RARE COKE MONSTERS OF THE GRIDIRON Collector Set 1993 & 1994 Gold + Tattoos (READ)

This is a rare Coca-Cola Monsters of the Gridiron set collection launched by Coke in 1993 & 1994 (for facts and history read below).

This set contains a binder of the complete sets of the 1993 and 1994 Coke monsters of the gridiron series cards all together (read more below in these) as well as a complete set of player tattoos (read more below).

The 1993 set was not produced on the level of the well known 1994 set (‘93 included Garrison Hurst and ‘94 Marshall Faulk as the “Star” Rookies).

The 1993 was a “first set” that was quickly produced in preparation for the 1994 campaign and was passed out at the 1994 Super Bowl. This set lacks the production polish of the second series and was later replaced by the more popular and publicized 1994 version. Some of the players from ‘93 were kept but they were given a fresh look and different poses from the original photo shoot were used. Each team had one card, though the Dallas Cowboys had two in the 1993 set with EMMITT Smith and Tony CASILLAS and the checklist is considered one card, bringing the total to 30.

The 1994 version has the base card and the GOLD set which was limited in production to around 10,000. This set is a full 30 teams with the newly expanded Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars. The checklist is not considered a card number in this set which gave 30 players from the 30 teams.

A few trades/free agency between the 1993 and 1994 season caused some production issues in this 1994 set. For example, SEAN JONES 1993 SET WITH THE HOUSTON OILERS. He wore #98 with the Oilers (seen on the 1993 card) but for the 1994 card, he needed to show his new team and can be seen with Packers pants and his new number 96 on that card. Interestingly, the tattoo set that was produced with the 1994 version shows Jones in his Packers uniform but wearing #98- most likely this was a rush fix because the tattoos were produced early in preparation for the campaign and Jones had not yet taken his new number.

This issue with the tattoos can also be seen with TOM RATHMAN who lacks a tattoo in the series. His 1994 pose is identical to his 1993 version, and the best guess is that he was not intended for the 1994 set. Ken Norton actually appears in the tattoos as one who signed with the 49ers before the 1994 season. He must’ve been the plan for that 1994 card, but for whatever reason they were not able to use him and had to include Rathman in his stead (so Norton has a tattoo, but not a card and Rathman has a card and not a tattoo). This also seems to be the case with the commemorative PINHEADS, which features Norton instead of RATHMAN.

This set is one incredible piece of NFL football history, along with the world of advertising and Coca-Cola as collectors who lived through this advertisement blitz will never forget. NFL players dressed up like monsters and then put on trading cards? Nothing better.

For the lucky buyer, this awesome collection will ship using USPS Ground Advantage.