Mars Candy Tin Appraisal

1992 Mars Milky Way Olympic Games Commemorative Tin

This is a rectangular, commemorative lithographed metal confectionery tin produced by Mars, Inc. specifically for the 1992 Olympic Games marketing campaign. The image displays the underside or base of the tin, which features a metallic silver finish. Key printed elements include the classic teal and white 'Milky Way' logo at the top, a detailed list of ingredients for milk chocolate bars, and a 'Guarantee of Quality and Freshness' box. The lower portion includes a large printed barcode (0 40000 45501 1) and a manufacturing mark indicating 'Mars, Inc. 1991', which aligns with production schedules for 1992 sponsorships. The tin shows visible signs of age and wear including dark oxidation spots or 'tin pest', surface scratches, and slight edge wear. These tins were typically distributed as part of worldwide promotional tie-ins for the Barcelona Summer Olympics and Albertville Winter Olympics. The construction is a standard folded-seam tinplate, characteristic of mass-produced commercial advertising memorabilia from the early 1990s.