Moon Dipper Geocoin - On Sale Now!

July 18, 2009

I've been playing around with a coin design for awhile and might take it to production. It's called Moon Dipper. I've been drawing the moon like this for quite some time and have been thinking it might make a decent coin. It also displays the Big Dipper, whose cup rim points to the North Star (at the top right). Trackable would go on face in upper left of sky or on back. The gray would be the metal. One run would use glow for the white/yellow of the stars and moon.

Looking for some feedback, is this a bit too simple or worth going forward on?

~Zelanzy

July 18, 2009

I like it. Simple is nice, you don't always have to get extravagant if it means something. Is this going to be your personal? I only ask because it doesn't have your name on it anywhere.

One more question: Why did you steal our sig line? :anicute: Just kidding, it's just funny that I had this on a bumper sticker 10 years before I started caching, yet it describes what we do so well. And it's on our coin (in Gaelic). Maybe that's why I like yours...

2.2k · July 18, 2009

I like it, too -- simple & colorful. Could you explain why you draw the moon that way?

3.6k · July 18, 2009

Yup, put your name on it and call it your personal geocoin.

July 18, 2009

I like it, too -- simple & colorful. Could you explain why you draw the moon that way?

Good question and I have no idea! At some point I'll scan and post the initial sketch I did for this coin to better explain it. The image above of is an attempt to translate my pencil drawing to a more simplified vector graphic.

One more question: Why did you steal our sig line?

I originally saw that line on a signature card in a cache. I immediately liked it since my wife always calls me a wandered! Did some research and found it to be a JRR Tolkien quote. I'm still trying to find just the right font for it. But I want one that is a bit cryptic in nature (unclear) to be more in line with what caching is about. Might even do it in morse code...

July 18, 2009

... I'm still trying to find just the right font for it. But I want one that is a bit cryptic in nature (unclear) to be more in line with what caching is about. Might even do it in morse code...

Why don't you try Moon Code?

You can see it here.

I think the simplicity is one of the charms of this coin.

July 18, 2009

Why don't you try Moon Code?
You can see it here.

I think the simplicity is one of the charms of this coin.

Excellent, never heard of that before. I owe ya big since that is just TOO perfect! See below!

Also I don't think this will be my personal geocoin. I have a different idea brewing for that! It will be based on a character (his name is Glock) that I created in one of my animation projects I did YEARS ago. It is a bit more personal in nature than this one.

1.9k · July 18, 2009

I think the front is cute. I'm not sure about the back though. 1.) I don't really see that it relates to the front; 2.) I think the quote has been overdone recently; 3.) I find it to be a bit plain, but I do like the new font idea.

Sorry if I seem negative, but that is my honest feedback.

4k · July 18, 2009

Why don't you try Moon Code?
You can see it here.

I think the simplicity is one of the charms of this coin.

Excellent, never heard of that before. I owe ya big since that is just TOO perfect! See below!

Also I don't think this will be my personal geocoin. I have a different idea brewing for that! It will be based on a character (his name is Glock) that I created in one of my animation projects I did YEARS ago. It is a bit more personal in nature than this one.

Great coin, and i really look forward to seeing your personal coin! Save me a trade!

ILYK

2.8k · July 18, 2009

Why don't you try Moon Code?
You can see it here.

I think the simplicity is one of the charms of this coin.

Excellent, never heard of that before. I owe ya big since that is just TOO perfect! See below!

Also I don't think this will be my personal geocoin. I have a different idea brewing for that! It will be based on a character (his name is Glock) that I created in one of my animation projects I did YEARS ago. It is a bit more personal in nature than this one.

There are also moon runes.

BTW - love the design!

July 18, 2009

Why don't you try Moon Code?
You can see it here.

I think the simplicity is one of the charms of this coin.

Excellent, never heard of that before. I owe ya big since that is just TOO perfect! See below!

Also I don't think this will be my personal geocoin. I have a different idea brewing for that! It will be based on a character (his name is Glock) that I created in one of my animation projects I did YEARS ago. It is a bit more personal in nature than this one.

There are also moon runes.

BTW - love the design!

There are also JUST runes.......celtic in origin, I believe.

I agree, simple is OK. I'm not big on cartoonish styles, but that's just me.

July 18, 2009

HUGE THANK YOU to Vanelle! Below is V2, I painstakingly created vectors for Moon Type since no font appears to be commercially available. I also added the code plate.

It's getting there :anicute:

July 18, 2009

HUGE THANK YOU to Vanelle! Below is V2, I painstakingly created vectors for Moon Type since no font appears to be commercially available. I also added the code plate.

It's getting there

Looks like a great coin! One question, though: did Groundspeak sign off on the design? It looks like you modified their logo a bit, and I know they're pretty strict about that. Just curious! :anicute:

1.1k · July 18, 2009

Looking good!

PS - If there's room and it doesn't detract from the look of the coin, you may want to add a reference to the URL for Moon Type (a simplified alphabet for the blind, invented by Dr William Moon in 1845).

The URL could go on the edge of the coin.

Moon Type

http://www.nyise.org/archives/moonpage/index.html

:anicute:

July 18, 2009

HUGE THANK YOU to Vanelle! Below is V2, I painstakingly created vectors for Moon Type since no font appears to be commercially available. I also added the code plate.

It's getting there

You're welcome. Maybe you'll send me one once they're complete? :anicute:

I like the changes, it adds some depth to the coin. Is there any way to get the characters on the back to wrap in two arcs along the side of the coin so they mimic the shape of the moon on the front? I realize you had to 'hand draw' the vector art, but it might enhance the moon theme.

July 18, 2009

That is certainly possible to do, but I might stick with horizontal or the coin might become too "puzzle cache"-y. But as JJG mentioned, I am likely breaking logo rules, as such a v3 may be in my future. Likely just freeing up space to give Dr Moon some credit. Wow this is turning out to be a very democratic coin!

1.6k · July 18, 2009

I love the front, and I like the moon font a lot. I hope you get an okay from Groundspeak because I like the design change you did to their logo. However, I know how logos go and I'm not going to hold my breath. :anicute:

Have you played around with different colors on the back? The red doesn't really reflect the moon theme at all and it seems a bit jarring. I don't have a good sense of how graphics translate to coins though, so maybe it'd look fine.

July 21, 2009

Minor update: I just heard back from Groundspeak and , as I expected, changing the logo is not allowed.

Changes:

1. I redesigned the back, pulling in themes from the front (star, black to represent darkness).

2. I added a N to the North star. This should help reinforce the quote (N star is a navigational device).

3. Tweaked the waves, to give the big dipper some more room.

4. Added history of moon type (might edge press this or remove all together...too hard to fit!).

Getting there!

Edited July 21, 2009 by Zelanzy

1.9k · July 21, 2009

The changes are really pulling together, and I like it a lot now!!

July 21, 2009

Your v3 is the best so far, in my opinion. The redesign of the back ties the whole thing together, and I love that you've put in the info for the alphabet.

Nicely done.

July 21, 2009

Thanks everyone for the help, I'm speaking with 3 possible mints right now. Since this is my first I figure it wouldn't hurt to price a few different companies.

My last design issue is to figure out if I should include the text on the back explaining moon type. As of now it is too small, I could make it bigger and edit out some words but that takes away from my very simplistic first coin. Also I sort of like the cryptic nature of it without the explanation. But then I think about finding this in a cache, I would have NO idea to google "moon type" heh. So maybe I just change it to, "Text is in Moon Type". make it a larger font and call it a day!

2 thoughts, resized smaller too help. I still think I'm leaning towards super cryptic though.

Edited July 21, 2009 by Zelanzy

July 21, 2009

Zelaney,

I really think all the changes you've made enhance the coin and strengthen the theme. I would leave off the information about moon type and just leave it cryptic - I'd like to think we are all really treasure hunters and secret seekers at heart. []

July 21, 2009

I've been playing around with a coin design for awhile and might take it to production. It's called Moon Dipper. I've been drawing the moon like this for quite some time and have been thinking it might make a decent coin. It also displays the Big Dipper, whose cup rim points to the North Star (at the top right). Trackable would go on face in upper left of sky or on back. The gray would be the metal. One run would use glow for the white/yellow of the stars and moon.

Looking for some feedback, is this a bit too simple or worth going forward on?

~Zelanzy

really cool. I love this design.

July 22, 2009

I love this coin!

1.3k · July 22, 2009

Bummer that Groundspeak said no to the altered logo, I thought it looked so cute I really like the GS colors with the red and the original font

Oh well, it'll still be great. Good luck with the project!

Edit to add: I will agree that the quote has been used a lot lately in coins... but it is a good one, certainly caching related!

Edited July 22, 2009 by ThirstyMick

July 22, 2009

I think you have a typo, don't you--You want "WANDER", not "WONDER"--or am I reading the moonfont wrong?

July 22, 2009

Bummer that Groundspeak said no to the altered logo, I thought it looked so cute I really like the GS colors with the red and the original font

Oh well, it'll still be great. Good luck with the project!

Edit to add: I will agree that the quote has been used a lot lately in coins... but it is a good one, certainly caching related!

First off, thank you, and everyone else, for your feedback. I appreciate it all, and changed my design for the better, based on some of it. I have completely accepted the fact that this coin will not be liked by all since it is very inorganic, cartoony, and a bit...well...simplistic. The biggest reason for that is because it is how I draw, but I also wanted to create a simple, yet commercially appealing, first coin.

About the quote, I agree completely with what everyone said above. My spin on it is the cryptic text. The line is overused, but I'll admit right away that I'll never get tired of it! I love it when I see it on cache cards, coins and various other trackables. That said, I will not likely use it again on a coin.

About the original design. This started off as a personal coin. As such I used one of my favorite fonts and my favorite color, orange. I then came up with a much more personal geocoin design (WIP). As such I turned this coin into a non-personal. Black works a bit better as it relates to the theme of the coin. That said, I will be running some coins with a orange back (trading, placing into caches, maybe selling a few, giving some away to people that helped me, etc).

Carry on! Still waiting to hear back with quotes on minting costs.

I think you have a typo, don't you--You want "WANDER", not "WONDER"--or am I reading the moonfont wrong?

YIKES, fixing. Edited July 22, 2009 by Zelanzy

8.8k · July 22, 2009

Really nice coin!!! Beautiful design!!!! Bravo my friend!!!!

1.8k · July 23, 2009

I think you have a typo, don't you--You want "WANDER", not "WONDER"--or am I reading the moonfont wrong?

Actually, that is a kinda cool variation of the phrase. I've always found caches that have stirred woder in me!

July 23, 2009

I've selected a company to produce my coins. I'm leaning towards a 1.5" height. Initially I wanted to run it in 2", but the final charge would have be be like $11-12...which may be too high. The 1.5" coin puts it into the 8 dollar range...and I can run 300 vs 250! I get charged extra for under 100 runs, the 300 number lets me run 3 metals with few "extra" charges (just extras for glow and antiqueing).

Changes:

1. Big Dipper stars were overlaid on an actual photo of the big dipper to achieve more proper layout.

2. Changed the N within the North Star to moon type N.

3. "*moon type" added. (this could get removed in a mint revision, but for now I'll leave it)

4. "wonder" changed to "wander"

5. Yellow changed to white (since one version will be glow in the brightest white glow color, did not want mint to be confused and use the yellow glow color which glows less than the white glow color).

Final art:

July 23, 2009

Nice, I really like it. The changes really tie everything together. So...you gonna save one to trade with me? :unsure:

1.9k · July 23, 2009

This is sort of off-topic, but interesting...

I happened to be looking at a map today, and it had all of the state flags on it. The flag for Alaska features the big dipper and the North Star, in a configuration like this coin shows. Hmmmm.

July 23, 2009

This is sort of off-topic, but interesting...

I happened to be looking at a map today, and it had all of the state flags on it. The flag for Alaska features the big dipper and the North Star, in a configuration like this coin shows. Hmmmm.

This coin gets better daily...and completely unintentionally! What is really interesting is that both my coin and this flag have the north star as the largest start, but the north star is actually a medium brightness star and almost all the BD stars are brighter than it.

http://www.50states.com/flag/akflag.htm

The reason the flag and my design has it in this proportion is because the north star is 5 "big dipper edge" lengths from the corner point of the big dipper. That is the trick I learned in scouts to always know where North is at night. The north star is hard to find due to its medium brightness, but the BD is always easy to find, helping you spot the N star. Draw a line down from N. Star, and BAM, you have found north at night, without the sun.

Note: The N star is also equally between the BD and Cassiopeia, but I couldn't fit all that!

Edited July 23, 2009 by Zelanzy

July 29, 2009

V1 Artwork from mint.

Changes lined up for V2 artwork:

1. Confirm engrave plate is at least 3 x 12mm

2. Lighten blue waves

3. Tweak "Trackable" text to ensure it is equally between the metal edges.

6N-02221A01-1(Small).jpg

6 samples will be ordered:

1 Black Nickel, white moon

2 A. Silver, glow moon (expoxied)

3 Nickel, white moon, orange back (Artist Edition will have orange back, ala V1 of this coin)

4 Brass, white moon

5 Gold, glow moon (epoxied)

6 Hmm either A. Bronze, Copper or A. Copper. Leaning towards A. Bronze.

2.2k · July 30, 2009

Very, very, very nice. I like where this coin has gone and it's been a real pleasure watching you tweak it. Can't wait to see the samples, and can't wait to buy some!

August 6, 2009

Various Updates:

1. Samples ordered in Copper, Brass, Antique Silver, Nickel, Gold, Black Nickel. Artist edition will be antique silver no enamel. 2 glow samples ordered (gold/nickel w/epoxy), 1 AE sample ordered (antique silver no enamel), and copper with white moon/stars, black nickel with gray moon/stars, and brass with light yellow moon/stars.

2. I've been playing with e-commerce systems and recently picked CubeCart over osCommerce.

3. My site is being developed at: Hagglecoins.com : the art of zelanzy. Haggle with me...arrr. Note the waves in the coin image will be darker, I changed that without re-requesting new artwork.

4. Next project -- Tribal Sun -- has commenced. Artwork is 25% complete (sneak peak shown at above site on main page.

Thanks for following.

Edited August 6, 2009 by Zelanzy

August 6, 2009

Various Updates:

1. Samples ordered in Copper, Brass, Antique Silver, Nickel, Gold, Black Nickel. Artist edition will be antique silver no enamel. 2 glow samples ordered (gold/nickel w/epoxy), 1 AE sample ordered (antique silver no enamel), and copper with white moon/stars, black nickel with gray moon/stars, and brass with light yellow moon/stars.

2. I've been playing with e-commerce systems and recently picked CubeCart over osCommerce.

3. My site is being developed at: Hagglecoins.com : the art of zelanzy. Haggle with me...arrr. Note the waves in the coin image will be darker, I changed that without re-requesting new artwork.

4. Next project -- Tribal Sun -- has commenced. Artwork is 25% complete (sneak peak shown at above site on main page.

Thanks for following.

Awsome coin can i get one some where

August 7, 2009

It is not yet available. I am not doing a presale or reservations. When I have the coins in hand i will give a few days heads up and then post them at my site. The pricepoint will be around 8 bux (a touch more for the glow one).

Edited August 7, 2009 by Zelanzy

August 14, 2009

Pics from Mint.

Top left and across: Brass with yellow moon (pms 461), Nickel with glow moon, black nickel with light gray moon,

Bottom left and across: Copper with white moon, gold with glow moon, Antique silver with no enamel.

Back of the Nickel coin.

Strangely, I really like the all metal one...that was just a test.

Feel free to weigh in on which color combinations you prefer!

Edited August 14, 2009 by Zelanzy

8.8k · August 14, 2009

Title updated for the OP.

August 15, 2009

Great work! These all look great. My favorites are probably the black nickel with light gray moon and copper with white moon. I also like the brass with yellow moon, which I wasn't really expecting to like... maybe because it stands out among the greys here?

August 15, 2009

Congratulations on the samples. My favorites are the Nickel with glow moon and the antique silver with no enamels.

2k · August 15, 2009

Very beautiful! They turned out well. I am partial to the copper :laughing:

2.2k · August 15, 2009

Very, very nice! : )

I love the glow with gold. I'm a sucker for black & gold color combinations and I like that particular glow color because of its paleness. But all of them turned out great!

1.1k · August 15, 2009

Very, very nice! : )

I love the glow with gold. I'm a sucker for black & gold color combinations and I like that particular glow color because of its paleness. But all of them turned out great!

Ditto what Jackalgirl said. I usually prefer gold or copper, and I love glow in the dark coins. :laughing: They look cool! Can't wait for it to be ready for sale.

5.8k · August 15, 2009

Pics from Mint.

Top left and across: Brass with yellow moon (pms 461), Nickel with glow moon, black nickel with light gray moon,

Bottom left and across: Copper with white moon, gold with glow moon, Antique silver with no enamel.

Back of the Nickel coin.

Strangely, I really like the all metal one...that was just a test.

Feel free to weigh in on which color combinations you prefer!

I see a lot of coin announcements in here, and most of the have really beautiful coins. That being said, I hardly ever buy any. This is a Coin which I might just have to get my hands on. As folks can maybe tell from some of my designs, I tend to be attracted to the simpler designs. Great job.

I think I like the copper, and the antique silver best. The back is especially nice with no color(but maybe color for the stars). I'm not sure if that would look good in a polished metal though(probably not)

Great job!! If I don't get my hands on one, it will be on my wishlist!!

August 15, 2009

Thanks for the responses, they have been most helpful. Also I learned from the mint that the center ones (glow) do not have epoxy yet, so will be a touch different. I'm planning to run 3 regular editions (about 70 ea) and 2 zz's in a more limited number. I call upon puzzle cache lovers to find out what zz means :laughing:

Edited August 15, 2009 by Zelanzy

1.6k · August 15, 2009

I think I was envisioning it with hard enamel. But they're beautiful coins regardless!

Hrmmm I love the antique silver, and then the gold with yellow, I think. They're all gorgeous, so it's hard to tell! Can't wait for non-mint pictures. The mint pictures never do the coins justice!

August 17, 2009

I like the three in the bottom row.

Edited August 17, 2009 by Ford Freak

August 20, 2009

I just received 4 non-glow sample coins, the other 2 are getting epoxy and will be sent later. I finally figured out what I don't like about the copper...white moon and copper = eww. I'm changing that to Warm Gray 3...I was inspired by this image...and I realize the object is very ugly, but the colors are great! White and copper , gray and copper . Its a very subtle change, but one that makes me a bit happier with that metal.

The AS one is much cooler in person, I was going to run that one as a limited edition, but might change my mind.

So leaning towards these for the regular editions (RE):

Antique Silver with no enamel. Run of 70.

Copper with Warm Gray 3 Moon and White stars. Run of 70

Gold with Glow Moon and Glow stars (coated with epoxy to protect glow finish). Run of 70

the zz (zelanzy zedition) will be:

black nickel, i will release the colors on the sale date (website has teaser, see set of 3.33) it will be available in a set only (the 3 above + this). run of...a few...it will not likely be commerically appealing...

Edited August 20, 2009 by Zelanzy

Moon Dipper Geocoin - On Sale Now!

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