Title:
COIN COLLECTING GAME APPARATUS
United States Patent 3749404
Abstract:
Coin collecting game apparatus having a set of coins bearing indicia related to given numismatic values of the coins, and a coin board for each player having coin receiving spaces with indicia designating the respective spaces by selected coin numismatic values. In the course of the game, the players take turns in randomly removing or drawing one or more coins from a coin receptacle, determining from a coin table the numismatic value of each coin, and placing each coin on the respective player's coin board within any available coin space designated by the numismatic value of the coin. The player wins who first fills a selected row or all of the coin spaces on his game board. In the disclosed game apparatus, the coins include regular coins representing low numismatic values and key coins representing high numismatic values. The number and type of coins selected by each player during each turn are determined by a game board with playing spaces or squares arranged in a row about the board along which the player moves a game piece to a space determined by operation of chance means. The squares contain indicia representing number and type of the coin or coins to be drawn by the player. In the event a player draws a coin already on his coin board, he may "freeze" the coin to remove it from acquisition by an opponent by placing the coin in the freeze saace on his coin board. The game board contains squares directing return of frozen coins to play.
Application Number:
05/202897
Publication Date:
07/31/1973
Other Classes:
273/269, 273/271, 434/110
International Classes:
A63F3/00; A63F3/00; (IPC1-7): A63F3/06
Other References:
playthings Magazine for February 1959; unnumbered page cited..
Primary Examiner:
Lowe, Delbert B.
Claims:
What is claimed as new in support of Letters
Patent is
1. Coin collecting game apparatus, comprising:
2. Game apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:
3. Game apparatus according to claim 1 including:
4. Game apparatus according to claim 3 wherein:
5. Game apparatus according to claim 4 wherein:
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of games and more particularly to novel coin collecting game apparatus.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Coin collecting is a hobby which is favored by widespread popularity throughout the world. In addition to its popularity as a hobby, coin collecting also provides a profitable investment for many because of the increase in the numismatic value of many coins.
As is well known by those who engage in coin collecting, the numismatic value of a coin is dependent upon many factors. Among these factors are the monetary denomination of the coin, the year in which the coin was minted or coined, and the mint facility at which the coin was minted. Each coin bears indicia representing its monetary denomination, year of minting, and mint facility. The numismatic values of coins may be determined from coin collectors' handbooks which list the values according to the above and other factors, such as condition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides game apparatus for playing a coin collecting game which is not only fascinating from the standpoint of game playing and recreation but is also educational from the standpoint of acquainting the players with the numismatic features and values of coins.
The coin collecting game apparatus of the invention includes a set of real or simulated coins, referred to herein simply as coins, at least one coin table, and a coin board for each player. The coins may be fabricated from metal or plastic or, for that matter, may be actual coins. Each coin represents a given numismatic value and bears indicia representing its monetary denomination, year of minting, and mint facility. The coin table lists the numismatic value of the coins according to their denomination, year, and mint facility. Each coin board has spaces to receive the coins and indicia adjacent the spaces designating the latter by selected numismatic values.
In the course of the coin collecting game, the players take turns in randomly removing or drawing one or more coins of the coin set from a coin receptacle. Each player determines from the coin table the numismatic value of each coin removed and places the coin on his coin board within any available space designated by the corresponding numismatic value. The player wins who first fills a row of the coin spaces or all of the coin spaces on his coin board.
The number and type, i.e., regular and key, coins drawn by each player during his turns may be determined in various ways. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, this determination is made with the aid of a game board and game pieces for the players. The game board has a number of playing spaces or squares arranged in a row around the board. Certain of these squares contain indicia representing different numbers of coins of either or both types which a player may draw. During each turn of a player, he moves his game piece along the row of squares to a square determined by chance selection means, such as dice. The player then draws the number of regular and/or key coins corresponding to the indicia in the square.
If a player draws a coin already on his coin board, he may freeze the coin, that is, remove the coin from play and hence from possible acquisition by his opponents, by placing the coin on a freeze space on his coin board. Certain of the playing squares on the game board direct "unfreezing" of coins, that is, return of frozen coins to play. If a player lands on one of these squares, he may remove a frozen coin or coins from an opponent's coin board and return the coins to play. Other squares on the game board may contain other playing directions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a coin board of the game apparatus;
FIG. 2 illustrates a coin receptacle;
FIG. 3 shows the two sides of a coin;
FIG. 4 illustrates a coin table; and
FIG. 5 illustrates a game board and game pieces used in the game.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The drawings illustrate a coin collecting game apparatus 10 according to the invention including a set of real or simulated coins 14, at least one coin table 16, and a coin board 18 for each player. Coins 14 are simulated coins of the same or different monetary denomination and may be fabricated from metal or plastic. Conceivably, actual coins may be used in place of the simulated coins. Each coin bears indicia 20 representing a monetary denomination, year of coining or minting, and mint facility similar to that on an actual coin.
Coins 14 are assigned different numismatic values according to their date, mint facility, and denomination. The coins may be divided into two groups referred to herein as regular "common" coins and key coins. The regular coins represent relatively low numismatic values and the key coins relatively high numismatic values. The coins of each group are suitably identified by a distinctive color, shape or characteristic. The numismatic values of the coins are listed in the coin table 16, such that each player may determine the numismatic value of any coin by referring to the table under the corresponding coin designation. Preferably, each player receives a coin table, although the game apparatus may include a single table to be used by all players.
Each coin board 18 is constructed of cardboard or other suitable material and has coin spaces 22 arranged in horizontal and vertical rows 24, 26. The coin spaces may be simple squares on the board or recesses to receive the coins 14. Adjacent the coin spaces 22 are indicia 28 representing the various numismatic values listed in the coin table 16. Each space is thus designated by a particular numismatic value. In the particular coin board shown, the coin spaces are arranged in ascending order of numismatic value from top to bottom. At the top of the board are additional coin spaces 30 referred to as freeze spaces.
In the course of the coin collecting game, the regular and key coins are placed in separate compartments 32 of a coin receptacle 34 with their indicia 20 at the bottom sides of the coins so as to be obscured from view. The players take turns in drawing coins from the receptacle and determining the numismatic coin values from the coin table 16. Each player then places the coins in the coin board spaces 22 designated by the corresponding numismatic values. If a player draws a coin already on his board, he may freeze the coin, that is, remove the coin from play to prevent its acquisition by his opponents, by placing the coin in a freeze space 30. The coins thus frozen are returned to play in the manner explained below. The player wins who first fills the coin spaces 22 in a selected row 24 or 26 or all of the coin spaces on his coin board 18.
The number and type, i.e., regular and/or key, of coins drawn by each player in his turn may be determined in various ways. The particular game apparatus shown has a game board 36 and game pieces 38 for this purpose. Game board 36 has squares 40 arranged in a row about the board. Certain of the squares contain indicia 42 representing the number and types of coins to be drawn. Other squares contain directions 44 dictating various playing actions, such as unfreezing a frozen coin or coins to return the latter to play, missing a turn, a penalty, and so on, as shown.
During each turn of a player, he moves his game piece 38 along the row of game board squares 40 a number of squares determined by chance means, such as dice. Each player starts at the "start" square, of course. If a player's game piece lands on a coin draw square, the player draws the number of regular and/or key coins permitted by the indicia 42 in the square. If a player lands on any of the remaining squares, he follows the directions in the square. For example, if a player lands on a coin unfreeze square, he may remove from any of his opponents' coin board 18 the corresponding number of frozen coins and return the same to play. The players may play for themselves or in pairs. When playing in pairs, a player may either return an unfrozen coin to play or give the coin to his partner.