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Santa Claus Returns to Icon Coins

Each year, as the holiday season approaches, we make limited number of our very special Around the Word with Santa Claus coins available.  These coins are special not only because they are a Limited Edition part of the Icon Coins family of collectible coins, but also because they are only available for a short period of time each year making them a sought after gift item.  With that said, we are excited that is is once again that time if year when we get to say Santa Claus Returns to Icon Coins!

Design:  Front
The “Heads” side of the coin features a high relief 3D portrait of the man himself, Santa Claus.  As you can see, he is reviewing his list to determine who has been naughty and who has been nice!  In order to create the portrait, we had to make sure we knew what Santa looked like, right?  Red suit, fuzzy hat, white beard….  Sort of….  We all have a basic idea of what Santa looks like. At the same time, we also know he has a lot of helpers.  We wanted the coin to look like Santa.  The real deal.  Truth be told, we have known Santa personally for quite some time, so we asked him to send us some reference photos.

Surrounding the portrait are twelve names that Santa goes by around the world:

English (UK): Father Christmas
Danish: Julemanden
Chilean Spanish: Viejo Pascuero
Chinese: Dun Che Lao Ren
French: Père Noël
German: Weihnachtsmann
Hungarian: Mikulas
Italian: Babbo Natale
Japanese: Hoteiosho
Romanian: Mos Craciun
Russian:Ded Moroz
Dutch: Sinterklaas

Fun Fact: The brass used to strike these beautiful coins was provided by Santa’s Workshop, and is the very same brass the elves use to create the reindeer’s sleigh bells. A special thanks to Smitty, the Workshop Blacksmith, for all his help!

Design: Back
The “Tails” side of the coin features a magical recreation of the compass Santa uses to travel the world on Christmas Eve!  Although lots of technological advances and upgrades have been made to Santa’s sleigh over the years, this trusty compass is the driving force to keep Santa on course.  While usually under tight wraps, Santa allowed us unprecedented access to the compass in order to accurately portray the finest details.  Thanks, Santa!

Surrounding the compass is a variety of languages from around the world proclaiming “Merry Christmas”:

English: Merry Christmas
Spanish: Feliz Navidad
Irish: Nollaig  Chridheil
Albanian: Gëzuar Krishtlindjet
Italian: Buon Natale
French: Joyeux Noël
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Finish: Hyvää Joulua
German: Fröhliche Weihnachten
Samoan: Manuia le Kirisimasi

 

 

Click Here to Order Yours Today!

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45 Years of Fear 3D Artwork Revealed

Icon Coins is happy to reveal the 3D rendering of the coin design for our upcoming 45 Years of Fear Limited Edition Collectors Coin honoring the 45th anniversary of the blockbuster, JAWS!  This 3D artwork is used to create the die mold used to strike these coins in high 3D relief and detail.

The 45 Years of Fear Limited Edition Collectors Coin is available for pre-order now!

Click Here to Pre-Order Today!

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Epic Bigfoot Ornament Winner Announced

A big THANK YOU from Icon Coins and Anisau to everyone who participated in our holiday promotion!  Visit Anisau.com and check our their EPIC BIGFOOT statues and ornaments, along with all their other awesome creations!  THANK YOU, Anisau, for teaming up with us to spread some holiday cheer!!

Congratulations to Sandra C. from VT!

You are the WINNER of this EPIC BIGFOOT Ornament!
Keep an eye on your mailbox!

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Win an Epic Bigfoot Christmas Ornament

Icon Coins has teamed up with Anisau.com, makers of the Epic Bigfoot statue, to spread some holiday cheer this Christmas season!  Order a Bigfoot Collectors Coin, The Yeti Collectors Coin, or any Multi-Pack that includes Bigfoot and/or The Yeti, between December 8th, 2019 and December 13th, 2019, and you will automatically be entered to win* an Epic Bigfoot Tree Ornament!!

*Winner will be randomly selected from orders received during the dates above and notified by email.  We will announce the winner here on our website as well as on our Facebook page with the winners first name and state or country only. (Example: Congratulation Sue from Florida!)

Order Your Bigfoot and Yeti Coins
Here to Enter

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Icon Coins Talks Eric Carr Commemorative Coin

Icon Coins is happy to introduce our officially licensed Eric Carr Commemorative Collectors Coin!  Eric Carr, KISS drummer from 1980 until his untimely passing in 1991,  contributed his talent to the bands many gold and platinum albums during his tenure, and can be heard on the bands many hit songs from the 1980s including Lick It Up, Heaven’s on Fire, Crazy Nights, Tears are Falling, and Forever, to name a few.  In addition to his musical contributions, Eric Carr was equally known for his inviting personality and genuine love for the fans! From the time he joined the band to this very day, Eric Carr remains one of the most beloved members of the KISS family.

Each Eric Carr Commemorative Collectors Coin in die struck in heavy solid brass  with an antique silver finish. The front design features a beautiful sketch portrait of Eric Carr while the back design features his name, birth and passing years, Fox and Chikara icons representing his musical personas, over a shattered glass background reminiscent of the Crazy Nights album cover.

Each coin will also include an EXCLUSIVE backstage pass style laminate that will act as the coins Certificate of Authenticity featuring design elements from the coins themselves as well as an Eric Carr mini-bio.

This addition to the Icon Coins family is limited to 100 coins minted.

Each Collector Will Receive:

  • 1.75″ Die Struck Eric Carr Coin w/Antique Silver Finish
  • Velvet Coin Pouch
  • Exclusive Laminate/C.O.A.

Icon Coins designer, Ralph Asbury, has a long history when it comes to keeping the memory of Eric Carr alive.  It started in the late 1990s with an action figure.  At the time, McFarlane Toys had released the first set of official KISS action figures as KISS was back on top of the world with the Reunion Tour.  To help fans complete the set, Ralph created one of the earliest custom made Eric Carr action figures by re-purposing the Paul Stanley figure to represent the Fox character.  (One of these custom creations can be seen on the Eric Carr documentary, The Eric Carr Story: Inside the Tale of the Fox.) This led to an introduction to Eric’s family and the next effort to honor The Fox…

In 2000, Eric Carr tribute album, Prophecy, was released.  This project was a collection of songs written and performed by Ralph (under the name Ralph E. Carle) and dedicated to Eric Carr.  The packaging was designed as a fantasy version of the 1978 KISS solo albums featuring Ralph on the cover as a fictional KISS character presented as a portrait similar to the existing albums.  As the band members dedicated their solo albums to the other members, Prophecy was dedicated to Eric.  The album opens with a rare radio ID the was recorded prior to Eric’s passing in 1991.  Also included on the album are two different versions of the song Your Turn to Cry, as pre-KISS song recorded by Eric Carr with his teenage band, The Cellarmen.  The first version on the album is a cover version of the song, and the second version is the original recording featuring Eric on drums and vocals.  Prophecy was well received by KISS and Eric Carr fans alike.  Ralph appeared at KISS Expos around the US and Canada performing the songs and meeting fans of The Fox!

In 2011, Eric Carr: Unfinished Business would be released.  This project featured various artists and friends of Eric Carr completing demos and incomplete songs left behind by Carr.  Ralph Asbury was called on to design the packaging CD as well as coordinating some of the guest musicians who contributed to the album including AJ Pero of Twisted Sister and Kee Marcello of Europe.

And now in 2019, the next contribution the the memory of  great man and musician is on its way.  We at Icon Coins are very proud to be releasing the Official Eric Carr Commemorative Collectors Coin!

Order Your Eric Carr Coin Today!

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Concept to Coin: The Loch Ness Monster

Below is a walk through the creative process and design elements of our Limited Edition Collectors Coin honoring The Loch Ness Monster.

Theme: The Loch Ness Monster
The Loch Ness Monster represents not only the mystery of a long lost species, but also a rich history of folklore and heritage. The approach to designing this coin was to include the creature itself along with elements of the culture and storytelling that carried the legend through generations to iconic status.

Concept Art: Once we pin down the theme of our coins, we create the concept art as a visual representation of the coin. This is adjusted until it is an accurate example of how we envision the coin.

3D Model: When the concept art is completed it is used to create a 3D model. This model goes through various adjustments to ensure that key features are not only visually accurate, but also to ensure that they meet technical specifications for the minting process.

Finished Coin: Upon final approval of the 3D model, a die is cut and used to strike the coins into solid heavy brass. This process is followed by a series of finishing procedures resulting in the finished high quality coins that we pride ourselves on at Icon Coins.

Design: Front
The “Heads” side of the coin features a high relief 3D landscape that includes the waters of Loch Ness split in the middle to show both above and below the waterline. The view above the surface shows the historic Grant Tower portion of Urquhart Castle located on the Loch Ness coast. Below the surface depicts the murky waters that shroud the elusive monster in mystery complete with silt covered terrain and visibility limiting vegetation. There are even the remains of an ill fated bagpiper who is surely the keeper of secrets. And of course, breaching the surface of the loch, is the legendary Loch Ness Monster!

Design: Back
The “Tails” side of the coin features The Loch Ness Monster moniker in a Stonecross font style over a Celtic Knot design and silhouette of Nessie. Surrounding these elements is the saying “Black as the Earl of Hell’s Waistcoat, Loch Ness is the Keeper of Secrets” in a Celtic Garamond font style.

Order Your Loch Ness Monster Coin Today!