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Take A Coin Leave A Coin?


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Just wondering. Is it considered proper form to leave a coin whenever you take a coin? I have some coins that I'm going to put into the caches that I think are really nice, kind of a way to thank the person that left the cache and to get more people to come to it. I would like the person that takes it to leave one in it's place. Is this how most feel or is it just a "free for all" when it comes to the coins?

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Total bolding and/or capitalization means you are yelling or hard of hearing. If you have trouble reading small font, select view - text size.

 

I really wasn't going to push the whole TB/geocoin's are not trade items thing. Typically you cannot place restrictions on someone else's bug/coin but I took your posting to mean, 'You can take mine but only if you leave another'. That's okay, just unlikely to go very far.

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Coins aren't travel bugs if they're not trackable, and thus become trade items. All of our non trackable "trade" coins have stickers on them explaining leaving a coin or 6-10 dollar item in it's place. Seems to be working pretty well so far. Assume people don't have a clue and spell it out for them, it seems to help!

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Just wondering. Is it considered proper form to leave a coin whenever you take a coin?

 

Nope. Coins are travel bugs. You can take one. You can leave one. You don't have to trade for one.

 

I don't look at it that way. I'm putting coins in caches that I think are really cool because I like the cache and would like for someone else to go there. If they take the coin and leave nothing then there isn't that motivation for the next cacher to make the find. I think people put too much emphasis on the collecting part of it. I saw one of MOUN10BIKE's coins sell for over 2K last week. Ridiculous. The limited edition coins make it too tempting for people to pocket someone elses coins as their own. I noticed that you don't release too many of the coins that you have. Don't get me wrong. I don't blame you. I'm worried about mine dissapearing. I'm actually contemplating drilling holes in them to ruin the collector value.

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Total bolding and/or capitalization means you are yelling or hard of hearing. If you have trouble reading small font, select view - text size.

 

I really wasn't going to push the whole TB/geocoin's are not trade items thing. Typically you cannot place restrictions on someone else's bug/coin but I took your posting to mean, 'You can take mine but only if you leave another'. That's okay, just unlikely to go very far.

 

Maybe I need to make some "Coin exchange" caches?

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Just wondering. Is it considered proper form to leave a coin whenever you take a coin?

 

Nope. Coins are travel bugs. You can take one. You can leave one. You don't have to trade for one.

 

I don't look at it that way. I'm putting coins in caches that I think are really cool because I like the cache and would like for someone else to go there. If they take the coin and leave nothing then there isn't that motivation for the next cacher to make the find. I think people put too much emphasis on the collecting part of it. I saw one of MOUN10BIKE's coins sell for over 2K last week. Ridiculous. The limited edition coins make it too tempting for people to pocket someone elses coins as their own. I noticed that you don't release too many of the coins that you have. Don't get me wrong. I don't blame you. I'm worried about mine dissapearing. I'm actually contemplating drilling holes in them to ruin the collector value.

 

Personally I would hope that what's in the cache has nothing to do with wanting to find it. eh? No?

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Trade Even

Trade Up

or

Don't Trade -- Just sign the log

I'm not sure that I understand what you mean. If it's considered a TB do you still "trade" for it?

 

No, Travel bugs in my opinion, are part of the community and need to be treated as such. If you want to share things with other cachers TB's are the place to start that friendship.

 

Travel bugs are not trade items.

Edited by BlueDeuce
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While activated coins are travel bugs . . . and . . . . as such do not need to be traded for

 

AND at best any restrictions on hotel caches can never be more than suggestions

 

Particularly with respect to coins, it seems some common sense should come into play.

 

In the last 5 days Got Bugs II has had 7 coins droped in the cache (3 of which are mine). There have been 10 visits since I put the first three coins in. Several people have taken more than one coin to travel. Of those 10 at least two have just log'd the coins in and out taking none.

 

It seems that with so few coins in the wild, that just scooping up several coins at a time denies enjoyment for others. I am going to try it again and will activate a few more coins for that cache next week to see what happens.

 

But it seems like there should be some sharing of the wealth.

 

:lol:

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Trade Even

Trade Up

or

Don't Trade -- Just sign the log

I'm not sure that I understand what you mean. If it's considered a TB do you still "trade" for it?

 

No, Travel bugs in my opinion, are part of the community and need to be treated as such. If you want to share things with other cachers TB's are the place to start that friendship.

 

Travel bugs are not trade items.

 

Personally, I think your heart is in the right place. We just have to discuss some of the details to see if your idea will work. I sent you a PM.

 

(odd, this edit made a new posting. Oh well.)

Edited by BlueDeuce
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Trade Even

Trade Up

or

Don't Trade -- Just sign the log

I'm not sure that I understand what you mean. If it's considered a TB do you still "trade" for it?

 

First of all, as you may know, a Travel Bug is something that you log when you find it, where you find it and you put it in another cache somewhere else along your travels to build a history of how it moves around. Like WheresGeorge on a dollar bill. I have bills that were sent out in So. IL or IA and I found in bowling prize money or with my Girlfriends tips. We log them on the net and send them on their way. Dropped one at a toll booth on the Chicago Skyway and a few weeks later, someone, I think in MA logged it as change from a convenient store purchase. It is interesting to see things make that kind of progress.

 

Basically, regardless, I would put something in. But that is just me. I have lurked around here for some time now and haven't actually been able to get away for the time it would take, around here. to actually look for any caches. Therefore, I don't know what others really do. I am hoping to do some this summer if the Mosquitos and such aren't too horrible. Look forward to knowing the real world situations on what people do leave behind. I understand that what is written on the logs of a cache isn't always a true representation of what is in there. Not everyone writes down what they took or put.

 

Since learning of Geocaching, the only times when I would have been able to go out it was overly wet and muddy in the forest preservrs. Starting out, there were only about 6 caches around here and most weren't that accessable through the swampy or muddy trails. Now they seem to be everywhere. Parks and fountains, historical sites... Either that, or the last year and a half, we were all hysterical about West Nile Virus and the Forest Preserves were not a place where some people wanted to be. Had a couple friends who got hit with it the last couple years. Fortunately they pulled through ok. Used to wake up at about 7am to the annoying racket of huge black crows in the trees. Saw one at the end of our driveway that was bigger than my dog. Haven't heard or seen one now in 2 years. I guess their populations here have been hit really bad by the virus.

 

Anyway, I have so much junk around. Actually not junk but stuff, clutter and all, that I have picked up here and there. I have a bankers box full of Unopened Happy Meal toys. Used to take my mother (80 yrs old) out shopping when she was able. Now she has emphazyma so bad she doesn't get out much. Just doesn't have that kind of endurance anymore. We used to stop at McDonalds for lunch and she would always say, I am not that hungry. Maybe just a burger and some fries. A small burger though.... So, I would just make it easy and buy the Happy Meals. Would always end up tossing the toys in the back seat. Cleaned out my car one day and loaded a whole box. I got another box full of decks of cards that I pick up at Casinos when I go to Las Vegas. The thing must weigh about 50 pounds. Then, along my travels, there are always key chains, swizzle sticks, dice, $1 casino chips... If it is small enough, cheap enough, and not tied down, I grab it. Every year I go to Las Vegas with 1 suitcase and a bowling bag. I then come home with 2 suitcases and a bowling bag. Last year, I also shipped a box home from the hotel as well. A few years ago, I got stopped at security at the airport as they emptied my carry on out to find the source of something suspicios on the xray.

 

The security guy asked if I was a courier. I said, with a puzzled tone, that I wasn't. He asked if I was carrying gems. Diamonds and such. I said no. He then asked if for my security if I needed a private screening. No I said... He then went through and unpacked all my chips and tokens, keychains, matches and bar napkins, Hurricane and margarita glasses.... Decks of cards and t-shirts, until he goes, This is what I am looking for. Reached down a side pocket and pulled out 2 slot machine shaped bottles of ground up casino chips.

 

BottleCU.jpg

 

He said that the metals used to create some of the colors along with materials put in for security identifications of the chips... often glow on the xray. He said all the little chunks looked like they could have been gems.

 

Back to the subject, Every summer there are carnivals and fairs. My girlfriend and I go to the county fair and usually end up with a few stuffed animals I no longer have room for. More the fun of playing the games and winning them than actually wanting the animal. If a cache is big enough, I could throw one of those in a ziploc and stuff it in. Was at Target the other night and they have the One Spot Shop with a few shelves of stuff for a buck. There is always stuff that can be had there. Of course, you don't want to really put your junk in other peoples caches but I would bet that any one of us could find a backpack full of odds and ends that we could take out and swap or just leave. Make it more fun for the next guy that might have a couple kids with him. If there is the space and all. Hell just put something in. Even if there is nothing that you want to take. Let the best of you come out.

 

That is my thoughts.

Edited by wmas1960
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I totally agree with your concept if not what I would put into the cache. Most of the caches that I'm running into are micro caches. I even had one the other day that was nothing more than a 2"x 3" zip-lock baggie! I cache in the San Francisco area, and while there are plenty of parks and such where you could hide an ammo can or other large cache, getting the cache without being spotted is much easier with micros. So coins, for me, are easier to carry and place in our caches. I like finding coins in caches. They're cool. :lol: I haven't given the kids angle much thought as I don't have any. Thank you for reminding me of that.

Edited by greenninja5150
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Used to take my mother (80 yrs old) out shopping when she was able. Now she has emphazyma so bad she doesn't get out much. Just doesn't have that kind of endurance anymore. We used to stop at McDonalds for lunch and she would always say, I am not that hungry. Maybe just a burger and some fries. A small burger though....

 

Sure wish my mom was still around. Do you take her the occasional happy meal for old times sake?

 

edit: spelling

Edited by BlueDeuce
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Used to take my mother (80 yrs old) out shopping when she was able. Now she has emphazyma so bad she doesn't get out much. Just doesn't have that kind of endurance anymore. We used to stop at McDonalds for lunch and she would always say, I am not that hungry. Maybe just a burger and some fries. A small burger though....

 

Sure wish my mom was still around. Do you take her the occasional happy meal for old times sake?

 

edit: spelling

 

Actually we bring them in for her these days. Not the happy meals per se but McDonalds. She loves McDonalds.

 

She was in the hospital about 15 years ago after having an aneurism burst and she suffered a stroke. She was in for over 6 weeks and wasn't eating much and all. My brother told her doctor about her liking Hershey Bars and McDonalds and asked if it would be on her diet to bring her a burger and fries or something when we went to visit. He said sure and that he didn't care what she ate, if she just ate the Hershey Bars just as long as she ate. Seeing her walk up the front walk on her own was great, after she had some bypass surgery.

 

She is still with us and doing remarkably well considering the challenges and problems she has gone through. Pretty much able to take care of herself and all. Has memory issues and just can't do much. Can't walk from the kitchen table to the phone without getting winded.

 

We just finished with McDs for dinner tonight, in fact. :lol:

Edited by wmas1960
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Used to take my mother (80 yrs old) out shopping when she was able. Now she has emphazyma so bad she doesn't get out much. Just doesn't have that kind of endurance anymore. We used to stop at McDonalds for lunch and she would always say, I am not that hungry. Maybe just a burger and some fries. A small burger though....

 

Sure wish my mom was still around. Do you take her the occasional happy meal for old times sake?

 

edit: spelling

 

Actually we bring them in for her these days. Not the happy meals per se but McDonalds. She loves McDonalds.

 

She was in the hospital about 15 years ago after having an aneurism burst and she suffered a stroke. She was in for over 6 weeks and wasn't eating much and all. My brother told her doctor about her liking Hershey Bars and McDonalds and asked if it would be on her diet to bring her a burger and fries or something when we went to visit. He said sure and that he didn't care what she ate, if she just ate the Hershey Bars just as long as she ate. Seeing her walk up the front walk on her own was great, after she had some bypass surgery.

 

She is still with us and doing remarkably well considering the challenges and problems she has gone through. Pretty much able to take care of herself and all. Has memory issues and just can't do much. Can't walk from the kitchen table to the phone without getting winded.

 

We just finished with McDs for dinner tonight, in fact. :lol:

 

Glad to hear she is still enjoying McDs.

 

Blessings to you and your family

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Back to the original question:

 

If the coin is activated it's a TB just like any other. No need to trade for it, just move it along.

 

If the coin is unactivated or is non-trackable, etc. it's generally a trade item. The fairest trade in that scenario is a coin for a coin, but any $5.00 - $8.00 trade item would be considered fair by most as well.

 

What ticks people off is:

"Took really cool geocoin, left a quarter/golf ball/ball of lint that was in pocket"

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Back to the original question:

 

If the coin is activated it's a TB just like any other. No need to trade for it, just move it along.

 

If the coin is unactivated or is non-trackable, etc. it's generally a trade item. The fairest trade in that scenario is a coin for a coin, but any $5.00 - $8.00 trade item would be considered fair by most as well.

 

What ticks people off is:

"Took really cool geocoin, left a quarter/golf ball/ball of lint that was in pocket"

 

And sometimes you dont have $5.00 to put in a cache. From my point of view, if you find something really cool and you want to trade fair but can't, just do it in another cache.

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Back to the original question:

 

If the coin is activated it's a TB just like any other. No need to trade for it, just move it along.

 

If the coin is unactivated or is non-trackable, etc. it's generally a trade item. The fairest trade in that scenario is a coin for a coin, but any $5.00 - $8.00 trade item would be considered fair by most as well.

 

What ticks people off is:

"Took really cool geocoin, left a quarter/golf ball/ball of lint that was in pocket"

 

Good point that was made in another post about

 

Trade Even

Trade Up

or

Don't Trade -- Just sign the log

 

 

Something that maybe can't be said enough and part of what I was getting at with my earlier post. I don't think it would be hard for any of us to put together a good assortment of quality items that might be cluttering up our lives. With my examples I think I have shown how I have drawers full of stuff. Whether cerial box toys, trinkets from trips I have taken, Happy Meal Toys, items that I have gotten packaged with other items like batteries. I have bought batteries with toy cars (Matchbox) attached. I have gotten AA batteries in 8 packs with flashlights, collectable pins, snow globes and all kinds of things packaged in them. Or, Carnival and redemption machine prizes like from Chuck E Cheeses... Heck, even left over tokens from CECheese. Some people do collect those things. Value, might be concidered to be, maybe about a quarter. Keep a caching backpack around. Put in it your GPS, a basic kit of first aid items like bandages and disinfectant. Maybe some sun block, bug spray and burn ointment or cream for if you get a sun burn out there or some other ointments for bug bites.... and such. Maybe a map or two of areas that you search. Add in there some assorted trinkets so that you can always be prepared to leave a trade, or just a thank you to the cache owner for making your day fun. Put something in for the next guy, assuming there is space available of course.

 

Some other items that you could put into a cache that you might buy so you have something for a good item to trade. AA Batteries for a GPS. Some Film for a cacher's camera mini flashlights. I cant tell you how often I am standing at the check out and see small flashlights that use 1or two AA battery(ies). Sometimes they are packaged free with batteries but I would trade those for lower items. I have a few of them around here. Have some larger and good items for larger caches but don't forgeet smaller items for smaller caches.

 

Anyway, as said above, and I would even ammend slightly,

 

Trade even for an item that you want to take or

Trade UP if you don't have something more even. Your having some fun? Don't be afraid to show it.

Don't put true JUNK into a cache. Keep it things that someone might actually want or find interesting. Or, something that their kids might find fun or interesting. Remember, kids are usually easy to satisfy. Go to the dime store (I know you can't find a lot for a dime any more but...) type toy store and pick up a few things for a few bucks. I liked a list I saw earlier where someone pointed out bouncy balls and balsa wood gliders. Jacks for little girls maybe. Costume Jewelry might be good. How bout going to target and grabbing a few Hot Wheels or Match Box cars. For 99c or less, that isn't bad. Watch for sales or the bins where they don't sort them, hang them on pegs or anything. I have seen them cheap, just dumped into a drum at an end cap at Toys R Us. Maybe look for some of the NASCAR models. Might cost a little more but NASCAR stuff is popular these days.

 

And, if there is room for it in the cache, there is nothing wrong with putting something in, even if you dont take something out. Of course if everyone did this, there wouldn't be room in any caches for anything. So, use your judegment. If there isn't room for what you have with you, hold back and make it up on another cache in the area or go back and refind the cache on a later walk or bike ride etc. Odds are, with pillaging and such, or with people just taking and not leaving anything, you might be able to help revitalize a cache at another time.

 

In reality, by having a good assortment in your bag, you should always be able to accomodate almost any cache you might find. If you do take something out, you should certainly have room there to put SOMETHING back. But, and this is me, if I found a cache that looked empty or low on options and it was a 50cal Ammo container, for instance. With a cavernous space in there full of nothing but air and a log book... I would put something in, even if I didn't take something. Also, keep in mind Pencils. If you see some cool pencils somewhere along your journeys grab them. Maybe put a couple of those in also. Sometimes you can get them free from your bank, your insurance guy... I often see boxes of them on counters at various places. Of course, don't take all the pens from your Dentists counter but grab a couple here or a couple there when you see them. Something I took on a trip to Vegas one time... Took them with thought of caching but never got out. I grabbed about half a dozen purple crayons from the Keno Counter. For kids, not for writing logs, of course. I wonder though, how often people wander off with or break the pencils that are in a cache. Making it difficult for some people to sign a log later.

Edited by wmas1960
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OH, and honestly, I am not trying to discount anything said. It all is good advice.

 

I forgot about Golf Balls. I have a few of those to put in also but would just suggest this for such items as those. Golf Balls are not cheap. But, if you are going to put those into a cache, make it a package of 3 or 4 maybe, however they may come. Most I have seen are 3s. Or, if you are leaving single balls in a cache, try and put them with some design or logo on them. Some people do find them collectable and might be interested in those. I wouldn't put just 1 standard Titlest in a cache. But, that is just me.

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And sometimes you dont have $5.00 to put in a cache. From my point of view, if you find something really cool and you want to trade fair but can't, just do it in another cache.

 

Couldn't disagree more.

If you expect to take nice things out of caches, you should carry nice things with you.

If you don't have anything with you I would expect that you would excercise some self control/discipline and not take the nice item.

 

Sends a bad message when people see "took coin, left $.99 keychain".

The assumption is that is was not a fair trade and not that the person will make it up later. Especially for new cachers, they will replicate this behavior if they see it done.

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And sometimes you dont have $5.00 to put in a cache. From my point of view, if you find something really cool and you want to trade fair but can't, just do it in another cache.

 

Couldn't disagree more.

If you expect to take nice things out of caches, you should carry nice things with you.

If you don't have anything with you I would expect that you would excercise some self control/discipline and not take the nice item.

 

Sends a bad message when people see "took coin, left $.99 keychain".

The assumption is that is was not a fair trade and not that the person will make it up later. Especially for new cachers, they will replicate this behavior if they see it done.

 

Don't worry, I put a lot of good stuff in caches without taking much. I dont worry if someone takes it and leaves nothing or say they will make it up later.

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Trade Even

Trade Up

or

Don't Trade -- Just sign the log

 

This is like most of our parents taught us and we have passed to our kids that are now grown. You always try to leave things at least as good or better than you found them. I am not saying you have to trade a coin for a coin but please don't rob a cache of all the good items and leave just a bunch of junk for the next person to find.

 

I like several people put coins out because I want to, not because I expect everyone to put their coin or someone elses coin in a cahce. I love to watch them move around..

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Don't worry, I put a lot of good stuff in caches without taking much. I dont worry if someone takes it and leaves nothing or say they will make it up later.

 

Wasn't worried. Just pointing out a difference in opinion on what you posted.

 

When all is said and done I'm not not losing sleep about trade items, just answering the OPs question.

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Nope. Coins are travel bugs. You can take one. You can leave one. You don't have to trade for one.

 

I don't look at it that way. I'm putting coins in caches that I think are really cool because I like the cache and would like for someone else to go there. If they take the coin and leave nothing then there isn't that motivation for the next cacher to make the find. I think people put too much emphasis on the collecting part of it. I saw one of MOUN10BIKE's coins sell for over 2K last week. Ridiculous. The limited edition coins make it too tempting for people to pocket someone elses coins as their own. I noticed that you don't release too many of the coins that you have. Don't get me wrong. I don't blame you. I'm worried about mine dissapearing. I'm actually contemplating drilling holes in them to ruin the collector value.

The motivation should be your log saying how cool this cache was, and the person after you saying how much fun they had. If someone's looking just for new icons they'll probably go to an event or some easy cache and skip your favorite anyways. Eventally someone who wants to go to the cache will go and get the coin too.

If you want to make special goals for your travelers (like only put me in caches that have other travelers), thats fine. But you'll have trouble trying to enforce those things on other people's travelers. Why should my coin or TB have to be exchanged for your? That starts getting into the TB jails issue... my travelers movements should get stalled because someone else wants to add some silly 'rules'? :mad:

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Nope. Coins are travel bugs. You can take one. You can leave one. You don't have to trade for one.

 

I don't look at it that way. I'm putting coins in caches that I think are really cool because I like the cache and would like for someone else to go there. If they take the coin and leave nothing then there isn't that motivation for the next cacher to make the find. I think people put too much emphasis on the collecting part of it. I saw one of MOUN10BIKE's coins sell for over 2K last week. Ridiculous. The limited edition coins make it too tempting for people to pocket someone elses coins as their own. I noticed that you don't release too many of the coins that you have. Don't get me wrong. I don't blame you. I'm worried about mine dissapearing. I'm actually contemplating drilling holes in them to ruin the collector value.

The motivation should be your log saying how cool this cache was, and the person after you saying how much fun they had. If someone's looking just for new icons they'll probably go to an event or some easy cache and skip your favorite anyways. Eventally someone who wants to go to the cache will go and get the coin too.

If you want to make special goals for your travelers (like only put me in caches that have other travelers), thats fine. But you'll have trouble trying to enforce those things on other people's travelers. Why should my coin or TB have to be exchanged for your? That starts getting into the TB jails issue... my travelers movements should get stalled because someone else wants to add some silly 'rules'? :o

I didn't start this topic as a way to add rules. I just thought it would be nice to get some more coins out there and wondered how others feel about it. I got a pretty negative response. Even from the people who release their coins. I see yours are travelling. Good for you! I also notice that a few of yours are gone missing. That pisses me off. Coins are too expensive to buy then have someone rip them off for their collection. Maybe if there were more out there they wouldn't go missing as often? Maybe it wouldn't matter? I did a search of the area where I live and in the 600 closest caches were about a dozen coins, not counting "icon hotels". I'd like to see more. I see your point about them not travelling. If people kept a coin on hand that wouldn't be a problem. I don't think it's that big a deal to keep an extra coin of mine in my pocket on the chance that I run into a cache with a coin in it. I guess I look at this differently than most. I've noticed that alot of people just buy the coins just to keep at home and I don't understand that at all. If I find one of your coins out there I will move it along and I will put one of mine in it's place. I would hope that someone would do the same but don't expect it. :mad:

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And sometimes you dont have $5.00 to put in a cache. From my point of view, if you find something really cool and you want to trade fair but can't, just do it in another cache.

 

Couldn't disagree more.

...

 

Speaking of that. I snagged coin and still ow e the geocaching universe a coin. I finally found the cache to leave it in, but didn't have a coin to leave so I left several sig items and buttons I had accumulated (since I don't collect those) and I still owe the geocaching universe another coin. Call it interest.

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I have to admit that I have no clue how we got to where we are on this thread. I was trying to figure out how we could get more coins out into the wild. Not trade items. registered, travelling, coins. One's that apparently everyone else considers nothing more than travel bugs. Yeah, they are a form of travel bug but to me they are kinda special. And judging by what they go for on eBay and the places that sell them I'm not the only one who thinks so. :mad:

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