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Chicago Collection plates were available in pairs for each year starting in 1972 and ending in 1981. Measuring 8 ⅛" in diameter, the coupe shape plates featured city scenes by artist and Chicago native, Franklin McMahon (1921-2012). In all, twenty plates made up the collection. They were offered at the end of each year by the Continental Illinois National Bank of Chicago.
One advertisement from 1975 described how to get the plates: "To bring home these two fine china collector plates, just open or add a Continental Bank savings account with $300 or more." The plates could then be picked up at the bank or shipped with a $1.00 handling fee. In an article on antiques and collectibles which ran in The Daily Record on August 16, 1988, Bill Kundert, Continental Bank's marketing manager, stated the series was "a very successful promotion."
Today, the Chicago Collection plates are often found with their original boxes or in special wooden frames. Each plate is marked "Limited Edition Chicago Collection" with the artwork title, McMahon's name, and year.
The Chicago Collection series with release dates
| 1972
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- The Water Tower. Staunch Survivor of the Great Fire
- Sailboats and skyscrapers, two aspects of Chicago's lakefront
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| 1973
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- Sunday at the Lincoln Park Zoo
- The Wrigley Building on Michigan Ave.
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| 1974
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- A Chicago summer evening
- Chicago's lake front in winter
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| 1975
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- Chicago Civic Center at Christmas
- Chicago, city of parades
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| 1976
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- Michigan Ave at the Art Institute
- The Farm, Lincoln Park Zoo
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| 1977
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- Chicago's Buckingham Fountain
- Chicago's "China Town"
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| 1978
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- Rush hour in Chicago's Loop
- Great Lakes traffic from the Chicago River
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| 1979
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- Garfield Park Conservatory
- Musuem of Science and Industry
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| 1980
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- Field Musuem of Natural History
- Chicago, city of neighborhoods
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| 1981
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- La Salle Street "Canyon" World Financial Center
- Outer Drive where a great lake meets a great city.
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