New Backstamps found at Disneyland!

Posted: Sunday, 15 Apr 2007 15:37:56

The Astro Blasters set of 3 is back on-stage at Disneyland.  The fronts appear relatively unchanged, but the backstamps have undergone some significant changes.

The Zurg coin, button "C" or the rightmost button, remains unchanged. Significant comparisons between coins rolled in 2005 and 2006 as well as early this year do not show significant changes.

Working right to left, the Buzz Lightyear coin, button "B" or the middle button, has an "O" that seems to have been added, in the "upper right" side of the back.  This was not apparent on elongated coins pressed earlier this year.  Normally we significantly retouch scans, as metal does not scan well, but we've put an unretouched scan (color changes only) of the back of the Buzz Lightyear coin below.

The Little Green Men elongated coin, button "A" or the leftmost button has had its backstamp replaced entirely.   Looking at the scans below, the old backstamp is on the top, the new backstamp is on the bottom.

The old backstamp has part of the "Astro Blasters" logo appended on - look on the right side of the old backstamp and you will see the backstamp design start over.  It is only evident on longer rolls.  The new backstamp has a "bullseye" pattern that completely replaces this - the right third of the coin has this pattern, if the entire star is there, you'll see at least part of this "bullseye".  If you look at the last scan below, you will see the old backstamp overlaid over the new one. It is pretty evident that the bullseye pattern goes underneath, and due to extremely long rolls on the first weekend of this coin being back up, you can see that the second "left side" of the Astro Blasters logo is no longer repeated on the tail of the coin. Thanks to an eagle-eyed Disneyland collector for spotting the differences!  These coins have been back on-stage since at least Saturday, April 14, 2007.