celticgeocacher

Sad News During the week or so that I was preparing to move to New York my apartment was broken into and almost a complete set of my Book of Kells coins was stolen. As I only had 5 of each type of metal and/or enamel minted and have sold or traded most of what I had, this represents a significant loss to me, to my personal collection and to me as an investment. Since only a few people that I knew in Bar Harbor, Maine, even knew about the sport of geocaching much less that I had designed a coin for the sport it limits the list of suspects to two or three people and I know all of them very well. Furthermore, most of them have access to the forums and keep track of this thread. I am asking you, in the name of honesty, to return my coins. No questions asked. In hope and also in sadness, celticgeocacher

The Satin Gold, as I understand it, is both XLE and AE. The XLE was in a mint of 50 which is sold out and my AE or "artist's proof" version in the satin gold is slightly different than the XLE. The Antique silver was in mint and remint of 175 which is also sold out. I also have an "artist proof" edition which is slightly different from the 175 mint and remint edition. There will be a nickel 2-tone in an edition of 200 and an unlimited run of the antique gold w/nickel 2-tone for which orders are currently being accepted on Geoswag. Everybody has a chance on this one which pleases me! celticgeocacher

Hi fellow geocachers and coin collectors, I'm glad you ALL will have a chance to get at least one version of my coin. Emma has promised that the antique gold regular version will be minted in unlimited quantities so everyone will have a BOOK OF KELLS in their collection. She says it will take another 4 weeks because of the glitch at the mint but they will arrive, never fear. celticgeocacher

Here's the latest and final word on BOOK OF KELLS. A reorder is at the mint and will take approximately 3-4 weeks to arrive. In addition to the 175 antique silver there will be an "official" edition of antique gold with the antique silver enamel combination. After that they will mint no more. Rivercacher's offering on ebay went for$26 or so which isn't too bad. Keep a lookout on the Geoswag presale page. ... ...

OK - Here's the story as I got it from Emma at Oakcoins. BOOK OF KELLS went on sale last night (I was looking at 10:00 p.m. Eastern and it wasn't on then) I looked again when I got up at 7:00 a.m. and it still wasn't on so I emailed Emma for the scoop. The coin went on sale at approximately 9:00 p.m. Mountain and was sold out by approx. 5:00 a.m. Mountain so they took it off the presale page. I ordered 250 to be made but they only made 50 of each finish which probably explains why they sold out so fast. Emma said that it is a very expensive coin to make which is why they didn't make as many as they normally do. They will be making another run of 150-175 or so of the silver but will not do a remint of the satin gold. That's been "capped off" so for those of you who went for the gold it will probably be worth more. I am selling some of my "payment-in-kind" coins on ebay in funky finishes as well as the regular satin gold and antique silver that Geoswag sold. Later, if the silver proves to "earn it's weight", they will be doing a remint in another metal - Emma suggested antique gold or copper and that will become the "official" BOOK OF KELLS edition. As it stands, the satin gold is listed as XLE and the antique silver as LE. Of course my weirdos are artist editions and are XLE as well. That said it breaks my heart to hear that so many of you wanted a coin and didn't get one. I got into this business because I collect too and wanted to have a special coin of my own to trade for the gorgeous ones I could never afford. So - I have an idea. I have been in discussion with Scavok about his methods of coin production and they sound pretty good to me. He publishes his sketches on a forum thread and gets your feedback. Then he incorporates your suggestions and pays to have samples minted. He then takes pictures of the actual coin and opens his thread up to genuine preorders with a fair deadline. When everyone has had a chance to get their check off to him to cover their order he places the total order with the mint. The mint turn-around time is usually 2-3 weeks and voila! you are assured of having your coin. The main problem with that is honesty. I've heard some pretty grisly horror tales about dishonest coin designers/merchants and I don't want to get involved with any dishonest dealings (any more than scavok) but that seems to me to be the best way to have everybody that wants a coin to have one at a fair price. I am thinking about designing 3 more coins to make a Celtic set by possibly using the Lindisfarne Gospels, the Echternach Gospels, the Book of Durrow and a wonderful gold brooch as possible compliments to BOOK OF KELLS. I will hoard the money I receive from my BOOK OF KELLS ebay sales to pay for minting costs so that I can keep designing geocoins. Folks, this is addictive! Let me know what you think of my idea and please accept my apologies for those of you that wanted a BOOK OF KELLS and don't have yours yet. My coin is owned by Oakcoins/Geoswag and there was nothing I could do about the decision. You may have to deal with a copper or antique gold one. I would also like to thank everyone again for their good wishes for my return to health. I made it through all the treatments - been carved, poked, stabbed, poisoned and nuked and the docs say I've come through it pretty well. It's all that good, wholesome geocaching energy! Will be celebrating by attending my first Maine geocaching event in a few weeks. Yea! celticgeocacher PS by the way, I still can't afford the love of my coinhoarding life "Tranquility - Blue is My World in gold or silver" Sigh... Good health is wonderful but poverty stinks!

Hi Saint - No you haven't missed them. Apparently GeoSwag has other merchandise they wish to introduce before BOOK OF KELLS. They have them; maybe they'll bring them to Salt Lake City. The president of GeoSwag has been in China so there has been a slight delay for the introductory "bash" but they tell me it's coming. They have a "bash" where they introduce their new coins once a week so mine should be soon under the "preorder" listing. I begged. They asked me who "I" was and when I told them I was the designer I think they listened. Hang in there - not much longer I hope! lol celticgeocacher

I'm a total newbie at this. I've noticed some prices to the Netherlands and other European countries at $5.50. Is that more like the shipping price? I'll pack one up and price it to your city to find out how much it actually costs (plus insurance and delivery confirmation)and get back to you. I used the ebay pricing wizard to find the price but it may be all wrong. Celticgeocacher It's probably the insurance and delivery confirmation that would make the shipping costs as high as 10.50 USD for one coin. I think most sellers send coins without insurance internationally. For myself I'd rather take a small risk than pay insurance costs/shipping costs that are almost as high as the cost of the sold item itself. I've been buying and trading a lot of coins for a year now and luckily never had anything missing during shipping :-) You're right - its the delivery confirmation and insurance that are hiking the price up. The Bar Harbor PO tells me that they can send the coin to the Hague, Netherlands, First Class Parcel - no insurance, no confirmation for $3.12, for Flat Rate Priority - $12.95, and for insurance/confirmation on top of that - $15.00!

I'm a total newbie at this. I've noticed some prices to the Netherlands and other European countries at $5.50. Is that more like the shipping price? I'll pack one up and price it to your city to find out how much it actually costs (plus insurance and delivery confirmation)and get back to you. I used the ebay pricing wizard to find the price but it may be all wrong. Celticgeocacher

Good question. CF30 Oops! Hope I didn't cause too much confusion. These coins on ebay are my ALE's and were minted specially per my request. Oakcoins/Geoswag will only be selling the antique silver and the satin gold and I have those on ebay as well - but wait and get them from Geoswag - probably cheaper! I've been checking the Geoswag site and don't see BOOK OF KELLS listed yet. Don't know what their holdup is because I got my coins a few days ago. I assume when Oakcoins shipped mine they also shipped Geoswag's but this is my first go at this and, since this is a "partnered" coin (meaning OakCoins paid for it), I have no control as to who sells what at what price on what site except the few that I have on ebay from time to time as "payment" for my design. All I know is that Geoswag is the retail outlet for Oakcoins and if you want to buy a coin that OakCoins owns (like mine) you have to buy it from Geoswag. Or buy from the dealers after the coin is sold out like I usually have to do! Maybe they need a bit more time to process their stock, photograph it and catalog it - they will be selling 250 of them after all. If anyone knows anything about this process - let me know! AVROAIR??? HELP!!!!!!! With apologies and in confusion, Celticgeocacher

Good news about Book Of Kells - my order was shipped yesterday (9/17/) so GeoSwag should be receiving theirs soon as well. Look sharp!

Hi geoquino - no news yet but I keep looking at my email for the OakCoins notice that they have sent the allotment to GeoSwag. GeoSwag has a tab for new coins I think and I expect it will be published there which is where you will buy your coin. Unless you miss the sale, of course, then you will end up buying it from a dealer on ebay like I usually have to do! Grrrrr! Stay on top of the GeoSwag listings-should be any day now.

Cheer up Paganfrog I usually do too! However, I think this coin is going to be so popular that OakCoins will re-mint and GeoSwag will keep selling until everyone who wants one will have one.

Just keeping you updated on the recent sale info - OakCoins has decided to re-mint. I don't know what this is going to do to the production schedule but I hope it won't throw it off by too many weeks. They have the new artwork back from the mint and have given the OK so it shouldn't be too long. That means that you will be buying a flawless coin rather than one that has an outer knot missing. This is good news. celticgeocacher

The latest news on the presale date for Book of Kells: GeoSwag will be offering this coin in satin gold and antique silver on or about the first week in September. Thank you again for your interest in my coin and your generous comments. Celticgeocacher

Thanks to you all for your wonderful support! The latest from OakCoins is that they will not be re-minting the back side of the Book of Kells because the glitch is so small. This is good news because it means the coin will be available sooner. I still don't know when yet but surely within the next month. Both the satin gold and the antique silver will be available but of the 250 coins to be minted I'm not sure of the percentages. Also, if the response is overwhelming they will be doing a re-mint with maybe other metals. Stay tuned! celticgeocacher

Hi MrsB. Thanks for your input and the samples of your coin(s). I've been thinking of adding the Isle of Man to my trader list. Yes, the knotwork is wonderful on both sides of both coins - just what I would expect from the "Real McCoy" as it were. A branch of my family is from Scotland so I am on the lookout for things Celtish and Scottish. The rest of my family is Welsh and English. The Welsh are fine - got my singing voice from that branch but the English? Stiff upper lip? I'll keep you all posted when I know more about availability of the Book of Kells coin. Celticgeocacher

Glad to hear from the culture born that I done good! I wished to honor the Celtic culture and so maybe got a bit carried away with the introduction. Nothing wrong with a little Art History now and again especially when people need to be exposed to ancient cultures.

Thanks folks for all your kind thoughts and good advice. I didn't know so many of you would like the silver - and it is antique silver. I may have to change my mind and order some in silver - it really doesn't look THAT dingy. Because this is my first coin and I wasn't sure how well I'd do, I only ordered 250 of them from GeoSwag. They will be handling the presale but I don't know when that will be because I have just discovered a SNAFU in the knotwork on the back side. It may have to be re-minted. The Groundspeak tracking number, by the way, is on the side of the coin so the design is full sided except for the title.

There are two metals pictured (the two samples OakCoins sent me from the mint) but I am choosing the satin gold because I think it's prettier. I think the silver is too dark and dingy looking. I worked on both sides of the coin to make them equally dramatic. I Realize some designers keep the back rather simple but I take it as more of an opportunity to design! Sorry I wasn't familiar enough with the technology to add both coin pictures to the original post but I'm getting up to snuff. Wow! two comments already and you are so nice. Thank you. For the calligrapher - I bet you can do designs like these in your sleep! Thanks, Celticgeocacher

Hi, I am fairly new to geocaching but I'd like to introduce myself on the forums. I live in Bar Harbor, Maine and was just learning to add geocaching to my regular Acadia hiking and biking activities when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My geocaching handle is "artnut" where my meager finds are logged. My first find in genuine Downeast Maine drizzle! I had also started to design my own personal geocoin in honor of that exquisite spiritual and aesthetic Celtic work of art the Book of Kells. I am an art history teacher with a profound appreciation of the Celtic visual and spiritual traditions as well as the wonderful legends and the cultural strength that have enlivened all Celtic derivative cultures for centuries, Irish of course, but Scots, Welsh, Cornish, Manx, Breton and many others. The Book of Kells is the most delicately and profusely illustrated manuscript in all the Celtic ovure and depicts the more-or-less complete works of the synoptic gospels that exists in the Celto-Saxon style. Tradition has it that it was illustrated primarily by one monk, St. Columba, in the insular style of Northern Britain and Ireland around 800 AD. It is said to have originated in the scriptorium in the Abby of Kells from whence it got its name and from where it was plundered a number of times - its splendid jewel-encrusted gold cover lost forever. Over many years the manuscript was stolen, buried and stolen again but with the dissolution of the Abby what remained of the text eventually was collected by the Archbishop of Ussher. Later, Charles II bought it at auction and presented it to Ussher's alma mater, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland where it remains on display. Today the Book of Kells stands as a symbol of Irish spirituality and rich cultural heritage. Many Irish families have their own exact copy occupying a venerated place in their home. As with many Art History lectures, this got a bit out of hand but for those of you who are unfamiliar with the exciting history of Ireland, Scotland and the many other Celtic-speaking peoples and their relationship to Celtic treasure; golden, cultural and aesthetic, I hope this meager background gives you an additional enjoyment of my coin. Through my health trials the folks at OakCoins worked with me to create my own simple interpretation of the Book of Kells. On the front is the center right roundel of Fol. 29R - "The Opening Words of St. Matthew's Gospel" in more-or-less the original colors. The back of the coin features a viking-style dragon with typical Celtic knotwork and other Celtic ornamentation. Dragons were part of the Book of Kells imagery but I chose the Viking dragon to symbolize the sea raiders and their terror. Monasteries were easy prey for the Viking longships between 800 and ~1100 AD. Vikings raided these quiet unguarded spiritual centers like the Kells Monastery for gold, silver and gems and their fierce treatment of the monks was legendary. The coin is 2" in diameter in satin gold, two-toned with 3-D on both sides. It's a heavy coin with both opaque and transparent enamels, trackable on geocaching.com, with its own icon and the dragon has a small stone in it's eye. I owe Emma at OakCoins a deep debt of gratitude for staying with me through surgeries, chemo and revision after revision. I also owe Scavok and Avroair my heartfelt thanks for the support they gave me during the various stages of the Book of Kells and for their good wishes for my recovery - thanks, guys! Yes Mark, you have your dragon and your stone. Let me know what you think of my work and please add or correct anything Celtic, Viking or Monastic that is in error. Also feel free to ask questions. For instance: Why did the Vikings terrorize monasteries only between 800 AD and ~1100 AD? Answer: Oceangoing longboats weren't commonly used much before 800 AD and by ~1100 AD to some extent the Vikings began to be absorbed by Christian culture, to some extent they were forced to convert and to some extent they began to relate to the suffering and crucifixion of Christ. Enjoy! Celticgeocacher