Abstract:
A collectible book is provided with permanently encapsulated collectibles, or reprints of collectibles. Such collectibles, or reprints of collectibles, are encapsulated in portions of the collectible book such as the book&#39;s cover or interior pages. Puzzle pieces, sports cards, gift bags, post cards, and posters with encapsulated collectibles, or collectible replicas, are also provided. Collectibles that are encapsulated may include, for example, sports cards, trading cards, coins, stamps, currency, tobacco labels, sporting event tickets, figurines, toys, or any other type of collectible.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/605,220 filed on Aug. 27, 2004 entitled “Books, Posters, and Puzzles Having Encapsulated Coins” (Docket No. AND/006 PROV), which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to books, puzzles, cards, posters, and other items that relate to coins.  
         [0003]     Coins have been around for thousands of years. It is therefore not surprising that a substantial number of people collect coins. Accordingly, there are a number of coins that are extremely rare and can only be purchased by wealthy individuals. Traditional coin books have been developed that include pictures and printed text about rare and expensive coins. Yet, such coin books are at a disadvantage because only a limited amount of information may be provided to a user through pictures and printed text. It is therefore desirable to provide a coin book that provides enhanced coin information.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to encapsulate collectibles, or reprints of collectibles, in books and other items in which the display of collectibles, or replicas of collectible, may be advantageous.  
         [0005]     A coin book may be provided with one or more replica/reprint coins encapsulated in one or more of the coin book&#39;s covers. In this manner, the book may have a theme associated with a particular coin or a particular collectible. For example, a book may have the theme of New York and have one or more replicas of a New York Quarter encapsulated on the front of the book. Alternatively, one or more actual New York Quarters may be encapsulated into the coin book&#39;s cover. Additional replica coins may be encapsulated into the pages of the book. In this manner, a book may have a theme that encompasses the themes of the individual replica collectibles encapsulated in the book. For example, a book may have the theme of “Coins of the Bible.” Accordingly, particular pages of the book may include encapsulated coin replicas of religious coins that are associated with historical events. As such, pages associated to a particular collectible can provide additional information on the theme (e.g., the historical event) that is associated to the collectible.  
         [0006]     Generally, an object is encapsulated if that object is not operable to be removed from the encapsulation. For example, a slab of a transparent polymer, such as a plastic, may be provided that includes a coin-receivable aperture such as a cavity or trough. This coin-receivable cavity may have a depth and diameter substantially equivalent to a coin or a coin replica such that the coin, or coin replica, may fit snugly into the coin-receivable cavity. After a coin is placed in the cavity, a flat slap of a transparent polymer, such as a plastic, may, for example, be fixed to the open side of the cavity. In this manner, the collectible may be permanently encapsulated between the two slabs. To permanently fix the two slabs together a glue may be utilized. Alternatively, the two slabs may be ultrasonically bonded together. Such a container would be an encapsulation because a user would not be able to remove the coin, or coin replica, unless the user departed from the nature of the container&#39;s operability (e.g., unless the user broke open the container with a hammer or pen knife).  
         [0007]     A collectible may be encapsulated in a book cover such that the collectible is visible from only the exterior surface of a book cover (e.g., the collectible is located in a cavity with an opening on the exterior surface), the interior surface of a book cover (e.g., the collectible is located in a cavity with an opening on the interior surface), or both (e.g., the collectible is located in an aperture that is cut all the way through a book cover).  
         [0008]     Collectibles may be encapsulated in structures other than book covers and book pages. Collectibles may be encapsulated into or encapsulated and placed in, for example, a poster, puzzle piece, sports card, gift bag, postcard. In this manner, a New York Quarter, or a replica of a New York Quarter, may be encapsulated into a puzzle piece the shape of New York. Thus, a user may purchase a puzzle piece for each state and, as a result, have not only every state&#39;s quarters but a whimsical and festive way of displaying the coins. Such individual coin displays would also provide the function of a puzzle in that multiple puzzle pieces may be put together to form a map of at least a portion of the United States. In this manner, a coin puzzle map may be provided in which the puzzle pieces each relate to a particular geographical location and the encapsulated coin for any puzzle piece relates to that particular geographical location.  
         [0009]     The collectibles that are encapsulated in accordance with the principles of the present invention are not limited to coins. For example, a book may be provided with encapsulated sports cards, stamps, currency, portions of comic books, phone cards, cigar labels, non-sports cards, any other type of collectible, or a replica of any collectible. For example, a book may be provided with the theme of “The 100 Most Valuable Basketball Cards of All Time.” Following this example, the cover of such a book may include an encapsulated replica of the most valuable basketball card of all time (e.g., a replica of a pristine 1948 George Mikan Bowman card). Particular pages of the book may then include replicas of all of the (or the remaining 99) most valuable basketball cards of all time.  
         [0010]     Although collectible replicas may be encapsulated if the collectible is valuable and rare, actual collectibles may be included in the contains of the present invention. For example, if a book&#39;s theme is the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers then inexpensive, modern football cards of the players of the Pittsburgh Steelers may be encapsulated into the book&#39;s pages and the book&#39;s covers. Additionally, a treasure hunt game may be provided with any suck book, or other type of item, such that replicas are placed in a majority of the books, but the actual collectibles are placed in a minority of the books. Taking the example of the book for the “The 100 Most Valuable Basketball Cards of All Time,” one real example of each collectible may be randomly encapsulated in a book. Each book may be sealed such that potential buyers cannot search the books for the real collectibles. A limited print run may be provided, and marked on each book, such that odds of finding a particular real collectible, or any real collectible, can also be placed on the book (e.g., on the exterior cover of the book such as “1 in every 100 books contains a real collectible”).  
         [0011]     Collectibles also may be provided in structures in which the collectibles, or the collectible replicas, may be removed and re-inserted. In this manner, a replica may be removed and examined by a user. For example, the coin holder may include two slabs (one or both of which having coin-receivable cavities) that can snap-together. Such a holder may be insertable into, or may be partially embedded in, a display structure such as a greeting card, puzzle piece, book cover, poster, sports card, or gift bag. One of the snap-together slabs may be permanently fixed to a display structure such that a user is motivated to return the collectible to the display structure after viewing. Furthermore, the book cover itself may provide the functionality of a slab piece and include a temporary locking mechanism (e.g., a snap-lock) on the surface of the book cover. For coins, the benefits of such storage devices may be that a user is able to enjoy the tactile characteristics of the coin-replica or replace the coin replica with an actual copy of the coin. If the coin-replica is made from the same material as the original coin, and has the same weight, then such characteristics may, for example, provide additional information to a user about the coin.  
         [0012]     As stated above, a puzzle piece may include a encapsulated collectible. Such a puzzle piece, however, may be housed, at least temporarily on or in, for example, a book cover. Thus a user may purchase a book about a theme and not only have a way of viewing the coin, but have a way of collecting multiple collectibles and displaying those multiple collectibles together by forming a puzzle. For example, a series of books may be provided where each book has a theme of a state. That state&#39;s quarter may be encapsulated in a puzzle piece that is, for example, removable from the book&#39;s cover. Thus, a user that purchases the books for every state may remove the puzzle piece for each state and complete a puzzle of the United States. A completed puzzle would not only display the United States, but the Quarters of all of the states. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     The principles and advantages of the present invention can be more clearly understood from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same structural elements throughout, and in which:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a collectible book constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of another collectible book constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of another collectible book constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of two collectible puzzle pieces constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of a collectible puzzle constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of a collectible sports card constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of flow charts for providing encapsulated collectible structures constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is an illustration of a collectible greeting card constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 9  is an illustration of a collectible gift bag constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/888,601 filed on Jul. 8, 2004 titled “Systems and Methods for Providing Information For Collectibles” (Attorney Docket No. AND/001) is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
         [0024]     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/606,426 filed on Jun. 28, 2000 titled “Coin Displaying Book” (Attorney Docket No. HEH/002) is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
         [0025]     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/606,302 filed on Jun. 28, 2000 titled “Puzzle With Apertures For Displaying Coins” (Attorney Docket No. HEH/003) is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
         [0026]     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/606,430 filed on Jun. 28, 2000 titled “Holder For Displaying Both Sides of An Object” (Attorney Docket No. HEH/004) is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
         [0027]     U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/618,300 filed on Jul. 11, 2003 and entitled “Greeting Cards, Postcards, Gift Bags, and the Like Employing a Special Effects Container” (Attorney Docket No. AND/002) is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.  
         [0028]      FIG. 1  shows collectible book  100  that includes cover  101 , pages  102 , and coins  131  and  132  encapsulated in structures  120  and  121 , respectively. Structures  120  and  121  are, preferably, integrated, or fixed onto, cover  101  such that coins  131  and  132  are encapsulated into cover  101 . Alternatively, structures  120  and  121  may be components of cover  101  (or book  100 ) such that coins  131  and  132  are encapsulated in book cover  101 . Cover  101  may be provided as a single sheet (e.g., of cardboard or as multiple cover sheets bounded together).  
         [0029]     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that coins  131  and  132  may be provided as coin replicas. Any type of collectible or collectible replica may be encapsulated into book  100 . Such collectibles, or collectible replicas, may be associated with theme  103 .  
         [0030]     A collectible may be encapsulated as follows. Collectible  147  (e.g., a coin replica) may be provided between layers  143  and  144 . Layers  144  and  143  may be, for example, a transparent material (e.g., a transparent plastic) such that both sides of collectible  147  may be viewable through layers  143  and  144 . Layers  143  and  144  may then be fixed together through mediums  145  and  146 . Mediums  145  and  146  may be, for example, a glue or a tape. Alternatively, mediums  145  and  146  may be a layer of material that is fixed to (e.g., glued or tapes) layers  143  and  144 . Mediums  145   146  may be, for example, the same thickness as collectible replica  147  such that layers  143  and  144  do not have to bend around collectible  147  to be fixed together. One or more layers  142  and/or  144  may also be provided to add additional support to the structure fabricated from layers  143 ,  144 , collectible  147 , and mediums  145  and  146 . Layers  141  and  142  may include holes that align with layers  143  and  144 , respectively, or approximately the portion of layers  143  and  144  that aligns with collectible  147 . Layers  141  and  142  may be, for example, a cardboard, paper, or any material used in fabricating book covers.  
         [0031]     Alternatively, an aperture may be cut all the way through a book cover. On one surface, a transparent material (e.g., a transparent plastic) may be fixed to the cover such that a support structure (e.g., a backing) is provided to the aperture. Next, a collectible may be inserted into the cavity formed from the aperture and the support structure. After the collectible is inserted, another piece of transparent material, such as another sheet of plastic, may be utilized to seal the cavity such that the collectible is permanently stored in the book cover. Either one of the transparent materials may, in fact, by non-transparent. As such, one of the support structures may be a sheet of cardboard or paper. Alternatively, a cavity may be cut into a book cover, or other display structure, such that a coin can be placed in the cavity and sealed in the cavity by a support structure. Such a support structure may be, for example, a transparent material such as a transparent sheet of plastic.  
         [0032]     Alternatively, a collectible-encapsulated display structure may be fabricated as follows. Collectible replica  157  may be provided between layers  153  and  154  (e.g., a hard transparent polymer layer). Mediums  156  and  155  may be provided to fix layers  153  and  154  together. In this manner, an encapsulated collectible replica structure is provided. Book cover  101  may be, for example, layer  152  with a trough roughly the size of the encapsulated collectible structure such that this encapsulated collectible replica structure may be tightly fit into the trough or fixed in the trough (e.g., via a glue or tape). Additional layer  151  may be provided, for example, as additional support in securing this encapsulated collectible structure in the trough of layer  152 . Layer  151  may also be provided, for example, to fix this encapsulated collectible structure to layer  156 .  
         [0033]     Configuration  160  includes a collectible encapsulation structure fabricated from mediums  165  and  166 , layers  162  and  163 , and collectible replica  164 . This collectible encapsulation structure may fit/fixed into a trough on layer  161 . This collectible encapsulation structure may alternatively be another display structure. For example, a puzzle piece having an encapsulated coin, or coin replica, may be removed from, and inserted into, layer  161  (which the coin, or coin replica, is permanently encapsulated into the puzzle piece).  
         [0034]     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a collectible may be encapsulated into a book cover so that one side, or both sides, of that collectible is visible to a user. In this manner, two trough/aperture may be provided in cover  100  such that two encapsulated coins may be provided. Two replicas of the same coin may then be provided such that the user may view both sides of a single collectible from one side of the cover. If the encapsulated structure is only visible fro one side of the cover then the replica may be fabricated to have one blank side in order to decrease the cost of fabricating the replicas.  
         [0035]      FIG. 2  shows collectible book  200  having collectibles  221  and  231  encapsulated in encapsulated structures  220  and  230 , respectively (or encapsulated into page  209 ). One or more structures  221  and  231  may be, for example, fixed to one or more pages  202  of book  200 . Cover  201  may, for example, have apertures aligned with page  209  such that collectibles  221  and  231  may be viewed from the exterior of the book when the book is in a CLOSED position. Structures  220  and  230  on different pages  202  may be provided in different locations in order to minimize the thickness of book  200 . Text and images may also be provided on pages  202  or cover  201  related to the theme of the book or the theme of a particular collectible (or collectible replica).  
         [0036]     Collectible, or collectible replica,  221  may be provided on page  209  similar to configurations  140 ,  150 , or  160  of  FIG. 1  or similar to configurations  240 ,  250 , or  260 . Similarly, collectible, or collectible replica,  121  of  FIG. 1  may be provided on a page similar to configurations  240 ,  250 , and  260 .  
         [0037]     Turning first to configuration  240 , layer  241  may be, for example, one or more pages  202 . Collectible  244  may be encapsulated onto layer  240  by aligning layers  242  and  243  over collectible  244  and fixing at least a portion of layers  242  and  243  to layer  241  (e.g., via a glue, tape, or staple).  
         [0038]     In configuration  250 , collectible  253  may be encapsulated by using layer  251  (e.g., one or more pages  202 ) as a component of the encapsulation structure. Layer  252  may be fixed to layer  251  via mediums  255  and  254  which may be, for example, an adhesive (e.g., a glue or tape) or a layer with an adhesive on both sides of that layer.  
         [0039]     In configuration  260 , an encapsulation structure is provided from layers  262  and  263  (e.g., a hard transparent plastic), and mediums  264  and  265  (e.g., a glue). This encapsulation structure may be, for example, fixed onto layer  261  (e.g., one or more pages  202 ). Person skilled in the art will appreciate that an encapsulation structure may take many forms. For example, one or more slabs of plastic with male/female connectors may be connected together to encapsulate a coin (one slap may include a trough/aperture).  
         [0040]     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that an aperture, for the purposes of this application, may be either a trough/cavity or a hole/aperture. Generally, a coin-receivable aperture is a structure capable of receiving a coin.  
         [0041]      FIG. 3  shows collectible price guide  300  that includes cover  301 , pages  302 , and encapsulated collectibles, or collectible replicas,  312 ,  314 ,  322 , and  324 . Collectibles  312  and  314  may be encapsulated in structures  311  and  313 , respectively and may be associated with layout  310  that includes pricing information  315 . Similarly, collectibles  322  and  324  may be encapsulated in structures  321  and  323 , respectively and may be associated with layout  320  that includes pricing information  325 .  
         [0042]     Book  300  includes spine  320 . In configuration  340 , multiple pages  342  and  343  may be fixed to spine  341 . Spacer  343  may be fixed to spine  343  (e.g., via a glue) between pages  342  and  343  such that an object (e.g., an encapsulation), may extend the width of layer  343  from, for example, page  344  (or page  342 ) without causing damage to spine  341  when the book is in a CLOSED position.  
         [0043]     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any structure utilized to encapsulate a collectible in a cover of a book may be utilized to encapsulate a collectible into a page of the book. Moreover, apertures may be cut into the covers of a book, or the pages of a book, such that collectibles encapsulated in other portions of the book may be viewed. Such apertures may be aligned with the apertures utilized to store collectibles. For example, in a book where the first page of the book encapsulates a collectible, an aperture similar to the one utilized to encapsulate the coin in the first page may be cut into the cover. Thus, a user may be able to see the collectible without opening a book. Furthering this example, suppose that the collectible is encapsulated in the back cover such that the collectible is only visible from the interior surface of the back cover. As such, the front cover, and every page in the book, may contain an aperture similar in dimensions to the aperture in the back cover such that the collectible that is encapsulated can be seen when the book is closed or when the book is open to any particular page.  
         [0044]     In configuration  360 , one or more spacers  363  may be provided between one or more multiple pages  364  and  262 . Staple  365  may be utilized to fix pages  362  and  364  and spacer  363  to spine  361 . Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a spacer may be, for example, a page similar to pages  362  and  363 , but with a small length/width such that the spacers are do not block any writing on the surfaces of the pages of the book adjacent to the spacer as the book is being read.  
         [0045]     The information provided on a page  302  may include pricing and rarity information for that collectible. As such, a price guide may be provided with enhanced collectible information by providing a replica of the collectible. Such collectible information may include, for example, the identification number for a collectible, the material used to make the collectible, the dimensions of the collectible, the rarity of the collectible, the population of the collectible, the average auction sell price for a collectible over a period of time, auction sale prices and dates for the collectible, the population of a collectible for a particular grade, the average grade for the collectible, pricing information as determined by a third party, information as to the history of the collectible, and any other collectible information. For each collectible listing, two encapsulated collectibles may be provided—one with the obverse side showing, the other with the reverse side showing. For price guides that store replicas, a replica may have one side printed with one side of a particular collectible and the other side printed with the one side of a different collectible. Thus, two replica sports cards can be encapsulated in apertures defined by portions  312  and  314 —each showing a different side of the collectible described with information  310 . On the reverse side of the page, collectible information for a different sports card may be provided and the reverse sides of the two replicas encapsulated in apertures defined by  312  and  310  may correspond to this different collectible information. Alternatively, more than one collectible replicas, or collectibles, may be encapsulated in a single encapsulation structure.  
         [0046]      FIG. 4  shows puzzle pieces  400 . Particularly puzzle piece  410  may be provided with collectible  412  in encapsulation structure  411 . Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the encapsulation configurations of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  may be utilized on a puzzle piece of, for example,  FIG. 4 . The theme of puzzle piece  410 , as illustrated, is a state—New York State. Accordingly, collectible  412  may be an actual New York State Quarter or a replica of an actual New York State Quarter. Similarly, collectible  422  of encapsulation structure  421  may be an actual Texas Quarter because, as illustrated, puzzle piece  420  has the shape of the geographical region associated with the state of Texas.  
         [0047]     Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a puzzle piece, such as a puzzle piece of  FIG. 4 , may be utilized and distributed in a variety of ways. For example, a puzzle piece may be distributed in configuration  460  in which book  469  includes puzzle-piece receivable aperture  465  (which may be a cavity with an opening on the exterior side of book  469 ) that is operable to receive puzzle piece  461 . Puzzle piece  461  may be a puzzle piece without an encapsulated collectible or a puzzle piece with an encapsulated collectible. For example, collectible  463  may be encapsulated in encapsulation structure  462  such that a user may not remove (or damage) the collectible stored in the structure). Configuration  470  is an example of a puzzle piece having an encapsulated collectible stored in the front cover of a book. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the encapsulation structure for a puzzle piece, or any display structure, may be similar to any encapsulated structure described herein. Similarly, a puzzle piece may be stored in any display structure, such as, for example, a postcard or sports card.  
         [0048]      FIG. 5  shows puzzle  500  that includes multiple puzzle pieces—each associated with a particular state. Puzzle piece  520  includes collectible  522  encapsulated in encapsulation structure  521  on puzzle piece  520 . For states that are too small to include an encapsulation structure, the encapsulation structure (e.g., structure  541 ) may be provided on a nearby puzzle piece (e.g., a border puzzle piece). Such a puzzle piece portion (e.g., portion  540 ) may also be a part of the state&#39;s puzzle piece (e.g., state  549 ). Border piece  501  (which may include multiple puzzle pieces) may be provided.  
         [0049]     A poster with encapsulated or stored collectibles (e.g., coins) may also be provided. For example a poster may include an illustration of a map of the United States where each state includes an encapsulated coin.  
         [0050]      FIG. 6  shows sports card  600  that includes an encapsulated collectible (e.g., an encapsulated stamp, sporting event ticket, or coin). A certificate of authenticity may also be encapsulated on a sports card (or other display device). Sports card  600  may include obverse side  610  having reverse side  650  defined by perimeter  660 .  
         [0051]     Sports card  600  may include indicia  613  associated to the encapsulated collectible. Collectible or replica  615  may be provided in encapsulation structure  613 . A certificate of authenticity or a grading certificate, such as certificate  612 , may be encapsulated in sports card  610  either in encapsulation structure  613  or a different encapsulation structure or provided as a sticker. Alternatively, certificate  612  may be printed directly on sports card  610 . Similarly, population/rarity information  614  may be provided in an encapsulation structure, as a sticker, or printed on the sports card or certificate  610 . Reverse side  650  may include indicia  661  and a separate encapsulation structure  662  housing a different collectible  663 . Encapsulation structure  662  may be the same structure as encapsulation structure  613 . Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that an encapsulation structure may be provided such that a housed collectible can only be viewed from one side of a sports card.  
         [0052]      FIG. 7  shows flow charts  710 - 730  that may be utilized to provide display devices having encapsulated collectibles.  
         [0053]     Flow chart  710  include steps  711 - 714  that may be utilized to provided a device, such as a book, with an encapsulated collectible. In step  711 , a collectible such as a coin may be provided to a grading or authentication authority. After the collectible is returned in step  712 , the host device may be fabricated in step  713 . The graded collectible can then be attached to the host in  714 . Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in step  710 , the grading/authentication authority may encapsulate the collectible. As a result, no encapsulation may need to be done by the host manufacturer other than providing, for example, an encapsulated collectible receivable aperture (e.g., a cavity).  
         [0054]     Process  720  may be utilized for collectible that are not, for example, sent to an off-site grading and/or authentication service. Here, the collectible, or a replica of the collectible, may be encapsulated in step  721 . Then, the host may be fabricated in step  722  so that the encapsulated collectible can be embedded/fixed to the host structure in step  723 . Person skilled in the art will appreciate that in some encapsulation structures, the encapsulation structure is part of the host. Thus, both the host and the encapsulation structure may be fabricated at the same time (and the collectible may be secured in the encapsulation structure during this fabrication).  
         [0055]     Process  730  may be utilized to provide a treasure hunt. Particularly, multiple hosts may be embedded with encapsulated coin replicas. Yet, a prize such as an actual collectible may be embedded into a number of such hosts in step  741 . Then, the host may be sealed (e.g., a tape/seal may be provided across a book such that a buyer knows if the book has been opened and searched) in step  740 .  
         [0056]     A greeting card with encapsulated or stored collectibles (e.g., coins or sports cards) may also be provided. The encapsulation structure may be fixed to a surface of the greeting card in order to increase the whimsical and festive nature of that greeting card.  
         [0057]      FIG. 8  shows greeting card  800  that may be provided with an encapsulated collectible. Such a greeting card may be provided in a variety of ways. For example, a sheet of material (e.g., a paper or cardboard) may be folded in half (or two sheets may be bonded together) and an encapsulation structure may be provided into an aperture, a cavity, or formed with an aperture or cavity. Alternatively, the greeting card may be folded into three sections such as sections  810 ,  820 , and  830  defined by fold lines  841  and  842 . Sections  810  and  820  may each include apertures  811  and  821  that are sized similarly and aligned with one another. Transparent sheets, such as transparent sheets  812  and  822  may be laid over apertures  811  and  821 , respectively. Sheets  812  and  822  may be laid over apertures  821  and  822  either on the interior surface of sections  810  and  820 , the exterior surfaces of sections  810  and  820 , or any combination thereof. A coin may be provided over the apertures and sections  810  and  820  may be permanently fixed together. For example, the two sheets may be glued together in configuration  845  where glue  846  is provided around aperture  847  such that configuration  850  is provided. In configuration  850 , collectible  861  is provided in encapsulation structure  860  that is a part of the greeting card having a front sheet  851  and a reverse sheet  852 . Indicia  862  may be provided on any surface of any sheet of configuration  850 .  
         [0058]      FIG. 9  shows gift bag  900  that includes body  812 , handle  820 , and encapsulation structure  811  housing collectible  812 . Such a bag having an encapsulated collectible may increase the whimsical and festive nature of, for example, a collectible conference, show, or sales event.  
         [0059]     Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the present invention is not limited to only the embodiments described. Instead, the present invention more generally involves providing display devices (e.g., books, bags, cards, puzzle pieces, posters, gift-cards) with encapsulated collectible replicas (or collectibles themselves). Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the structures described herein may be combined without departing from the principles of the present invention. All such modifications are within the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims that follow.