The_Geomonkeys

PLEASE NOTE: Please do not advertise for a particular mint or service in a way that would violate the terms of use for this forum. These questions are generalities and are meant to start a dialogue about the pros and cons of different choices that can be made when designing and minting a coin. I have been wanting to mint a coin since I discovered that such a thing was possible and have been addicted to the forms ever since. I’ve purchased coins produced at various mints and find the quality of coins that are coming out to be amazing. I’ve even been involved in one community coin project (GeoJellies V3) and enjoyed having a coin with our name on it to pass out and drop in caches. I have noticed various trends in coin releases and would like to discuss the pros / cons of the following items. Input from sellers, buyers, collectors, and monkeys are welcome. Where does your geocoin philosophy fall for creation, collecting, and releasing a coin? 1) Tracking and Custom Icons: adding a tracking number and custom icon ($1.50 per tracking number, $150 icon fee) will allow the coin to be sold through these forums. You will also be required to put “Trackable at geocaching.com” etc on the coins. However, many collectors do not activate a coin as activated coins do not trade as well etc. This also has the benefit of allowing cachers who do not have their own coin to trade to purchase a coin for the collection, one to release, and one to trade etc. I know that I’ve been able to build my collection with some very nice coins due to awesome coiners who have done reservations for their coins. Thanks to all of you for sharing. 2) Non-Trackable: Unable to sell on the forums. Can often be used to trade for new coins that others produce. Less minting cost due to the lack of extra engraving etc. I have a few coins that have been given to me and I appreciate the memories that go along with meeting the cacher. It seems difficult to get many of these coins because they can not be sold on the forums and I am unsure how many would be willing to trade a commercial coin of some sort for a non-trackable. 3) Minting Quantity: In order to qualify for a custom icon you must mint a minimum of 250 coins. In general where are the price breaks on the minting numbers? I’m curious to the benefits of perhaps minting 100 of a non-trackable coin with the ability to reorder later vs. ordering a larger quantity immediately at some sort of discount? 4) Different Metals: I figure if minting a coin it is worth getting samples from the mint to make sure that they look perfect. I find that some coins look better in different metal types. Is it worth the time to mint a “mixed order” where some are black nickel, some are nickel, some are antique gold, some are gold…I can understand if the coin looks great in a couple metals using the different types to create a general version, trade version, artist edition etc. 5) Editions: Is this really necessary? I’ve seen LE, XLE, AE, Owner’s edition, Trade Only etc. If the coin is awesome and something that you like why not mint the absolute best looking version of the coin possible and then make that version available to everyone? It seems to me that this way of issuing coins primarily used to inflate the market value of a coin. Is there something else I am missing? By the same token is there a benefit to sequentially numbering coins for anyone? 6) Special features: glow, glitter, translucent, stained glass, spinning, hinged….wow all sorts of stuff in this arena. My thought is that design what you like and pick your best looking design(s). However, multiple color versions of a coin can again create different editions or a series from the same mold. Is there often an additional cost associated with this or a minimum order? I hope that this brings out some good conversation that we can have some serious discussion about the various options and features that are becoming more and more common within coins.

Wow, I'm sorry I missed these somehow. I'm on the mailing list now. Look forward to seeing the rest of this series. Very well done.

Birthday Mission One (DBSO Monkey) 1. Participating - Yes, email sent 6/7/08 2. Received Name - Yes 6/20/08 3. Mission Sent 4. Birthday Arrived Birthday Mission Two (Big Eared Monkey) 1. Participating - Yes, email sent 6/7/08 2. Received Name - Next round 3. Mission Sent 4. Birthday Arrived

Personally, I prefer the reservation system with invoicing when coins are back from the mint. It allows me to budget for the coins I want and at the same time not to have to worry about being on line in the first 5 minutes to get a chance to buy that coin I really want. It gives me the opportunity to get some very beautiful coins. I have been involved in one group project and appreciate the hard work that goes into them. Given that we are ordering custom coins in large quantities I think that paying when the artwork is finalized and the order is sent to the mint is appropriate. I also personally hope some more projects become available soon. I missed out on the GW6 bears but got one from WWC at dinner! I too have missed Tsun's reservations...would love a mailing list or some way to be notified. I was working in the GW6 store and saw you walk by but couldn't find you afterwards to say hello.

So glad to see you decided to do another run of these. I also really appreciate the ability to do a reservation so I don't have to worry about it selling out while working a swing shift! HA! Thanks so much...can't wait to get them.

This one doesn't belong to us but was put out by one of our hider friends: Lavascaler XXXL is a 55 gallon drum that is still on our list to go and find.

Two of us monkeys are in... Birthday Mission One (DBSO Monkey) 1. Participating - Yes, email sent 6/7/08 2. Received Name 3. Mission Sent 4. Birthday Arrived Birthday Mission Two (Big Eared Monkey) 1. Participating - Yes, email sent 6/7/08 2. Received Name 3. Mission Sent 4. Birthday Arrived

Purchased one of these from Crake at GW6. Photos just do not do justice to these coins. A great coin with a great story!

Wow, what a fun activity...I have a few that might qualify. And if nothing else I hope some of you enjoy the views. This is our travel monkey TB at Castle Craggs State Park in California. This is also the home of the Craggy Triptych Earthcache. This one was taken as we tried to reunite this TB with it's parter...who was taken from the cache the day before, log was signed by no post online...*sad* But the tree was super cool! So totally worth the hike: Commander Salamander 2000

DBSO and I were volunteers but no coin for us ...oh well, we were happy to help out either way but would love to see a photo of the difference if someone who did get one could post it

We have been busy monkeys and haven't yet uploaded photos. All missions were sent and received successfully and we are so glad we got to participate in our first mission! In the photo below you will see the following. Photo 1 shows the goodies we got from Dorsetgal & GeoDog in England. There was twice the amount of chocolate as pictures but DBSO Monkey decided that she got half! The coin was perfect. We have visited the Original Stash but had yet to get the coin. They also sent along a pathtag and a non-caching-deceptive-looking-tag. It is actually a trolley coin used to unlock what we Americans know as Shopping Carts. Very cool! The other two photos came from a mystery cacher in Washington State. In addition to the chocolate and top 50 geocoin they sent us one of our other non-human primate friends. What a wonderful new friend for our home. He will be going with us to GeoWoodstock in a few weeks along with the rest of our simian brethren. Thanks so much again for a great mission.

Big Eared Monkey and DBSO Monkey are driving down from Oregon. Will be at the meet and greet Friday night and at the event on Saturday. Also we will be working in the GeoWoodstock Store from 11-1 on Saturday. Come by and say hello!

Operation CHOCOLATE Mission One ChocoEmail Sent - yes ChocoName Received - yes ChocoMission Sent - yes, with our absolute favorite chocolate! (4/16) ChocoMission Received - Yes, will update with photos when the other arrives as well Operation CHOCOLATE Mission Two ChocoEmail Sent - Yes ChocoName Received - Yes ChocoMission Sent - yes, with our absolute favorite chocolate! (4/16) ChocoMission Received - Nope

Operation CHOCOLATE Mission One ChocoEmail Sent - yes ChocoName Received - yes ChocoMission Sent - Will be sent on Wednesday April 16th (delay due to particular chocolate not being avaliable) ChocoMission Received - Nope Operation CHOCOLATE Mission Two ChocoEmail Sent - Yes ChocoName Received - Yes ChocoMission Sent - Will be sent on Wednesday April 16th (delay due to particular chocolate not being avaliable) ChocoMission Received - Nope

OOh, the monkeys are so in!

We'd be happy to drop coins in the state of Oregon as well as down I-5 on the way to geowoodstock.

While all of us monkeys have read all of the Harry Potter books we don't use the term muggles in reference to the rest of the world. Being the superior simians that monkeys are we simply think of the rest of you as simple humans *Grin*

As a troupe of simians we MUST HAVE! Can't wait to know when they become available!

We would love to be included on this coin as well: The_Geomonkeys Thanks so much!

I know that all of us who practice CITO do so because we care about the world we live in. Breaking news of another ecological problem that has a profound effect on nature and wildlife seems appropriate to share. If you were not already aware of this, I am sorry to pass along the sad news. Beaches are closed, wildlife and marine reserve areas have been affected, workers are attempting to contain and clean up the spill. The oil has now drifted as far as 40 miles north of the bay. http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/index?section=l...&id=5750652 Having grown up near these areas of coastline, Big Eared Monkey is incredibly sad for his animal friends.

I sure hope so! I think he was packaging the coins up this past weekend in hopes of shipping before his trip. I'm keeping my eyes on the post box and will leave a note here if mine arrives. Really looking forward to seeing this one!

We signed up for one as well. Only the first 1500 are being released to those who sign up. The other 3500 will be available at the monuments. So there should be a good chance of people getting one of the original. However the page originally said only the first 500 coins...thankfully they decided to increase the number

Forums "What was in your mailbox today?" version 1 and 2 Cache Movers Las Vegas Benchmark World Traveler Official Japan Geocoin 3x geopins to add to the hat Always so much fun to get pretty things in the mail.

Looks like your group has made some good progress in your design. Given that the coin is titled "In the light" I assume that the star is being used to represent light. I'm curious though, do you plan to have it colored or done as a 3D design? My only concern with the star design is that it looks a lot like the various compass / navigation stars that have been done in a lot of different coin designs. Not sure how important it is to your group that this coin be completely unique but you may want to consider coming up with another interpretation for light. Best of luck as you work to finalize your design and start your minting.

First cointest for these monkeys and we couldn't resist sharing this photo. I got a call from my little sister and she asked DBSO and I to fly out to Las Vegas for a huge Halloween party last year and for me to perform her wedding ceremony afterwards. At the party DBSO and I ran into the tall goofy/creepy guy known as Penn. Teller was conspicuously absent that evening. Our costumes were inspired by the monkeys and catchers from the video game series Ape Escape. The light on the evil monkey helmet worked as well. DBSO's costume was inspired by the character Yumi. The EL wiring on the net glowed, she had the blue bunny backpack, and even found the orange sneakers and knee socks. Big Eared Monkey's Costume was based on this monkey. For obvious reasons of being at a public event no weapon was carried. And for the record, yes the helmet is hot!