Burma Shave
So, I got these from good ol' Jim Kilcoyne, he's a guy who designs all kinds of elongated coins. I don't know much about him except he sends me these great coins now and then. Thanks Jim! Anyway, these particular ones reprint some of the famous Burma Shave advertising poems that graced american highways from the late 20's through to 1963. Typically, each line would appear on a separate sign and the poem would reveal itself as you drove along. They're really a cool bit of americana. Each of the pennies has the year that the particular poem appeared and what's cooler is that each one seems to be rolled on a wheatback penny from that same year! Along with each penny, Jim also sent me a very detailed sheet telling the story of the particular poem. Jim says that the series is going to be 20 coins, the numbers noted below are his series numbers. If you like any of these, write to Jim, and he'll send them to you!
#1 - "If you don't know whose signs these are, you can't have driven very far - Burma Shave - 1942"
#2 - "Riot at the drug store calling all cars, 100 customers 99 jars - Burma Shave - 1936"
#3 -"Said Juliet to Romeo, if you won't shave, go homeo - Burma Shave - 1940"
#4 - "From Bar To Car To Gates Ajar - Burma Shave - 1941"
#5 - "Give the guy the toe of your boot, who tries to hand you a substitute for Burma Shave - 1932"
#6 - "Won by a hair that wasn't there, Makes misses Mrs., Pays dividends in ladyfriends - Burma Shave - 1939" Jim's info sheet says that one approaches to major cities where ad rates were high, shorter rhymes were used, this must have been one of them.
#7 - "Santa's whiskers need no trimmin', he kisses kids, not the wimmin - Burma Shave - 1947"
#9 - "When the stork delivers a boy, our whole darn factory jumps for joy - Burma Shave - 1947" This one's got a little stork with a package for delivery!
#10 - "I proposed to Ida Ida refused, I'd a won my Ida, if I'd a used - Burma Shave - 1939" I like this one, it's got a tiny cupid at the top and a border of even tinier hearts!