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Maroon Clownfish Coin


The Prince

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Hello fellow Geocachers!

In my journeys I have come across many different and fantastic Geocoins.

As such I have decided to make a few of my own (one at a time of course) for the enjoyment of my fellows, You!

 

My current plan is to create some trackable coins based around Marine Fish and Invertebrates with their own icon and so forth.

My first design can be seen here.

 

The Front!

4075753270_23e9e1be3f.jpg

 

The Back!

4074999163_c819e54a1e.jpg

 

The fish will be made in enamel. The black lines are to be raised edges and the coral surroundings will be also be raise slightly. I am looking at the text being being raised edges as well. The colours are not final. The coin will be 'upgraded' by professionals so the final should be even better than this one!

 

Before I produce these delightful creatures I wanted to see the general reaction of potential buyers, aka You.

As such I would like to hear your comments on the design and whether or not you would be interested in buying it.

 

Final decision will be made on the 20th of November 2009 (That's the 20th of this month).

Depending on the number of comments this period may be extended but I hope that that will not be necessary.

 

Hope you all enjoy looking at my new coin,

The Prince!

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Cute idea.

 

My only critique would be that the same design for both sides is not attractive..... too poker chippish, if you see what I mean - tho I can hear the poker fans in the house mumbling that there is nothing wrong with that. Maybe have the clown fish hiding among the arms of the anemones it uses for cover can allude to it being very cache-like.

 

You should contact Dorkfish as she's made a bunch of fantastic geocoins with a marine flavour and they have sold extremely well. She can give you some great pointers on how to improve on your design to make it more appealing.

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I was originally thinking of adding an anemone to the back of the coin but I wasn't so sure on the realism of it. I have taken the colours and shapes of the fish from photographs and would like, if added, the anemone to be as realistic and simple as possible.

 

In other words: It was my original plan but I decided against it for the sake of ease. I will definitely look into it!

 

Thanks for your advice and thanks in advance to those who haven't yet given it... :rolleyes:

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I was originally thinking of adding an anemone to the back of the coin but I wasn't so sure on the realism of it. I have taken the colours and shapes of the fish from photographs and would like, if added, the anemone to be as realistic and simple as possible.

 

In other words: It was my original plan but I decided against it for the sake of ease. I will definitely look into it!

 

Thanks for your advice and thanks in advance to those who haven't yet given it... :rolleyes:

 

I don't know if it would be feasible, but I think it would look very cool if the anemone was done in 3d metal with the clownfish done in soft enamel and hiding within the 3d arms.

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I love fishies!!! I will likely buy it no matter how the final design ends up.

 

I agree with what others have said, the front and back are too much the same. Different views would be cool. But here is what I thought ... you mentioned doing it as a series. Maybe have a back with a general ocean / reef view, and use that throughout the series. And a front that highlights a specific pretty fish.

 

I do like the coral border, that is very pretty.

 

I look forward to seeing this one evolve!!

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I don't know if it would be feasible, but I think it would look very cool if the anemone was done in 3d metal with the clownfish done in soft enamel and hiding within the 3d arms.

To the best of my knowledge it is completely imposible to do such a thing. If it were possible you would be adding a huge cost to the coins. Would you really be willing to pay £10-£12 for a coin just so it has that back?

I am not looking at doing anything that complex at the moment although I do have some really fancy invertibrates in mind for an extra special (maybe even unique) coin in the feuture.

 

I agree with what others have said, the front and back are too much the same. Different views would be cool. But here is what I thought ... you mentioned doing it as a series. Maybe have a back with a general ocean / reef view, and use that throughout the series. And a front that highlights a specific pretty fish.

As for the thing about doing a single back for the whole series I think it is an excelent idea. This would change the coin a lot though:

The tracking number and the words saying 'Trackable at Geocaching.com' would go on the back with the series design and the front would contain the fish name. Effectively what I am now calling the back would become the front and what I am now calling the front (with the coral reef design) would become the back.

 

Does this sound like a good idea to you lot? It does to me.

Thanks again...

 

P.S.

I am likely to say thanks at the end of every post. Doesn't feel right not to. Just to warn you... :rolleyes:

Edited by The Prince
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...so the sea cucumber says to the mollusk... :D

 

I don't quite follow... Do englighten? :rolleyes:

its a quote from the animation movie "finding nemo"...the clown fish tells a joke... :lol:

so, does anyone remember the punchline?! anyone?!...anyone?!...Bueller?! <_<

 

"The sea cucumber looks over to the mollusk and says: with friends like these, who needs anemones?"

 

:huh:

 

One of my favorite animated movies...

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To bring this discussion straight back to the original topic I have begun work on redesigning the back of the coin.

 

At the moment I am working on a small collection of corals growing up out of the tracking number towards the words 'Trackable at Geocaching.com'. I think that it'll work really well as a 'unified' image across my entire series as well as an icon for the series itself. All the coins in the series would share this common icon even though there will be, hopefully, a great variety of coins and finishes.

 

So, to re-title the images:

 

Front

4074999163_c819e54a1e.jpg

 

Back will be here soon!

Shouldn't take more than a few days, if that.

 

Hope you will all enjoy it.

And no. This time I am not going to say thanks due to the hijacking of my topic! I look upon it with a great deal of amusement and a touch of disapproval. (Don't take offence. I mean nothing by this.) ;)

Edited by The Prince
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I like the idea of a common back but I also know people like different coins. If you co with a common back then the cost of the 3D on the front would really only increase the cost of the first coin and could be spread across the entier set. Keeping the cost relitivly the same as completely new front and back on each 2D coin (everyone follow my thinking?).

 

options:

1. What about the clown fish being cutout and translucent. But the rest of each side would be unique.

2. Close up shot on one side, reef shot on other. (could be used as part of the common back or not.

 

Love the discussion.

Mike

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And no. This time I am not going to say thanks due to the hijacking of my topic! I look upon it with a great deal of amusement and a touch of disapproval. (Don't take offence. I mean nothing by this.) :rolleyes:

oops...didn't mean to hijack your topic, just trying to stir a little more interest. i'm glad you have such a great sense of humor about it all. good luck! ;)

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Well. I have looked at clownfish and although they are generally shown smiling they do look like what has been drawn.

Personally I am looking for accuracy more than smiles. Do you think it'll look better smiling? I can still change it.

 

Ahhhhh, don't mind me... You're right... I just googled some images of clown fish and they seem to be blessed with a naturally "slightly worried" expression.

 

I've probably been watching "Finding Nemo" too much...

 

MrsB ;)

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Well. I have looked at clownfish and although they are generally shown smiling they do look like what has been drawn.

Personally I am looking for accuracy more than smiles. Do you think it'll look better smiling? I can still change it.

 

Ahhhhh, don't mind me... You're right... I just googled some images of clown fish and they seem to be blessed with a naturally "slightly worried" expression.

 

I've probably been watching "Finding Nemo" too much...

 

MrsB :)

 

I have a couple of percula and skunk clowns in my office fish tank...I looked carefully, and they didn't really seem to be smiling. I also have a peculiar clown that was smiling...maybe for another coin...

 

smilingclownfish-1-1.jpg

 

This is what happens when i get bored. I do have a saltwater tank at my office, and a mini reef at home...I look forward to seeing your coin!

 

ILYK
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It is finally here!

This is the proposed version of my Geocoin's front and back. (and I love it!)

 

Obviously the artworks and colours will be re-created by a professional. Let me know if this coin is worthy of production!

 

Front

4095072033_d8b0609f7e.jpg

 

Back

4095831874_b17a6e5ca9.jpg

The back will be a standard version across the whole series but the front will be different every time.

 

I am eagerly awaiting your opinions so get back to me soon! :)

Thanks,

The Prince.

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As I have previously stated the lettering is in raised edges. The coral boarder is slightly raised from the rest with the black lines as raised edges. The black lines on the front and back are in raised edges.

 

The fish is coated in hard enamel. The details on the back will not be enamelled.

 

The grey background will be plain metal. Possibly in different metal finishes or as a simple grey. I am going to make the Finish V Colour decision when I get some samples in. I will have a variety of samples with different finishes/colours and may produce several of them.

 

I am planning to have 250 of them produced and I may reprint in the future, depending on demand.

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I think the artwork looks great! I really appreciate nature-themed coins.

 

I know I am late in viewing this process, but is there any chance you could add the scientific name of this fish: Premnas biaculeatus? I think this would be a good idea for two reasons:

 

1) common names - Maroon Clownfish, for example - are not applicable everywhere and often change. A good search came up with other common names for this little guy: Yellow Stripe Maroon Clown Fish, Maroon Anemonefish, Spinecheek Anemonefish, and Maroon Gold Stripe Clownfish. Scientific names are universal, and biologists in other countries often recognize scientific names more often than American scientists. I think any science-minded geocacher finding this coin would appreciate the scientific name! If you do put it on the coin, make sure it is italicized in accordance with proper nomenclature.

 

2) It's a way to add some education/science to what is already a fun coin! There is a precedent for this: Belted Kingfisher coins feature their scientific name: Ceryle alcyon.

 

An aside: this species is popular in salt-water tanks. Any chance future coins will address the importance of fair trade and responsible harvesting of fish in the pet trade? Just another way to promote awareness as well as make a great series of pretty coins...

 

Can you tell I am a biologist, and a little detail-oriented?! :) Congratulations on a lovely design...I'll look forward to this coin and others in this series when it comes out.

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I think the artwork looks great! I really appreciate nature-themed coins.

 

I know I am late in viewing this process, but is there any chance you could add the scientific name of this fish: Premnas biaculeatus? I think this would be a good idea for two reasons:

 

1) common names - Maroon Clownfish, for example - are not applicable everywhere and often change. A good search came up with other common names for this little guy: Yellow Stripe Maroon Clown Fish, Maroon Anemonefish, Spinecheek Anemonefish, and Maroon Gold Stripe Clownfish. Scientific names are universal, and biologists in other countries often recognize scientific names more often than American scientists. I think any science-minded geocacher finding this coin would appreciate the scientific name! If you do put it on the coin, make sure it is italicized in accordance with proper nomenclature.

 

2) It's a way to add some education/science to what is already a fun coin! There is a precedent for this: Belted Kingfisher coins feature their scientific name: Ceryle alcyon.

 

An aside: this species is popular in salt-water tanks. Any chance future coins will address the importance of fair trade and responsible harvesting of fish in the pet trade? Just another way to promote awareness as well as make a great series of pretty coins...

 

Can you tell I am a biologist, and a little detail-oriented?! :) Congratulations on a lovely design...I'll look forward to this coin and others in this series when it comes out.

Adding the scientific name is a good idea. Love the coin. When other coins get made in this series will there be a chance that each coin has its own icon? Please! (I admit it, I'm an icon [insert your favorite epithet for obsessive people here])

 

An aside to the aside: Many clownfish are tank raised now. Aquaculturists have made great strides in breeding salt-water fish and continue to develop, refine and perfect their techniques. The list of aquacultured species continues to grow! :)

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I too think that adding the scientific name is a fabulous idea. Why didn't I think of it?

 

I have passed on the idea to the art-department at Oakcoins and hope to have the revised artwork soon.

 

An aside to the aside of the aside - I looked myself at keeping marine fish. That is were the idea of fish coins came from; the less common (and in my eyes far more beautiful) varieties of well known fish.

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I like the scientific name! Also, have you considered making the graphic have a bit more definition/illustrative? Something more like this:

 

maroon-clowns_0.jpg

 

You can get the depth by deepening the layer under a maroon translucent. Just a thought ;)

 

 

 

I like the second one alot and would make an awesome shaped coin!

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Sorry you two but I am not doing shaped coins yet, maybe in the future...

 

As for the addition of the scientific name, here is the final design!

4172173336_4cc9bb038e.jpg

I hope you all like it as much as I do.

 

I will probably ask for the samples to be sent on Friday. Since Oakcoins work on the Saturday the samples should arrive in about three to four weeks.

 

Thanks again,

Dan

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