Description:

This description highlights a collectible TeleCHIP phone card issued in conjunction with the 42nd Annual Convention of the Florida United Numismatists, held from January 9 to 12, 1997, in Orlando, Florida. The card is uniquely round and die-cut, setting it apart from the more common rectangular phone cards. The obverse features a playful design with a black cockroach—or palmetto bug—wearing bright yellow sunglasses and relaxing beneath a green palm tree, evoking a vibrant tropical atmosphere. Behind the insect, an orange silhouette of Florida is displayed, with a yellow star marking Orlando. Encircling this illustration is text that prominently notes "42nd Annual Convention," along with the event dates, location, and the host organization, Florida United Numismatists, clearly linking the item to numismatic collecting culture.

On the reverse, the card emphasizes its exclusivity and collectibility as a "Limited Edition TeleCHIP®." It features the Cable & Wireless, Inc. logo, along with contact information, including a toll-free number (1-800-248-8752) and an authorization number. This indicates the card’s dual purpose as both a telecommunication device and a collectible. The instructions to "FOLLOW VOICE INSTRUCTIONS" suggest the card was designed to operate with voice-guided dialing, a relatively advanced feature for late 1990s phone cards. The place and date are reiterated, anchoring its issuance firmly within the context of the Florida United Numismatists’ annual convention.

As a collectible, this TeleCHIP merges interests in currency and telecommunications memorabilia, numismatics, and event souvenirs. Unlike traditional coins and paper money, phone cards like this offer a novel medium that combines technological functionality with artistic and event-specific appeal. The humorous depiction of a cockroach with sunglasses adds a whimsical touch and regional flavor, reflecting Florida’s local fauna. The palmetto tree motif further reinforces the connection to the local environment and culture. This combination of imagery and branding makes the card an attractive item for collectors who appreciate limited-edition memorabilia or seek unique, regionally themed telecommunication artifacts.

In summary, this TeleCHIP represents a distinctive intersection between communication technology and the world of numismatics and collectibles. It captures a moment in the late 1990s when phone cards served both practical and collectible purposes. Its bright colors, playful design featuring the "roach" with sunglasses, and specific details about Florida and the event make it an intriguing find for collectors. As a limited-edition piece, it carries inherent rarity and nostalgia, appealing to enthusiasts of coin shows and telecommunication memorabilia alike. Ultimately, this card showcases the creativity involved in collectible phone card design and its place within the broader landscape of currency-inspired novelties.

Since we have the world's largest inventory of USA phonecards for collectors, you will not necessarily receive the identical serial/batch/PIN number that we have scanned/pictured.