Remember back in 1952 when George Lerner sold the Potato Head pieces as a cereal premium? Well, that idea came full circle in 1996.  That’s when General Mills offered a special Mr. Potato Head mail in premium in their Cheerios cereal. The plastic bank measures about 5 inches tall and was shipped with two different sets of feet and two different faces. You put a coin in the slot in his hat, turn his ear, and the coin disappears into his belly!
    The back of the Cheerios box had a Toy Story coupon offer, plus a cute “cut out and assemble” Mr. Potato Head. The assembled cut out is pictured below. Although the bank is fairly easy to locate among collectors, the Cheerios box may be nearly next to impossible to find!
Mr. Potato Head bank-General Mills, ca. 1996
 

Cheerios box with Mr. Potato Head cutout and bank offer, ca. 1996