conrad - Cooper
Gemini V
 
Gemini VI Gemini VII Gemini VIII

Stafford - Schirra
Gemini VI
$500 Key

Lovell - Borman
Gemini VII
 

Armstrong - Scott
Gemini VIII
 
Gemini IX Gemini X Gemini XI

Stafford - Cernan
Gemini IX
 
 

Young - Collins
Gemini X
 
 

Conrad - Gordon
Gemini XI
$50 Key
 
Gemini XII

Lovell - Aldrin
Gemini XII

The Apollo Missions

Apollo VII Apollo VIII Apollo IX

Schirra - Eisele
Cunningham
Apollo VII
$5,000 Key
 

Borman - Lovell
Anders
Apollo VIII
 
 

McDivitt - Scott
Schweickart
Apollo IX
 
 
Apollo X Apollo XI Common Reverse

Stafford - Cernan
Young
Apollo X
 

Armstrong - Aldrin
Collins
Apollo XI
 

Common Reverse
 
 
 

Instant Winner Prizes

Shell "MAN IN SPACE" Coin Game Instant Winner Criteria

The following game coins are Instant Winners when the special reverse of the coin reads "INSTANT WINNER, MAN IN SPACE."

Shell Man In Space Medal Game Instant Winner Criteria
  • Gemini VI
  • Gemini XI
  • Mercury VIII
  • Mercury VII
  • Mercury VIV
 $500
$50
Bronze Set
$5
$1

The Bronze Set

The Bronze Set contains one additional medal not represented in the "original" aluminum game "coins." That additional medal commemorates the flight of Apollo 12.

The Man in Space Bronze Set

Cardboard "Man In Space" Bronze Set Holder
Actual Size: 10 inches wide by 8 inches tall
Click on any medal in the picture above to see a enlargement of its obverse and reverse!

Original "Man In Space" Bronze Set Envelope
Actual Size: 10 1/2 wide by 8 1/2 inches tall

The bronze set was shipped with an informative booklet produced by Western Publishing Company that gave additional details about the states featured on the medals.

Front Cover "Man In Space" Bronze Set Booklet
Actual Size: 5 wide by 4 inches tall

Sample Page "Man In Space" Bronze Set Booklet


BONUS MATERIAL
Shell presents "Man in Flight"
United Kingdom Promotion

Front of Cardboard "Man in Flight" United Kingdom Promotional Set Holder
Actual Size: 12 inches wide by 6 1/2 inches tall
Click on any medal in the picture above to see a enlargement of its obverse and reverse!

Shell Oil Company's
United Kingdom Promotional Set
"Man in Flight"
Common Reverse

Back of Cardboard "Man in Flight" United Kingdom Promotional Set Holder