Shuttle & Flying Saucer/UFO Space Encounter, El Cerrito, California Copper Penny

Description

There is an old hand-cranked penny smasher from the Atlantic City Boardwalk from the 1970’s (?) with 8 different original images on a big wheel that was donated to this mini-museum.¹

Dies include the following designs:

1. Budded Cross (also known as the Apostles’ Cross, the Treflée, Botonée or Cathedral Cross)
2. “Million Dollar Penny”
3. “Space Encounter” (with Shuttle and UFO image)
4. “Lord’s prayer”
5. Star of David image
6. Earth Penny
7. “Good Medicine” (Marijuana Leaf)
8. “The New Atlantic City image”

Playland-Not-At-The-Beach² Playland-Not-At-The-Beach is a non-profit, family-oriented museum in El Cerrito, California celebrating America’s bygone amusements, operated entirely by volunteers.

The museum’s 25 exhibits have specific emphasis on the attractions that once existed at Playland at the Beach and the Sutro Baths & Museum. Included are numerous artifacts from the original Whitney’s Playland at the Beach, including the giant clown’s blue hat from the top of the Playland Funhouse, and Walking Charley, one of the original hand carved life-size wooden characters from the terrace above Laughing Sal in the front window of the Fun House. Thousands of historical items are present, from cases of never-opened books of Playland tickets to original signage, parts of rides and games, rare photographs, employee uniforms, and prizes from the Playland arcade games. Additionally, there are over 30 pinball games, carnival skill games, dioramas celebrating Halloween and the Yuletide season, and miniature circuses, including the Marcks Family Miniature Circus.

1. Source: <a title="PennyCollector.com" href="http://www.pennycollector.com/Details.aspx?location=23121">PennyCollector.com</a> ↩

2. Source: <a title="Wikipedia.org" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playland-Not-At-The-Beach">Wikipedia.org</a> ↩