This page displays images of all Phish memorabilia that I have designed…
Above is the SOLD OUT Maze/Bowie v 1.0 Coin (600) which debuted April 2004
The Maze/Bowie Coin was my original design. The idea was to symbolically represent the state of limbo that exists (albeit briefly) during the intros of these 2 Phish songs. This duality struck me as the perfect theme upon which I could design a Phish Coin. The Maze/Bowie Coin is a flipping coin, and the idea is that when life throws a decision at you, you use this coin to make your decision for you!
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Above is the SOLD OUT UVM/Coventry Coin (500) which debuted August 2004
The UVM/Coventry Coin was never meant to be. However, when the boys pulled the plug in May of 2004 I decided if the gig was up, I had to make one final coin, my swan song of sorts. The idea behind the UVM/Coventry Coin was to symbolically bookend the career of Phish. One side represents their early days at UVM, and depicts Slade Hall (where Page played his 1st official gig as a member of Phish). The other side depicts Newport State Airport in Coventry, VT, where Phish ended (or so we thought)…
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Above is the SOLD OUT Maze/Bowie v 2.0 Coin (600) which debuted March 2009
I made a few subtle changes to the original design for the 2nd Edition Maze/Bowie Coin. I changed the text on each side to match, and also altered the stars such that they were smaller than those on the original Maze/Bowie Coin. The 2nd Edition also has a reeded edge (like a quarter) and is slightly thicker than the original.
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Above is the SOLD OUT Hampton Coin (200) which debuted March 2009
In designing the Hampton Reunion Coin, I tried to incorporate symbology relating to a rebirth. For this reason, I placed a Phoenix on one side, representing Phish rising from the ashes to triumphantly return to the stage in March of 2009. On the venue side there is a moth (another symbol of rebirth) flying toward the full moon in the night sky above Hampton Coliseum.
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Above is the SOLD OUT Red Rocks Coin (200) which debuted July 2009
The Red Rocks Coin is filled with Phish symbolism referring to the band’s storied past at this great venue. The venue side was inspired from a photograph taken backstage at the venue. A giant iguana sits atop Creation Rock on the left, a reference to the 1993 Harpua narration at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. On the other side, Icculus awaits the Famous Mockingbird as it delivers the Helping Phriendly Book. These are also subtle references to great performances by Phish at past Red Rocks shows, not to mention the Junta live version of Icculus containing the line “This is Red Rocks… This is the Edge!” On the flip-side is a nod to the Colorado state flag, which I believe to be the best single image to represent Colorado. This side is the first one on a Phish Coin to be done in full-color.
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Above is the SOLD OUT Halloween Coin (300) which debuted October 2009
The Halloween Coin is chock full of symbolism referring to the desert venue, as well as Phish related Halloween. The Desert (life) side of the coin depicts a hot air balloon with an “8” on it, as the Coachella Valley is a hotbed for hot air ballooning. The date palm (tree of life) is an allusion to the Save the Date theme used in the announcement of Festival 8, and serves a vital role in the agricultural economy of the Coachella Valley. The saguaro cactus is a nod to Gordo, and the peyote button symbolizes a spiritual desert journey, which many of us had at Festival 8. The Camel has a polo mallet leaning up against it in reference to the Empire Polo Club.
The Halloween (death) side of the coin depicts no less than 11 Phish songs that I felt have Halloween related symbolism. The ghost serves as the centerpiece of this side of the coin, and it has a snowman dose on its tongue and is holding a piece of meat (a nod to the second song in the Ghost Trilogy). The spider web with a fly caught in it is a reference to Geulah Papyrus, the cat is a reference to Poster Nutbag, and the witch is a reference to Axilla. The tombstone reads RIP R.W. memorializing Roger Wolfe, executed son of Errand Wolfe, rebel leader of the Lizards in Gamhendge. Piper the worm is coming out of the ground below the ghost, and a skeleton symbolizes a soul returning to earth on Dia de los Muertos (11/01/09) to beg the holy spirit (ghost) forgiveness for past transgressions. The vultures fly overhead, and the trees are a double reference to I Saw It Again (the 3rd song in the Ghost Trilogy) and Limb By Limb.
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Above is the SOLD OUT Big Cypress Coin (300) which debuted December 2009
The Big Cypress Coin was made to commemorate the 10 Year Anniversary of the Big Cypress Millennium NYE Festival in the everglades. One side of the coin represents the everglades themselves, and the other side depicts the festival site itself.
The Everglades side was inspired by the Seminole Tribal legend of creation, in which the creator places a shell at the base of a tree (I chose a Big Cypress “Tree of Life”) and as the tree grew, the roots made the shell crack, and from that shell emerged all of the animals of the world. I chose an egret, an alligator and a toad as the animals in the image, as they are quintessential everglades wildlife, and sacred beings to the Seminole Tribe. The toad is a Bufos Alvarius representing a spiritual journey in the Everglades, which most people had at Big Cypress.
The Venue side of the coin depicts the stage setup used for the midnight to sunrise set, and is complete with Father Time on his bicycle, the on-stage porta-potty, and the clock-themed backdrop behind the stage. The Skywheel carnival ride looms in the distance, and a swamp airboat awaits the boys backstage as the first sunrise of the new millennium rises behind palm trees in the distance. Fireworks are exploding above the stage as a news helicopter flies overhead reporting on all of the insanity. The Hot Dog that the band rode to the stage before the all-night set, and the Meatstick Time Capsule, intended to be opened in 4020, are also depicted.
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Above is the Festival $8 Bill (888) which debuted April 2010
The idea to design an $8 Bill for Festival Eight actually came to me late night ON Halloween, so it is safe to say it was a little late! However, over the past few months, the idea kept popping into my head, so I decided to go for it. The design is based on the $1 Bill, and I tried to work in as much Phish symbolism as possible while remaining true to the original form. Basically anything that I could alter to make the Festival $8 Bill Phishy (in a subtle way) I did.
The serial number references Halloween, as do the Roman numbers at the bottom of the pyramid. I took out 5 of the 13 stars, olive leaves and arrows in the seal on the right side of the back of the Bill to make eight of each as a nod to Festival 8. Taking out the middle 5 stars actually created an unintended figure eight, which I thought was extra cool! I also removed the center tail feather of the eagle to make it so there are only 8 of them. I changed the Latin slogan below the pyramid to say “Lego Libri Servo Vita” which means “Read the Book and Save Your Life,” and the signatures at the bottom of the front side of the Festival $8 Bill are those of Marco Esquandolas and M.R. Palmer! The Department of the Treasury seal has been altered to reference the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street album cover choice for Halloween.
I originally wanted to use a visage of King Wilson, and then it hit me that Woodrow Wilson was on the now defunct $100,000 Bill, so it seemed like a nice touch. I also changed the letter in the middle of the Federal Reserve Seal to an 8, and the city of printing has been changed to Indio, CA. I changed the other serial numbers to F8 and 1030 and 1101 to represent the other two days of the festival. In Clod We Trust needs no explanation, does it?
The Festival $8 Bills were printed on Crane & Company 100% Cotton woven paper… as close to the U.S. currency as I could get without having the Feds poking around!
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Above is the SOLD OUT Greek Theatre Coin (200) which debuted June 2010
For the Greek Theatre Coin I decided to use the California State Flag a la the Colorado State Flag on the Red Rocks Coin. That idea was very well received, and I think the flag is a great way to represent the state in a singular image. The bear and star were going to be in 3-D, but the colors would not have been able to remain true to form, so I decided to go with full color in 2-D instead.
On the other side, I did my best to re-create the feel of a straight-on view of the stage at the Greek Theatre. The maze at the bottom was inspired by the circle that lays in the center of the floor/pit area. I considered putting a bonfire there as a tribute to the bonfire parties thrown in the Greek Theatre before Stanford/Cal football games, but the maze won out.
The llama at center-stage pays homage to the 1st song Phish ever played at the Greek Theatre on 8/28/93. The birds above symbolize the performance of The Birds, an ancient Greek drama by Aristophanes. This play marked the 1st performance of any kind in the Greek Theatre in 1903. The clock tower in the background is depicts the landmark of Sather Tower, commonly referred to as “The Campanile” because of its stark resemblance to the Campanile di San Marco in Venice, Italy. The lightning bolts on top of each spire are a subtle nod to the Grateful Dead’s roots in the bay area.
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Above is the SOLD OUT Telluride Coin (200) which debuted June 2010
The Front side of the Telluride Coin was inspired by the classic image of the main strip in downtown Telluride, with the mountains looming in the background. The sign on the New Sheridan Hotel now says FLUFFHEAD (a nod to PT) and the clock tower reads 4:20, as do all clocks on Phish Coins. In the foreground, I put a silhouetted image of two guys crossing the street with a keyboard. This is a tribute to the classic shot of Trey and Page walking the keyboard across the street upon their arrival in Telluride in 1988.
The Back Side of the Telluride Coin depicts The Roma Bar and its two neighbors, and was inspired by an old oil painting of the building. This pays homage to the location of Phish’s 1st run of shows outside of the Northeast. The Roma Bar hosted Phish for 5 of their 6 shows on that Telluride Run.
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Above is the SOLD OUT Halloween Poker Chip (666) debuted October 2010
The Halloween Poker Chip was inspired by two things: The fact that I did a Halloween Coin for Festival 8 in 2009 and didn’t want to do another one, and the fact that the 2010 Halloween Run was held in Atlantic City. The Halloween Poker Chip is a casino grade ceramic chip just like those appearing in casinos worldwide. It weighs 10 grams and is 39 millimeters in diameter, both specs matching casino standards. Unlike traditional clay poker chips, ceramic chips have the image embedded into the chip itself… no cheap inlay stickers that can peel or wear away over time!
The Boardwalk Hall side of the Halloween Poker Chip was inspired by a vintage postcard from the heyday of Atlantic City in the 1940s. The $31 denomination was chosen in reference to the 31st of October. I felt that a dollar value needed to be on the chip and wanted to steer away from any existing chip denominations for obvious reasons. The flip side of the Halloween Poker Chip is an evil jack-o-lantern, the quintessential Halloween symbol. The rolling edge of the Halloween Poker Chip was printed in black and orange to mimic the edge spots of vintage clay casino poker chips…
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Above is the SOLD OUT 2010 NYE Coin (300) which debuted December 2010
The 2010 NYE Coin was designed to commemorate this year’s 5 night NYE Run being held at The Worcester Centrum and Madison Square Garden. These are two of the more hallowed venues in Phish history, so I tried to work in as much symbolic imagery as possible relating to past moments in each venue. I focused on trying to work in as much NYE flavor as possible, while maintaining a cohesive design.
The Worcester Centrum Side of the NYE Coin was inspired by the 1993 NYE Run during which Phish played on a stage designed to look like an aquarium. The square shape of this setup doesn’t work well with the circular format of a coin, so I adapted it to be a fishbowl. The fishbowl is littered with Phish symbolism. The figure of Moses standing with the 10 Commandments at center stage relates to Tom Marshall’s appearance on 12/31/93 to sing the 1st line that he ever wrote for a Phish song during Run Like An Antelope. The scuba diver and the giant clam were part of the NYE gag that night, and the sperm whale is a nod to the Moby Dick encore that had everybody buzzing on 11/29/97. The surfboard next to Moses is a reference to the Wipeout Fest that went down at the Centrum almost a year later, on 11/27/98. The dates on this side of the coin were placed in the bubbles rising up from the fishbowl floor.
The Madison Square Garden Side of the NYE Coin references all of the previous NYE shows performed at MSG. The Van de Graff generator on the top of Madison Square Garden is a nod to the Gamehendge Time Factory gag performed as midnight approached on 12/31/95. The Udderball (complete with pentagram as a reference to the Harpua narration from 12/30/97) is climbing up the side of MSG, and lends to what I feel is a bit of an urban Godzilla theme. The Udderball was brought to life on an incredible half-domed projector setup that was integral to the 12/31/97 NYE countdown. The caterpillar crawling down 8th Avenue is a reference to the costumed troupe that delighted the audience throughout the 1998 NYE Run, donning an array of fabulous costumes. During the Wolfman’s Brother on 12/28/98 caterpillars crawled up on stage and “danced” around while the band destroyed MSG. The “7 crystals of snow” are a nod to the 2002 NYE gag when snowflakes began falling from the ceiling during the Seven Below performed as midnight approached on 12/31/02. I couldn’t resist making the snowflakes reminiscent of the snowflake on the Alta Ski Resort logo, one of my favorite ski resorts! The dates for the 3 Night Run appear on the top of the building running along 8th Avenue, and the large digital clock outside of MSG is set to 4:20, as are all clocks that appear on Phish Coins.
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Above is the NYE 2010 Sticker (100) which debuted December 2010
This is my first attempt at a sticker… I hope you like the classy art deco flavor. It is my interpretation of a classic Madison Square Garden logo, intertwined with a nick-name I have used for many years in reference to Madison Square Garden. It is a subtle reference to a scene favorite… from the stamp shape, to the choices of the number 25 and the British Pound symbol to denominate the stamp. Consider this my contribution to the Phish Lot world of logo knock-offs…
The MSG Sticker is a 2″ x 3″ UV protected vinyl sticker printed in a limited run of 250.
Paypal $2 per sticker to phishcoins@gmail.com and off they go!
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Above is the Bethel Woods(tock) Coin (300) which debuted May 2011
Update: As of 8/22/17 there are 133 Bethel Woods(tock) Coins remaining out of 300
For one side of the Bethel Woods(tock) Coin I designed a tribute to the original Woodstock logo with the acoustic guitar and dove, but worked in a Phishy spin. Instead of an acoustic guitar, I depicted as accurately as possible the new “Ocedoc” guitar currently being used by Trey. Instead of a dove, I placed the Famous Mockingbird on the neck of the guitar.
As a spin-off from the original phrase “An Aquarian Exposition in White Lake, NY” I changed it to read “A Piscean Exposition in Bethel, NY” and did so for two reasons. First, we are not actually at the dawning of the Age of Aquarius as some seemed to think in the mid 1960s, we are still in the Age of Pisces. I am not an astrology kind of guy… there is actually a scientific element to this. Secondly, the symbol for Pisces is a fish, so I couldn’t resist the double entendre. Instead of using the original “2 Days of Peace and Music” phrase, I changed it to read “3 More Days of Peace & Music” since that is exactly what will go down this upcoming Memorial Day Weekend!
As for the flip side of the Bethel Woods(tock) Coin, I created a scene that blends Memorial Day history with a dose of Gamehendge imagery and symbolism. The Rhombus in the center of the design is a tribute to the Tony Smith’s “New Piece” sculpture which can be found “somewhere” in New Jersey, in Trey’s old stomping grounds. The Rhombus serves as a tribute to the ultimate Memorial Day symbol in my eyes, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I am calling this Rhombus “The Tomb of the Unknown Lizard” and the scene portrays a lizard rejoicing in the overthrow of King Wilson, as symbolized by the memorial wreath of poppies featuring the historic Crest of Prussia in the middle. The poppy flower has been tied to Memorial Day since the early 1900s when women used to sell them to raise money for decorating the tombs of fallen soldiers on Memorial Day. This holiday in fact was originally called “Decorating Day” for this reason.
The Rhombus was a sacred site at which the Lizards would pray to Icculus. The sky above has the clouds parting with the sun between, representing The Divided Sky, and the two “Gateways to Gamehendge” are represented by the Nitrous Oxide tank with the word “Kung” written on it. The Helping Friendly Book lies on the ground, having been retrieved by the Famous Mockingbird, and the tree to the right of the Rhombus is a Weeping Fikus, commonly known as the “Tree of Knowledge” which is mentioned in Colonel Forbin’s Ascent.
I hope you like the design, as it is littered with Phish symbolism! As all Phish Coins are, the Bethel Woods(tock) Coin is antique silver in color, 1.75″ in diameter, has a reeded edge (like a quarter) and is sequentially numbered from 1-300.
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Above is the Super Ball IX “Superball” (999) which debuted May 2011
The Superball IX ‘Superball’ measures in at almost 2″ in diameter. They were produced in a limited run of 999 and are priced as follows with USPS Delivery Confirmation Shipping:
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Above is the Super Ball $9 Bill (999) which debuted June 2011
I have to admit that I was hoping after Festival 8 that Phish would use a #9 in the name of their next festival. They obviously did, so I present to you what will likely be my last attempt at a Phishy take on U.S. currency… The Super Ball $9 Bill!
While I used the $1 Bill as the inspiration for the Festival $8 Bill, I settled on a vintage $5 Bill as the “template” for the Super Ball $9 Bill. As with the Festival $8 Bill, I tried to stay as true to the layout of the currency while littering as much Phish symbolism as possible into the design.
Regarding the front side of the Super Ball $9 Bill, the serial numbers mark the dates of the festival. The “printing” city is Watkins Glen, NY. Rutherford B. Hayes (dead presidents only) symbolizes Rutherford the Brave. The Chairman of the Festival is Harvey P. Hood (who we know as Harry Hood) founder of the H.P. Hood Dairy Company. Errand Wolfe is the Secretary of the Treasury, as he would have been in charge of the finances of the Lizards after the death of Mr. Palmer and the overthrow of King Wilson.
The black seal on the front side contains the Latin phrase “LEGO LIBRI SERVO VITA” which translates to “READ THE BOOK & SAVE YOUR LIFE” and the Roman number “IX” to represent Super Ball IX. Underneath this seal is the latin phrase “E QUATTUOR UNUM” which is a Phishy off-shoot of the phrase “E PLURIBUS UNUM” which appears on U.S. Currency. While “E PLURIBUS UNUM” means “FROM MANY… ONE” the phrase “E QUATTUOR UNUM” means “FROM FOUR… ONE” which to me is really what Phish is all about, the sum of all parts is greater than any single element. The green seal has checkered flags and reads “WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL” where Super Ball IX was held.
As for the back side of the Super Ball $9 Bill, I changed the name of the Lincoln Memorial to Forbin Memorial, and altered the structure to resemble the Self Storage USA Building used for the secret set late night on 7/2/11. I also put “SBIX” in the lower boxes where the word “FIVE” would normally appear. The number 83 in the lower right references the year that Phish was formed, and the phrase “IN CLOD WE TRUST” appears across the banner at the top of the back side of the Super Ball $9 Bill too. That needs no explanation ; )
The Super Ball $9 Bill is priced the same as the Festival $8 Bill. They are $5 each, and are printed on 100% Cotton Rag Paper from Crane & Company, who makes the paper used for U.S. Currency today! Each bill comes in a museum grade vinyl currency sleeve to protect your “investment.”
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Above is the Tahoe ’11 Poker Chip (300) which debuted August 2011
Update: As of 8/22/17 there are 144 Tahoe 2011 Poker Chips remaining out of 300
The Lake Tahoe Poker Chip was a no-brainer for me after how well received the Halloween Poker Chip was! I was simply waiting for another appropriate opportunity for a Poker Chip, and this was the run. I tried to stay in the realm of the theme I used for the Halloween Poker Chip by using a vintage look of Harvey’s Casino from its heyday in the 1950s. The building pictured on this chip was actually destroyed in the early 1980s when a bomb was detonated in the casino area after an eccentric California millionaire tried to extort 3 million dollars from Harvey’s Casino after losing that much in a bad streak of gambling! The location and dates of the shows appear on the marquees of the casino, and the four stars in the sky symbolize the members of Phish.
For the flip side of the Lake Tahoe Poker Chip, I did my best to use a quintessential image of the beauty of Lake Tahoe. In the water to the right of the isand in the lake, you can see Tahoe Tessie swimming by. Tahoe Tessie exists in Lake Tahoe folklore dating back to the days of the Washoe tribe of Native Americans, who have many tales alluding to a large creature lurking in the depths of Lake Tahoe, which they called “Da-Ow-A-Ga.” Leave it to the white explorers of the area to slaughter this pronunciation and thus incorrectly name it Lake Tahoe! The use of the $46 denomination on the chip was inspired by the fact that the Lake Tahoe region first flourished as an American city as a result of the Coal and Gold Mining occurring in Northern California. The reference to coal in this song made this the perfect fit. Sadly, Lake Tahoe was used as a hub for the Timber industry to supply these mines with wood for the construction of these mines.
I chose to use blue accents on the Lake Tahoe Poker Chip in honor of the catch phrase “Keep Tahoe Blue” which is used in the efforts to maintain Lake Tahoe as a pristine Alpine Lake. As such, I will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the Lake Tahoe Poker Chip to the League to Save Lake Tahoe. This is a theme I plan to continue with future projects.
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Above is the Buffalo Bill Wooden Nickel (1000) which debuted August 2011
The Buffalo Bill Wooden Nickel is based off of an idea I have had for awhile, but have been waiting for the right shows for one. When the Colorado Run was announced, it seemed perfectly fitting to design a Wooden Nickel for. Seeing as the traditional Wooden Nickel contained the image of a Buffalo in it, what better place than Colorado for a Buffalo inspired item! However, instead of having a Native American head on the flip side, it struck me that the Wooden Nickel should have the face of Buffalo Bill on it.
The Buffalo Bill Wooden Nickel commemorated the Colorado Run this upcoming Labor Day Weekend, while also paying homage to an elusive crowd favorite. I chose to depict Buffalo Bill as a young man with a pensive look on his face. This seemed to go perfectly with the opening line of the song “Looking for owls? The young man asked…” Buffalo Bill had strong ties to the Denver area, actually passing away there in 1917.
For the flip side, I did my best to recreate the look of the classic Buffalo Nickel minted between the years of 1913 and 1938. The fact that most of the Buffalo Nickels produced were minted in the city of Denver just added to the appropriateness of the design. The buffalo has a “PH” ranch style brand logo on its rear hip area, as is customarily done on ranches to identify herds of cattle. Above the buffalo is the location of the Colorado Run, and below the buffalo are the dates of the shows. However, I came up with a Phishy spin for the “E Pluribus Unum” phrase which appears on all U.S. Coins and means “From many… one.” I changed this phrase to read “E Quattuor Unum” meaning “From four… one” which to me best represents what Phish is all about! The sum of the parts are greater than any single component… Isn’t that what makes them so special?
The Buffalo Bill Wooden Nickel was printed on wooden nickels 1.5″ in diameter, just like the ones issued by the U.S. Government during the Great Depression. Wooden nickels would later become popular promotional items for events, so I decided to resurrect the idea for this sure-to-be-special run, I hope you like it!
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Above is the “IT” Sticker (100) which debuted July 2011
This sticker is actually my first design idea ever, dating back to the summer of 2003. I missed the deadline to submit it to Phish for their design contest, but now I can use it. Had it been submitted, I would have given up my rights to it… The basic idea of this design was to create a simple, yet meaningful design. The street sign symbolizes what actually happens at any show: There are ups and downs, but things always end on a positive note!
The “IT” Sticker is a 3″ x 3″ UV protected vinyl sticker printed in a limited run of 100.
Paypal $2 per sticker (any variety) to phishcoins@gmail.com and off they go!
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Above is the NYE 2011 Coin (300) which debuted December 2011
Update: As of 8/22/17 there are 23 NYE 2011 Coins remaining out of 300
The inspiration for the 2011 NYE Coin was simple. I wanted the coin to be very NYC, while incorporating symbolism relating to both Phish and Madison Square Garden.
On one side, I re-worked the classic design of a New York City manhole cover. The circular and silver nature of the manhole cover struck me as the perfect fit for one side of this coin. As a child growing up in New York City, manhole covers like this were among my first fascinations, as I wondered what lay beneath them. Instead of reading “N.Y.C. SEWER” however, the manhole cover reads “N.Y.C. NEW YEARS.” It turns out that “NEW YEARS” is actually an anagram for “A N.Y. SEWER,” so there is a bit of double entendre there. This design also drifts into the realm of the maze design on my original coin.
On the other side, I decided to pay homage to the Duke Ellington standard “Take the ‘A’ Train” that Phish covered 118 times between 1987 and 1994. Only 8 cover songs have been performed live more times by Phish, so the song holds its own in Phish lore. This side of the coin depicts a 1920s ‘A’ Train emerging from a tunnel as it pulls into Penn Station, which is a stop for patrons attending M.S.G. The subway is littered with symbolism relating to the band, the venue and shows themselves. The four lights on the front of the subway car contain the letters “J, E, M & P” in them. The dates for the 2011 New Years Run appear on the door, and I threw a couple of my favorite lot stickers onto the train, suggesting that it had been tagged by a phan. The sign at the top of the train reads “MSG” and the words “NYC” & “NYE” appear in the oval lights on the ‘A’ Train.
The 2011 NYE Coin has an antique silver finish, is 1.75″ in diameter, 4 millimeters thick, has reeded edges, and was be minted in a run of 300 sequentially numbered coins.
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Above is the NYE 2011 Sticker (250) which debuted in December 2011
This is a re-issue and updated version of my first attempt at a sticker design… I hope you like the classy art deco flavor. It is my interpretation of a classic Madison Square Garden logo, intertwined with a nick-name I have used for many years in reference to Madison Square Garden. It is a subtle reference to a scene favorite… from the stamp shape, to the choices of the number 25 and the British Pound symbol to denominate the stamp. Consider this my contribution to the Phish Lot world of logo knock-offs…
The MSG Sticker is a 2″ x 3″ UV protected vinyl sticker printed in a run of 250.
Paypal $2 per sticker (any variety) to phishcoins@gmail.com and off they go!
The easiest way to purchase items is to visit my Etsy Page:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PhishCoins
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Above is the ASSFACE Pin (100) which debuted January 2012
I see this as more of a “board” pin than a “hat” pin, but one that is sure to catch peoples’ attention and be a conversation starter. I hope you all find the humor and love that this pin represents for the best band on the planet…
Some people are going to say that this pin is a “no-no” but I have done my legal research on personality rights, and am convinced that this pin is not in violation of the “right of publicity.” I base this on the following:
Paypal to phishcoins@gmail.com or email me if you prefer to send a USPS Money Order.
The easiest way to purchase items is to visit my “Outside the Tube Designs” Etsy Page:
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Above is the Alumni Blues Pin (100) which debuted March 2012
The Alumni Blues Pin is only .75″ so a nice size to rock on that hat or backpack.
The easiest way to purchase items is to visit my “Outside the Tube Designs” Etsy Page:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/phishcoins
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Above is the SOLD OUT Sanity Coin (100) which debuted June 2012
The Sanity Coin is the second Phish Coin to be a solely song-based flipping coin. I decided to make this coin for two reasons… The Maze/Bowie Coins are sold out, and the year of 2012 seemed like the perfect time to create this design. To some extent, this coin was a tongue-in-cheek response to the ridiculous theory that the world was coming to an end on December 21, 2012. This marks the end of the Mayan calendar, but even Mayan scholars agree that the cycle just begins all over again. The Sanity Coin was inspired by the final verse of the song Sanity: “You can save the whales, you can save the toads; But I don’t care if the world explodes…” From this line I decided to create a flipping coin that had a whale on one side, and a toad on the other.
The Humpback Whale seemed like the most appropriate whale for a couple of reasons. First, the Humpback Whale is mentioned in the Phish classic “Bathtub Gin” and it was also the whale that helped to bring global attention to the damaging effects of the whaling industry in the 1960s. The whale side of the Sanity Coin shows a Humpback Whale in cold Arctic waters underneath a Japanese whaling ship. The ship’s name (in Japanese) is “Sanity” and a receding glacier in the background behind the boat to serve as a reminder that the ice caps are deteriorating at an alarming rate.
The Bufos Alvarius Toad was my choice for the toad side of the Sanity Coin. This toad inhabits the deserts of the American Southwest, and can be a catalyst for spiritual journeys, just like Phish can be. The southern reaches of its habitat extend into Mexico, which was once a part of the ancient Mayan empire. The toad sits on a rock in the foreground, and a Mayan ziggurat looms in the background, rising toward the heavens. There are 12 stars in the sky to symbolize December of 2012, and if the world actually does explode then, all you can do is live life to the fullest while you can. In the meantime, the Sanity Coin can help you make all of life’s difficult decisions a bit easier to make!
The Sanity Coin is 1.75″ in diameter as are all Phish Coins, it has the same antique silver finish as my other coins, and has a reeded edge (like a quarter). The Sanity Flipping Coin is priced as follows with USPS Delivery Confirmation Shipping:
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Above is the Blackwood Convention Bridge Card (420) which debuted June 2012
The Blackwood Convention Playing Card Commemorates the first Phish gig ever, before they were even Phish! Blackwood Convention is actually a strategy that teams can use when playing Bridge. For this reason, I felt that the best way to commemorate the first ever gig was to design an authentic Casino Grade Bridge playing card. This playing card is 1/4″ narrower than a standard Poker card, so it will fit perfectly in your wallet if you want to have it on hand at all times. You never know when an Ace of Spades could come in handy!
I incorporated an antelope into the design of the spade of the card, as well as into the back of the playing card. Spade Antelope is a subtle reference to Trey’s original band in high school, known as Space Antelope. Above and below the spade on the Ace side, I placed the date and location of the gig, using the UVM student nickname of “The Grundle” in reference to the cafeteria in Harris-Millis Hall. I had 10 decks printed, so there are 520 Blackwood Convention Cards available. This is actually going to be the first of an ongoing series that will eventually incorporate a Royal Flush of Jack through Joker, and maybe one day, the rest of the deck…
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Above is the Bader Field Poker Chip (500) which debuted June 2012
As of 8/22/17 there are 151 Bader Field Poker Chips remaining out of 500
This poker chip exudes the beach vibe of a summer run in Atlantic City, and also pays homage to Bader Air Field, the world’s oldest airport. The beach side portrays the last verse of the tale told in the song Punch You In The Eye. The $3 denomination alludes to the 3 long months on the open seas that Kayak Guy paddled before reaching Gamehendge. The beach ball has PYITE written on it by a phan wanting to hear the song. Chains and specks of islands curve where palm trees dip and seagulls swirl, and Kayak Guy has managed to escape from Gamehendge. He has parked his kayak on a stone and yells across the ocean to his evil throne… The Green Dolphin fin is a subtle reference to Trey’s “Green Dolphin Street” demo tape, recorded in New Jersey back in 1985.
The Bader Field side of the poker chip provides the dates of the run on the runway. King Wilson stands inside the “Control Tower” watching over his kingdom as a Glider approaches the tower on a kamikaze mission conducted by a rebel Lizard. The faces and edge of the Bader Field Poker Chip will be aligned so that the edge spots have a wrap-around effect, and will be casino grade ceramic chips that will last a lifetime.
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Above is the BGCA 2012 Coin (300) which debuted June 2012
Update: As of 8/22/17 there are 158 BGCA 2012 Coins remaining out of 300
The Bill Graham Civic Auditorium Coin was the obvious choice from Leg 2 for a coin. An historical venue dating to the Roaring Twenties, a 3 night run indoors on Summer Tour… What more could you ask for? As always, I wanted to capture the essence of San Francisco in this coin, which was challenging as San Francisco is such an iconic city.
The venue itself is a landmark, so I had to dedicate one side of the coin to the BGCA. I wanted to slip in a Grateful Dead reference for obvious reasons, so I used a lightning bolt striking the top of the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium to double as the “V” in Civic. This coin captures the grandeur of the BGCA in similar fashion to my Greek Theatre Coin from Summer 2010.
On the obverse side I chose to go with the San Francisco Cable Car. On the front of the Cable Car it reads “Summer Tour 2012″ and “City by the Bay” across the banners, and the bumper of the Cable Car has the Taste lyric “If I could see through fog that surrounds” stamped on it. The conductor of the Cable Car is impatiently waiting to board the car and move on to Market Street.
The BGCA Coin was minted in a limited run of 300 coins. As always, the coin is 1.75″ in diameter, has a reeded edge, is sequentially numbered from 1-300, and has an antique silver finish. All number requests should be handled by mail before the run to avoid any accidental sales of your desired number. The BGCA Coin is $20 in person and priced as follows shipped:
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Above is the Tahoe 2013 Poker Chip (500) which debuted in July 2013
Update: As of 8/22/17 there are 342 Tahoe 2013 Poker Chips remaining
My 2013 Lake Tahoe Poker Chip was designed with a couple of themes in mind. First of all, I have been wanting to work a Roulette Wheel theme into a design for awhile, so I reconfigured a standard Roulette Wheel in to this design so that the numbers would be both legible, and have a color themed significance to them. The dates of the 2013 Lake Tahoe Run are highlighted in the green spaces on the wheel, hence the “7, 30, 31, 20 & 13.” With Phish’s 30th Anniversary looming on the horizon, I oriented this series of numbers so that the “30” was top and center. The black spaces represent the 2011 run in Tahoe, hence the numbers “8, 9, 10 & 11” within these spaces to symbolize August 9th & 10th of 2011. Finally, the red spaces are another nod to the upcoming 30th Anniversary, and I used the dates of Phish’s first gig in these red spaces, hence the “12, 2, 19 & 83.” For the 3 remaining spaces at the bottom of the Roulette Wheel, I used a 4 and a 1 to symbolize the 4 members of the band, and the 1 cohesive sound that they create together on stage. The red 17 space where the Roulette Marble lies is a nod to the 1996 Harpua narration in Las Vegas, Nevada, in which Jimmy places all of his money on the #17, and wins!
As for the flip side of the Lake Tahoe ’13 Poker Chip, I wanted to go with an Old West theme. I fancy this design as being a taste of “Tour” in the mid-1800s. The sign over the bank references “Clod” which is a middle phase of the song “Fluffhead” so this serves as a Fluffhead Sign to some extent. There is also an intended reference to the song “Horse” in this design, as the carriage is being pulled by an overburdened horse. The stagecoach is loaded up with sleeping bags and all necessary items for a run to the west coast for Summer Tour. I wanted the stagecoach to be a focal point on this Poker Chip because the old Harvey’s Casino in Lake Tahoe was called “The Wagon Wheel,” so this is a nod to the historic past of the venue for this run! I chose a $13 denomination for the Poker Chip because it is my lucky number, and the year just so happens to be 2013.
The 2013 Lake Tahoe Poker Chip was printed in a run of 420 Poker Chips, and is a Casino Grade Ceramic Chip meeting all specs required for casino play. No gimmicky stickers printed and stuck on these chips, the image is actually embedded into the chip itself.
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Above is the SOLD OUT Hampton 2013 Coin (200) debuted in October 2013
The Hampton 2013 Fall Tour Coin marks the 2nd coin I have made for a run at Hampton Coliseum. Only a legendary venue steeped in Phish history could deserve a double-dipping! I chose to go with a design that pays homage to the reflecting lake on the south side of the venue. Anyone who has seen the reflection of Hampton Coliseum from I-64 knows how cool this perspective is, and this design shows the venue in true Mothership status. The full moon looms overhead, referencing the full moon that will light the sky in mid-October, and a comet streaks across the night sky overhead. As a nod to the outer space elements in this design, I chose to go with a NASA inspired font, and where better to use that but in Hampton, VA, the home of NASA’s Langley Research Center!
On the flip-side of the Hampton 2013 Coin, I wanted to pay homage to this long-awaited Fall Tour. I also like to incorporate elements of local lore into my designs, so I chose to depict the historic “Emancipation Oak” that can be found on the Hampton University campus. This historic tree was the site of the earliest education of Black children in the South before the Civil War, and was also where the first Southern reading of the Emancipation Proclamation was made!
The final element of my design was to pay tribute to the unique architecture of the Hampton Coliseum. Around the outer edge of each side of this coin (as you clearly can see) I created a triangular wedge pattern. This was done to mimic the look of the Mothership from above. To accomplish this, the Hampton 2013 Coin is the first coin to be made of a zinc alloy instead of brass. The edge design would not have been possible with a brass coin, and the 3-D elements of the design also happen to be a bit more dramatic taboot!
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Above is the Halloween 2013 Poker Chip (500) debuted in October 2013
Update: As of 8/22/17 there are 287 Halloween 2013 Poker Chips remaining
My 2013 Boardwalk Hall Halloween Poker Chip was designed with the intention of keeping with the theme of orange and black as I did for my debut Poker Chip in Halloween 2010. However, I decided to invert the color scheme and go with orange as the primary color, with black accents. The thinking behind this design was to recreate Boardwalk Hall in a simple and clean haunted house silhouette style. Two vultures flank the venue overhead, and Axilla the witch flies past the Halloween crescent moon. There are 31 stars in the sky, and 31 bay windows along the boardwalk at the bottom of the venue. The $31 denomination was a nod to the first chip I did, and I would assume that the $31 denomination will remain my choice for any future Halloween Poker Chips.
On the flip-side of the 2013 Boardwalk Hall Halloween 2013 Poker Chip, I tried to depict a verse from the song Guelah Papyrus: So maybe I could be a fly… and feed arachnid as I die! A spider waits, ready to pounce on a fly that has been caught in its web. I reworked the red hourglass body marking found on Black Widow’s and created an orange hourglass (a Sand reference) on the body of this spider. The goal for this Poker Chip was clean and simple imagery in which orange and black dominate. Hope you like it as much as I do!
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Above is the Tube Flipping Coin (200) debuted in April 2014
Update: As of 8/22/17 there are 28 Tube Flipping Coins remaining out of 300
The Tube Coin marks my third journey into the world of the Phish Song “Flipping” Coins, following on the heels of the Maze/Bowie Coin and the Sanity Coin. The inspiration for this coin was obviously the opening verse of the Phish classic “Tube” when Trey sings “An asteroid crashed and nothing burned. It made me wonder, do tigers sleep in lily patches? Do rhinos run from thunder?”
To depict this opening verse of the song, I placed a tiger sleeping amongst some tiger lilies alongside a body of water containing a patch of lily pads. In the background looms an acacia tree with Mt. Kilimanjaro in the distance. An asteroid is crashing into the mountain, yet nothing burns.
On the obverse side of the Tube Coin, a rhinoceros runs across the African savannah on the other side of Mt. Kilimanjaro from the sleeping tiger. Storm clouds are moving in quickly, and two bolts of lightning are crashing down around the acacia trees, causing the rhinoceros to run for its life.
As with all previous Phish Coins, the Tube Coin is 1.75″ in diameter, 3mm in thickness, has a reeded edge like a quarter, and has an antique silver finish. Both sides of the Tube Coin are presented in dramatic 3-D relief.
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Above is the 10th Anniversary Maze/Bowie v. 3.0 Coin (300) debuted October 2014
Update: As of 8/22/17 there are 106 Maze/Bowie v. 3.0 Coins remaining out of 300
The 10th Anniversary Maze/Bowie Coin was minted to be debuted in Las Vegas over the 2014 Halloween Run. It is only fitting that the Maze/Bowie Coin resurface in the city where Phish Coins made their debut in 2004! The Maze/Bowie Coin has always proved to be my most popular and demanded coin, quickly selling out in 2004 with the original design, and again when I minted a 2nd Edition at Hampton for the 20009 Reunion Run.
Needless to say, I have had lots of time to mull over the decisions I made with the original design, and one thing always struck me… how did I overlook the idea of a David Bowie visage from the movie Labyrinth? This inspired me to rework and redefine the Maze/Bowie Coin concept, including a totally different approach to the Maze design too. The above picture tells the whole story, I need not explain how Labyrinth and Maze tie into a common theme here. David Bowie is presented as Jareth, the evil Goblin King from Jim Henson’s last production in a brilliant career! If you missed the first two releases of the Maze/Bowie Coin, here is your chance to get your hands on one.
If you have the original, now it can have a companion. The 10th Anniversary Maze/Bowie Coin continues my shift back into the world of song related flipping coins, as I plan to stay away from show coins until it is clear that Phish isn’t going that route any longer. Unfortunately, it does not not look like that is going to happen any time soon. Next up in this series will likely be a Spit Open & Melt Coin, maybe in the spring!
As with all previous Phish Coins, the 10th Anniversary Maze/Bowie Coin is 1.75″ in diameter, 3mm in thickness, has a reeded edge like a quarter, and has an antique silver finish. The 10th Anniversary Coin was minted in a limited run of 300 coins, and is priced as follows:
Prices Shipped w/ USPS Tracking: 1=$24, 2=$45, 3=$66, 4=$87, 5=$108… (add $21 per extra coin)
Paypal to phishcoins@gmail.com or email me if you would prefer to send a USPS Money Order.
The easiest way to purchase items is to visit my “Outside the Tube Designs” Etsy Page:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/phishcoins
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Above is the 2014 Halloween Poker Chip (200) debuted in November 2014
Update: As of 8/22/17 there are 96 Halloween 2014 Poker Chips remaining
The 2014 Halloween Poker chip was designed to commemorate the epic Fall Tour 3 Night run at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. For my 3rd Halloween Poker Chip, I decided to revert back to a black-dominant color scheme with orange accents, like my first Poker Chip commemorating the 2010 Halloween Run at Boardwalk Hall.
The venue side of the Poker Chip presents the iconic Lion of the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, in a dramatic orange and black to go with the Halloween theme. Above the lion is the name of the venue, the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and below is a commemoration of the 3 night run for Halloween.
The obverse side of the 2014 Halloween Poker Chip was inspired by the 2nd set on 10/31/14. The design features the haunted house from the 1964 Disney Studios record entitled “Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House.” This sound effects and narrative-based record served as the inspiration for the Phish “album cover” for the 2014 Halloween show. Anybody either in attendance at the MGM, or viewing at home on the webcast agrees that this was one of the band’s most adventurous and iconic sets in years.
It took a lot of thought and time to pull off, but I managed to work images referencing all 10 tracks from the “Chilling, Thrilling Sounds…” set into my design. My goal was to do this while maintaining a cohesive design that looks and feels natural. The 10 tracks are: The Haunted House, The Very Long Fuse, The Dogs, Timber, Your Pet Cat, Shipwreck, The Unsafe Bridge, Chinese Water Torture, The Birds & The Martian Monsters. Most are fairly obvious, but I will run through each reference nonetheless:
The haunted house IS “The Haunted House,” the fuse coming out of the top of the cupola symbolizes “The Very Long Fuse,” and the silhouette of a wolf looms in the foreground, representing “The Dogs.” A spooky dead tree in front of the haunted house symbolizes “Timber, while a black cat arches its back while standing atop a tombstone, referencing “Your Pet Cat.”
The track “Shipwreck” is part of a dual reference in the design. I placed the NASA spaceship “Gemini I” in front of the full moon because this was the craft that was used by NASA for space exploration in 1964, the same year that “Chilling, Thrilling Sounds…” was released. The “Gemini I” spaceship refers to the track “Shipwreck” because it crashed and burned as it reentered the Earth’s atmosphere.
A dangerous rope bridge connects one of the second floor windows to the roof of the porch in front of the haunted house, an obvious reference to “The Unsafe Bridge.” The track “Chinese Water Torture” is symbolized by the two drops of water dripping from the end of the dead tree’s branch on the right. A raven (they attack!) sits perched on the roof of the haunted house, representing “The Birds,” and to close it all out, the “Gemini I” spaceship doubles as a reference to “The Martian Monsters.” Your trip is short!
I hope you dig the design as much as I do, and as always, the 2014 Halloween Poker Chip is only $10 on the lot, or priced as follows with USPS Tracking:
Prices with USPS Tracking: 1=$14, 2=$25, 3=$36, 4=$47, 5=$58, 6=$69, 7=$80, 8=$91, 9=$102, 10=$113
Paypal to phishcoins@gmail.com and off they go! Get one for everyone in your crew…
The easiest way to purchase items is to visit my “Outside the Tube Designs” Etsy Page:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/phishcoins
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Above is the Miami NYE Poker Chip (200) which debuted December 2014
Update: As of 8/22/17 there are 87 NYE 2014 Poker Chips remaining
This chip was designed to commemorate the 2014 NYE Run in Miami, Fl. The decision to design a Poker Chip instead of a coin for this run was threefold: 1) My desire to capture the art deco vibe of Miami screamed of the necessity of incorporating color into the design. 2) Miami as a city actually has a long history as a gambling town, although many folks might not think of Miami as such like they do with Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Atlantic City. 3) It was too risky to design as coin when you-know-who might!
I chose American Airlines Arena as one of the two focal points of my design. I also hoped to capture the essence of a night/day duality in this design, as a symbolic nod to the moving from 2014 into 2015. The arena stands majestically over Biscayne Boulevard at night, and a disco ball full moon serves as a reference to the Fishman “Disco Cannonball” gag from the 2009 NYE Run. The four stars in the sky above the venue represent the four members of the band, and the lone star on the far side of the disco ball represents the incomparable CK5. My use of yellow, orange and red in the windows of the arena is a nod to the Miami Heat, who so graciously took a road trip so that this run could happen! Finally, In classic Miami style, a pink cadillac is cruising down Biscayne Boulevard on its way into the Rage Cage. I would never drive a classic like that into the Rage Cage…
On the opposite side of the poker chip, I wanted to capture a daytime South Beach vibe. Few things are as iconic on South Beach as the amazing art deco lifeguard stands, and my favorite happens to be the round pink one located at the 10th Street entrance to South Beach! Sadly, these lifeguard stands are being destroyed and reworked in just a few weeks, so check out these icons while they are still here to enjoy.
This lifeguard stand also tied in perfectly with the pink color scheme featured on the Arena side of the poker chip. I used an art deco font on this side as a nod to the legendary TV show Miami Vice, and Auld Lang Syne is an obvious reference to NYE! The $15 denomination marks the daytime transition into 2015. Behind the pink lifeguard stand, you see a yacht waiting off shore for the drop being made by a Glider soaring above the Atlantic Ocean. Crockett & Tubbs had better get out to South Beach fast, or it’s gonna be a RAGER at American Airlines Arena!
As always, the Miami NYE Poker Chip is a Casino Grade Ceramic Poker Chip, and priced at $10 each in the Rage Cage. Prices with USPS Tracking are as follows:
Prices with USPS Tracking: 1=$14, 2=$25, 3=$36, 4=$47, 5=$58, 6=$69, 7=$80, 8=$91, 9=$102, 10=$113
Paypal to phishcoins@gmail.com and off they go! Get one for everyone in your crew…
The easiest way to purchase items is to visit my “Outside the Tube Designs” Etsy Page:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/phishcoins
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Above is the Riviera Maya 2016 Coin (300) debuted in November 2015
Update: As of 8/22/17 there are 22 Riviera Maya Coins remaining out of 300
The Riviera Maya 2016 Coin is my first show-themed coin since my Hampton Coliseum 2013 Coin. The inspiration for this design was taken partly from the classic Mayan Calendar style, into which I incorporated Phish-themed animals. The matching birds at the top and bottom are my nod to Birds of a Feather, there are 4 out of control Antelopes, and 4 fish feeding from the bottom and from the top, a Theme from the Bottom reference. The centerpiece of the calendar is a prehistoric fish with the classic Mayan tongue extended out of the mouth. There was supposed to be something on the tongue, but it somehow got missed in production… bummer!
On the flip-side of the Riviera Maya 2016 coin is a clean and simple compass rose design. This harkens back to the Age of Exploration, which brought about the untimely demise of the Mayan Empire which thrived in the region where these shows are being held. Spanish conquistadors used the compass to help them find the New World, which they subsequently looted and pillaged until the Mayan (among other cultures) were forced into a diaspora of sorts. The color sweep across the compass rose is a nod to the colors of the Mexican Flag. In honor of the Southern-most Phish shows ever (for now), the lyric “We follow the lines going south” seemed an appropriate way to pay homage to one of Phish’s finest songs, “The Curtain.”
The Riviera Maya 2016 Coin was minted in a limited run of 200 sequentially numbered coins. First come-first served, so if there are certain numbers you might want, don’t snooze! As always, the coins are $20 each plus USPS Tracking shipping and handling charges.
Prices with shipping are as follows: 1=$24, 2=$45, 3=$66, 4=$87, 5=$108… Add $21 per extra coin…
OUTSIDE THE TUBE DESIGNS 
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