Interesting markings on SFB minis

[ChallengerHK]

Take a look at the markings in the last image here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2036647266...00&osub=-1~1&crd=20230115090647&segname=11051

There are several similar ones. I'm trying to figure out what's with these markings. One appears to read 1479, although the seller lists them as 1979, which could be correct. I don't think it's correct for a production year, though (way too early). On the other hand, it would be a wild coincidence if SVC didn't stand for you know who. Are these prototypes?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[StarCruiser]

It's 1979 - and yes - Steven V. Cole.

Some of the older SFB miniatures have been around a very long time indeed.

 

[ChallengerHK]

Three things:

1) Like I said, I can accept 1979. But if you look closely at all of them, the leftmost of the pair has an angle at the lower left intersection, making it look like a 4, while the rightmost is more of a smooth circle, making it look like a 9. The effect is 1479.

2) I don't recall these minis being available in 1979. I want to say it was 4 or 5 years later.

3) I've never seen markings like these on any others as far as I recall.

 

[StarCruiser]

SVC was already working on some of these minis very early on. The original games came out in what? 1977-78 (the mini games). The first boxed edition was released in 1979 (stock# 5001 - got it in my stash). I didn't even know about the game until around 1982-83, but there were already a fair number of miniatures in some game stores back then.

The first were - of course - the Lou Zocchi plastic Starfleet miniatures followed up quickly with the Klingon D-6/7 Battlecruiser, F-5 Frigate and C-8/9 Dreadnought (the Romulan Warbird/Wareagle and so on and so forth).

I believe my old Klingon C-8/9 Dreadnought mini has that same copyright mark on it as well.