I think this is important enough to have it's own thread
An interesting discovery has been made in the Eisenhower Series. As some of us remember Alan Shepard made a couple of golf drives while on the moon with a modified club head that was adapted to screw onto a sampling arm that was aboard the spacecraft during the Apollo 14 mission in 1971. Well this was not lost on Frank Gasparro the designer of the Eisenhower dollar. On the reverse of the early years of the Ike series, 71 and 72 that I know for sure, Gasparro placed a man playing golf on the moon just above and right of the "G" in the designers initials. A member of the Ike Group (Brian Vaile)found this quite awhile ago and I just took it at face value that it was there and that is what was. Due to Brian's unique ability to spot varieties. I did not know that others had serious doubts. Then a couple weeks ago he started a thread asking if anyone else has seen the "Little Guy" Golfing on the the moon and if they have to please share their pictures. I found the Little Guy Golfing on two coins and posted them With the Little Guy in two different positions. One looking like he is Either making a putt or getting ready to drive the ball with the club down on a 72 D, and with the club up like in the middle of a back swing on a 1971 D FEV Struck on Proof Planchet and a gentleman named Chris found one and posted it. Now It is going to be an addition in the next Eisenhower dollar Book published by the Ike Group. Below are just one example there are 7 more coins showing this on the thread link below Link to Thread: http://ikegroup.org/php3.0.2/phpBB/...4b65f161f4fb Talk about having a blast with a series of coins Wow. If anyone else sees this on any of their Eisenhower's please feel free to share them.
Here is a picture of the Little Guy Golfing on the 1971 D FEV Struck on a proof planchet
The shot I posted is just one coin that this can be seen on. In the LINK to the thread previously mentioned there are 7 more coins that this can be seen on. From myself and two other collectors.
Edit to add:in the shot above the golfer is raised (In Relief) on the coin just sometimes it is kind of difficult to show 3d when shooting with a 2d device
Wow, whatever it is, it's present on all my 72-t3 Ikes and later, blue, brown and clad. That area is flat on my type ones. Granted, I'd chalk this "golfer" interpretation up to Ike collector dementia and Pareidolia (right along with the alleged lunar orbiter).
I have a 73-D in MS66 and the golfer image is plain as day... I think it's something that shows up clearly in strong early die state strikes... like the REV in the FEV 71-Ds.
Quote: Gasparro placed a man playing golf on the moon just above and right of the "G" in the designers initials.
In all honesty, I doubt Gasparro would make an unauthorized design change--and wouldn't it have to be added to the hub? I doubt he worked on individual dies.
On the circulation strikes it is very difficult to see. As the detail tends to mush together quite quickly as die state advances. Die State Is Everything when looking for these VLDS (Very Early Die State) circulation strike examples are needed to see it clearly. Or Proof Coins. Also is only on the 1971 and 1972 Eisenhower's On 1973 and later it is a golf tee flag. That has been well known for quite sometime. And was thought that all of them was the golf tee flag until recently. Brian spotted the golfer on some Early Die State 71 and 72 Eisenhower's The only reason it comes through the way it does on the shot I posted above is because we were in research under the impression that there were none on the 1971 D FEV Friendly Eagle Variety. And Brian Vaile made the comment about how much easier it was to see them on proof coins. And I happened to remember that I had a 1971 D FEV struck on a Proof Planchet from San Fransisco. and there the Little Guy was.
cc99999, Your are right Strong Strike Early Die State are key to being able to see it. You are also right about the Re-Entry Vehicle on the 1971 D Friendly Eagle Variety. the con trail design which also is only visible in earlier die state examples. Frank Gisparro's mischief as it is called is legendary on the Eisenhower dollar Series. Dig out some of your early die state 71 and 72 circulation Ike's and Proof's and check it out. There are some other little differences that I am sure you will notice that I will not mention here. See Signature line Below
Quote: Volume 1 will be out sometime in 2011 and will have our new catalog of the Series, a section with photographs of many of the more interesting Ikes that have come our way, and multiple "How to" chapters dealing with the many issues confronting Ike collectors (and collectors of other moderns) in this internet and TPG era.
Another Quote from the Author on Thu Mar 08, 2012
Quote: OK, OK, the "Little Guy" will be in Volume 1 as exactly the kind of mischief Gasparro has displayed before. Great work all of you following Brian's lead. I've been slow to accept this image but now I'm hooked.
This was meant to be a "something cool found in the hobby of numismatics" kind of thing. and I really enjoy this forum a lot and thought I would give back to a forum that has helped to advance my knowledge in the field of my chosen hobby. With very pleasurable and knowledgeable people. This forum is now some of the first people in all of numismatics that know about this out side of the Ike Group.
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Posted 03/10/2012 12:18 pm
I see it too!
