Coin Copys

[+FraenCache]

In last time, I found several Geocoin-Copys lying in some caches. I really wonder what´s the point about that. Honestly, if someone wants to collect coins, collect them, but well, then this coin CAN´T be on tour. That´s what collecting means.

 

If it´s because of fear of the coin getting muggled, I´d say then one shouldn´t buy trackable items. It makes definatly no sense (to me), sending out a boring aluminum plate with the code of a geocoin engraved on it. I´d go that far to say, people doing so are destroing the game in some way. Or at least taking the fun out of it.

 

Imagine, you see a listing which has a really nice GC in it´s inventory. You want to see it for real and go on your bike and ride a few kilometers/miles to get it. But when you´re at the cache, it turns out as a lame copy. This is so boring ...

 

If you buy trackable items, everyone should be aware of the fact, that the item could get lost. If you don´t want to loose stuff, you shouldn´t take part in a game sending stuff out in the world.

 

What I want to say is, there is nothing in geocaching like finding a really nice good looking coin. Finding a worthless aluminum plate with a crappy hand carved code on it can´t definatly beat that feeling. But maybe in times of crappy broken plastic objects as so called "swag" it´s just another step, taking the last interesting things out of the game, replacing them by unsightly pieces of scrap.

 

I got one coin out there. I know, it could get lost. But everytime I read about someone who was glad to find it and liked it, it makes me smile. Because it makes me feel like sending a piece of joy out in the world.

 

What´s your opinion about that? Are you a COLLECTOR or a FINDER?

[MisterEFQ]

I consider all trackables to be a number. And thats it. It doesnt matter to me what medium its on.

 

The coolest thing about a trackable is where it has gone, not how it looks IMO.

[+FraenCache]

I consider all trackables to be a number. And thats it. It doesnt matter to me what medium its on.

 

The coolest thing about a trackable is where it has gone, not how it looks IMO.

 

Well, that´s a good point, too. Shure it´s one of the main things, to take part in the travel history of an item.

 

What makes me sad is, when there is a nice detailed webpage with photo and description for the real coin and a story behind its name and apperance and all you find is a lame item whith no connection to the whole thing. Then I´m asking ... why ...

[+germanybert]

I've seen them, don't care for them much, and would never do it myself. That being said, I don't see any problem with someone doing it with their own coins because with the rate are which they are stolen or go missing I can understand why someone might do this.

 

With any trackable it is not "IF" it will end up missing, but "WHEN".

 

I log them when I find them.

[+ThePetersTrio]

I consider all trackables to be a number. And thats it. It doesnt matter to me what medium its on.

 

The coolest thing about a trackable is where it has gone, not how it looks IMO.

 

Well, that´s a good point, too. Shure it´s one of the main things, to take part in the travel history of an item.

 

What makes me sad is, when there is a nice detailed webpage with photo and description for the real coin and a story behind its name and apperance and all you find is a lame item whith no connection to the whole thing. Then I´m asking ... why ...

 

Did you ever read the proxy's page? Did you consider maybe the original coin was stolen so the owner (after waiting probably a year or more) released a proxy so that other cachers can still obtain the icon for their stats and the coin-owner can still enjoy the traveler they paid for?

 

Some people release proxy coins because they don't want to part with the real coin. Some people release proxy coins because the original coin was taken by a thief or lost or muggled.

 

If you don't like them, you don't have to move them. Just please leave them for others to enjoy. And please, don't make assumptions about why there is a proxy in place of the real thing until you read the history on the page.

[+BruceS]

Moving to Geocoin Discussions part of forum

[+goosefraba1]

 

If it´s because of fear of the coin getting muggled, I´d say then one shouldn´t buy trackable items. It makes definatly no sense (to me), sending out a boring aluminum plate with the code of a geocoin engraved on it. I´d go that far to say, people doing so are destroing the game in some way. Or at least taking the fun out of it.

 

 

I would say that the Newbie cachers that are ignorant of what travelers are, that pick up the traveler, and then quit after 20 finds without dropping the trackable off into another cache is what is kind of destroying the game. Granted, I still haven't learned my lesson and I am still sending trackables out there. I figure that they will turn up eventually. Personally, I move all trackables. I would rather see the real thing than a proxy, but having lost several coins to theft and ignorance myself, I totally understand proxies.

[+goosefraba1]

And.... many of us buy several coins with no intentions in ever releasing them

[+Ambient_Skater]

Who cares? I've never understood all the interest around geocoins. At the end of the day, a geocoin is just a piece of metal with a graphic on it. You should be happy that the coin listed in the cache's inventory is actually in the cache. That never happens with me.

[+The Blorenges]

Who cares? I've never understood all the interest around geocoins. At the end of the day, a geocoin is just a piece of metal with a graphic on it. You should be happy that the coin listed in the cache's inventory is actually in the cache. That never happens with me.

 

Many, many people care about geocoins: Designing them, producing them, selling them, collecting them , releasing them.

 

I'm one who releases the original geocoin first and then when it disappears (after 12 months of mourning) I'll happily release a proxy item in its place.

 

MrsB

 

(This is a topic of regular debate. Surely it must be in your Forum Schedule? )

[+G & C]

Simply put: it's none of your business what I do with the trackables that I purchase. If you don't like proxies, leave them be. I'll do as I please with my purchase, and don't care much to hear whining about it if it displeases people who have never bothered to send out hundreds of dollars worth of coins with nothing but a long list of theft to show for it.

 

I don't mean to call the OP out, but he's got 4 trackables on his seen list. How often can proxy sightings possibly be happening to him?

[+Harry Dolphin]

It's called being cheap. If you don't want to lose the geocoin, then don't put it out.

[+G & C]

It's called being cheap. If you don't want to lose the geocoin, then don't put it out.

 

What a narrow sighted viewpoint that is... What must you think of those who don't buy trackables at all?

[+JoenGPS]

Who cares? I've never understood all the interest around geocoins. At the end of the day, a geocoin is just a piece of metal with a graphic on it. You should be happy that the coin listed in the cache's inventory is actually in the cache. That never happens with me.

 

..and a Picasso is just a hunk of canvass with some paint splashed on it......

 

Stop and read the missions and the meanings behind some of these travelers, how and why they were created...

 

Agreed, commercialism has crept into geocoins, newbies into geocaching increased logarithmically that haven't a clue about geocoins, but there are still some great coins with great stories behind them.....and they are out there...traveling!

Edited July 19, 2011 by JoenSue

[+goosefraba1]

Who cares? I've never understood all the interest around geocoins. At the end of the day, a geocoin is just a piece of metal with a graphic on it. You should be happy that the coin listed in the cache's inventory is actually in the cache. That never happens with me.

 

..and a Picasso is just a hunk of canvass with some paint splashed on it......

 

Stop and read the missions and the meanings behind some of these travelers, how and why they were created...

 

Agreed, commercialism has crept into geocoins, newbies into geocaching increased logarithmically that haven't a clue about geocoins, but there are still some great coins with great stories behind them.....and they are out there...traveling!

 

Amen!

 

And the DeLorean is just a car capable of time travel...... ok maybe that is all it is good for.

[AZcachemeister]

If it gets stolen before it gets to a cache near you, then you will not get the icon.

A facsimile or proxy item at least allows you to log something similar to what the owner would have liked you to have found if the risk of theft wasn't such an issue.

 

I don't 'enjoy' the proxy items so much, but I do understand the necessity for them.

[+goosefraba1]

Another point to make... if the original coin is stolen. What is the harm in releasing a WELL MADE proxy? At least it will be another trackable in circulation.

[+G & C]

Another thing:

 

I'm getting dangerously close to 1k trackables moved/discovered. And I've seen MAYBE 20-25 proxies that I can recall. That is a ridiculously small percentage with all things considered. I tend to think that this is not nearly the problem that others tend to make it out to be. It just isn't that big of a deal.

[+JackHoe]

But maybe in times of crappy broken plastic objects as so called "swag" it´s just another step, taking the last interesting things out of the game, replacing them by unsightly pieces of scrap.

 

What´s your opinion about that? Are you a COLLECTOR or a FINDER?

 

The first (and last?) interesting thing about caching to me is finding new nice place I haven't seen before!

 

I'm a collector (addict?) and a finder/sender. I don't like proxies much but understand why people send them out. I don't. I like to give people the feeling of finding a real coin and hope they keep it in the game for others to get the same good feeling.

[+d+n.s]

Eh, have a lot of TBs I guess for a noob, but only one coin. The coin sits at home for friends to discover and won't ever go out.

However if I ever have a trackable (of any kind) that was missing for a year I'd put out some sort of interesting trackable using it's code. Those codes are expensive. May as well use them.

[+FraenCache]

Simply put: it's none of your business what I do with the trackables that I purchase. If you don't like proxies, leave them be. I'll do as I please with my purchase, and don't care much to hear whining about it if it displeases people who have never bothered to send out hundreds of dollars worth of coins with nothing but a long list of theft to show for it.

 

I don't mean to call the OP out, but he's got 4 trackables on his seen list. How often can proxy sightings possibly be happening to him?

 

Simply put: I find them boring an stopped moving and logging them ...

 

Again, what´s the sense behind logging, for example on a Stargate Coin Site, when the real coin is in some Collection and all others get to see a blank piece of aluminum?

IMO a cache should be some kind of "treasurechest" with some sort of "preacious" things to find in there. The reality sadly is that the find itself is the only excitement, 90% of the "swag" (at least in my area) is broken plastic figure crap. There´s way more excitement about finding a real coin ...

 

If a coin gets lost, why don´t let it die? What´s gone is gone. Sad but true. What´s the excitement of bringing a copy on the road continuing a travel it hasen´t done?

 

In the end, sure, do what you like. Really. I just wondered and wanted to know what people think about it. Not more not less. And I wouldn´t quit caching because of this.

 

Also I got three stunning coins at home, which I never will send out. And I never would activate them. Why should I, when they never leave my home? They´re no Travel items anymore. They´re collected. One of them I bought twice, one to keep an one to let go. People should be able to find precious things. Just for the wow effect ...

That´s all I´m saying.

[+mandello]

Haven't seen such copies in Europe. I would probably not be too keen to move them, but would not mind them.

 

I've lost many coins that I've released. Finding some way to resend them on their mission (with hopes for better luck) would be nice. Instead of just a plain copy, I've been hoping for an option to buy a duplicate coin with the same tracking number (like TB tags), but I guess that would be a manufacturing nighmare or require made-to-order engraving.

 

Off-topic: It seems that coins that have room for engraving the owners nickname are less likely to disappear. Or TBs, the trinkets also seem less likely to disappear (but that has happened too).

[+germanybert]

Haven't seen such copies in Europe. I would probably not be too keen to move them, but would not mind them.

 

I have seen quite a few in Germany. Even came across one last week between Wiesbaden and Darmstadt. I usually leave them there and just log them.

[+The Blorenges]

 

If a coin gets lost, why don´t let it die? What´s gone is gone. Sad but true. What´s the excitement of bringing a copy on the road continuing a travel it hasen´t done?

 

When one of my coins disappears in the field, I can shrug my shoulders - I knew it would happen eventually - but then I'm left with a "ghost listing" in my Trackables Owned list. It just sits there, doing nothing. To me, that's a waste of a tracking number. My main reason for sending out any trackable (geocoin or travel bug) is to have fun watching where it wanders. In the same way that I'm happy to re-start a TB, I'm happy to recreate something unusual/amusing to keep the spirit of a geocoin alive once the original has gone missing. I always use either "Copy" or "Proxy" in the name of the replacement so people know not to expect the original geocoin.

 

Also I got three stunning coins at home, which I never will send out. And I never would activate them. Why should I, when they never leave my home? They´re no Travel items anymore. They´re collected. One of them I bought twice, one to keep an one to let go. People should be able to find precious things. Just for the wow effect ...

That´s all I´m saying.

 

Some people (not me ) would argue with you and say, "It's wrong to Collect geocoins and keep them at home. They're trackable. They're meant to travel, not sit in boxes or albums at home."

 

But, as you say, "In the end, sure, do what you like. Really." Cachers enjoy geocoins in different ways and the good thing about it is that you can play the geocoin game any way that gives you pleasure, as long as you respect other cachers' geocoins/proxies/copies and don't treat them badly.

 

MrsB

[+GATOULIS]

hmm... well... I can understand that you do not like proxies... I understand that you are expecting to see the real coin and you end up seeing a laminated cardboard or something similar, but.... you always have the chance not to pick it up or discover it!

 

I beleive and all proxies or almost all... have the word PROXY in their title! that is so you will know that there is not a real coin out travelling!

 

I was not supporting proxies too... until I started loosing my travellers! I have 66 activated right now... from them... about 10 are in my hands... so let's say... 56 are out... do you know how many of them are stollen officially or they haven't moved for a very long time... (more than 3-4 months), or they are in hands of cachers who are not even entering in the site anymore? One of my coins are in the hands of a cahcer for more than 2 years! I have sent polite emails to all... but with an exception of 1-2... I never got an answer! I haven't loged all these coins as lost or stollen...yet! I am waiting to see... but for some... that I know I will not see them again.... how can I write them as stollen if the coin shows that is in the hands of a cacher? I do not know what I will do in the future... but...

 

anyway.... back to what I was talking.... after all that... I started thinking about proxies! I can not affort releasing coins just to be stolen... and why to be stressed? I released a proxy and it was stollen too... but.... I was not stressed... about it!

 

Some coins were won by me... and were released so thye can reach me... so the thing.... if you do not want to let a coin get stollen do not release it... is not ok here... I would be happy at least to see these coins....

 

You know... I released a coin of a friend here in rhodes... and it didn't even travel 1 metre! it was stollen right away!

 

and we all have to admit... that no matter what.... if something that we owe gets lost or stollen... it hurts us and we feel sad!

 

Other coins are way too expensive to release them! and other coins are already stollen and the owners made the proxy so their coin will keep moving!

 

About collectibles... and that it is wrong to collect them and not releasing them.... I will talk as a long time collector of many things!

 

Geocoins are collectables because they are made like this! If you wanted something not to be collectable... thenwe would have round travel bugs! from the ancient times, whatever was nice to our eyes.... we were collecting it! geocoins are getting pretier and pretier so they can be sold! thins thing brought collectionism in geocaching too! all these strange shapes, designs etc... are surelly collectables!

 

In general... we can name collectable what ever we like to collect! This may be anything... with value or not!

 

TB's are not often be stollen because they are just metal tags! the main reason that some are getting stollen is probably the item you are attaching on them! If you put a gold ring or a 100$ bill... do not expect to see it out travelling! it is simple! that is why the best is not to put items with high value in TB's or in caches!

 

and the fact... it is not correct to collect them and we should release them.... isn't that the same with collecting silver or gold coins?? I do not know if you are from USA.. I haven't checked... sorry.. I am not, so...

 

anyway... if you are from the States... you probably have some silver morgan or peace dollars... or maybe a gold 5 or 10 or 20$ piece.... right? (I am actually not talking to you only... I hope you understand it... ) why you have them?? Because you see them as investment? Because you like them??? both are reasons for collecting geocoins too! Because you like them and because after some time you might sell them and get more money! I know that this last thing sounds strange... but it is a fact! if something can be sold... or collected.. then it has an other value! (I am not talking aobut mystery coins!). Do not forget what many collectors say..... "someone's trush is treasure soe someone else..."

 

anyway... if you have such copper, silver or gold coins.... is it right to keep them and not puting them out in circulation? Even if a morgan dollar is more expensive than 1$ and the gold 20$ doesn't worth 20$... but way way more... would you do that for the face value?? Nope.. (if yes send me a PM! :laughing: I am kiding! )

why? because you will lose... the same is here too... if you are burned with the soup...then you will even blow (to make it cooler) your yoghurt (as we say in Greece!). If you have lost too many coins... and the loss is big... then releasing proxies doesn't seem such a bad idea!

 

It is up to you when you find it to discover it... to help it in its travels or let it in the cache... (just do not throw it away like some cachers do!)

 

Please forgive me for the long post, and consider my post as a very friendly talk. I hope the way I am writing is not to be missunderstood etc!

[+fox-and-the-hound]

It's called being cheap. If you don't want to lose the geocoin, then don't put it out.

 

So by that reasoning everyone who wants to set a traveler loose to travel actually WANTS to lose their trackable? How naive of me to think I've been setting lose geocoins to travel just so I could share them with others!

 

Thank goodness realiable judgment from our unimously voted leader on the Geo-Trackables Ethics Committee has set me straight!

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

This is always a "passionate" debate....please just make sure to not let things get personal.

[+Eartha]

The excitement is in the stories that the owner hopes to get with the travels. If, and when, people would write something other than "cacher dropped this Coin in a Cache". Once in a while, someone will write a very nice story to go along with the cache visit, and that's what it's all about with trackables. More so than getting an icon, or mileage, in my humble opinion, anyway. If you aren't even going to bother logging something interesting, then what's the point of moving it at all? Just discover it then.

[+G & C]

Simply put: it's none of your business what I do with the trackables that I purchase. If you don't like proxies, leave them be. I'll do as I please with my purchase, and don't care much to hear whining about it if it displeases people who have never bothered to send out hundreds of dollars worth of coins with nothing but a long list of theft to show for it.

 

I don't mean to call the OP out, but he's got 4 trackables on his seen list. How often can proxy sightings possibly be happening to him?

 

Simply put: I find them boring an stopped moving and logging them ...

 

Again, what´s the sense behind logging, for example on a Stargate Coin Site, when the real coin is in some Collection and all others get to see a blank piece of aluminum?

IMO a cache should be some kind of "treasurechest" with some sort of "preacious" things to find in there. The reality sadly is that the find itself is the only excitement, 90% of the "swag" (at least in my area) is broken plastic figure crap. There´s way more excitement about finding a real coin ...

 

If a coin gets lost, why don´t let it die? What´s gone is gone. Sad but true. What´s the excitement of bringing a copy on the road continuing a travel it hasen´t done?

 

In the end, sure, do what you like. Really. I just wondered and wanted to know what people think about it. Not more not less. And I wouldn´t quit caching because of this.

 

Also I got three stunning coins at home, which I never will send out. And I never would activate them. Why should I, when they never leave my home? They´re no Travel items anymore. They´re collected. One of them I bought twice, one to keep an one to let go. People should be able to find precious things. Just for the wow effect ...

That´s all I´m saying.

 

You've got a weird double standard with your desire only to see real coins, yet not being willing to set free your own. I hope you see that.

 

When I buy a trackable, I'm more interested in the tracking number and the ability to share that number. The medium through which I do it is usually secondary. If I share that number with you, you get proof of it through your trackables history page, and that's the mark that I enjoy leaving. Almost as much as I enjoy the mark that you leave on my trackables history page.

 

All of this being said, I've never released a proxy coin. I've always released the actual coins. But I think it shows an odd sense of entitlement for you to be so judgmental towards people for not sending out trackables in the form that you wish to see them in. Nobody HAS to send out anything, and we should all be grateful for the fact that anyone sends out anything that cost them upwards of $10, expecting nothing in return, even if it is just a copy. Would you honestly prefer no trackables over proxies?

[+fox-and-the-hound]

Noted FSM

 

I'm always surprised that so many times this field of questions pops back up without any consideration for the fact that all trackable geocoins are, in fact, just that... TRACKABLE! Trackables of any kind are set loose to be shared with others. These cost money. They take time to setup, release and maintain. These precious gifts are the most amazing aspect of geocaching next to the cache itself. Someone actually spends money out of their own pocket to share its benefit with us. To all of you who put out an original coin, TB, your backup copy of a TB, a copy-coin of any kinds and all the crazy-random-wonderful trackables for myself and my caching friends a hearty and heartfelt THANK YOU!

 

To everyone who would like to vulgarize, characterize, slander, degrade and belittle the people who have given us these wonderful gifts... you might want to take just a moment to consider the bigger picture. When someone gives you a gift the proper response is "Thank you". Not a degrading comment on how it's not the most perfect match for your expectations.

[+germanybert]

I have found the solution to the problem of stolen Trackables!! I have a trackable tattoo on my leg complete with its own number! Try to steal that one!!!

[+G & C]

I have found the solution to the problem of stolen Trackables!! I have a trackable tattoo on my leg complete with its own number! Try to steal that one!!!

 

Well, ok Bert. But this is REALLY gonna sting...

 

One of my more popular trackables isn't tangible at all. You literally can't touch it. It's a Garmin Chirp that's in my car. I've yet to hear any complaints about it.

[+The Flying Ks]

I'm new to the game, yet I thought I would give a newbie perspective. After my girlies and I going to many caches that had geocoins listed only to find they were all taken, we finally found a proxy. Okay - I admit at first I was like... LAME. LAME. But, after I put myself in others' shoes I totally get it. I decided that when I get geocoins I will release the cheaper ones into the wild ($5 or under - same price as a travel bug). However, the nicer ones I will make a proxy. I will take some TIME and effort to make a nice proxy that looks like the coin. I have one travel bug listed so far and the family that picked it up RARELY geocaches and have yet to even log the tracking number. I'm kind of antsy just for THAT so I KNOW that I will be kind of a freak if my pretty and amazing (theoretical) geocoin got stolen. Right now the hubby won't let me spring for getting path tags made so I make my own. So, the possibility of owning a beautiful geocoin is fairly small... just putting my two pennies in.

[+germanybert]

<not trackable at geocaching.com link removed by moderator> is a good way of making a trackable without all the cost. Check it out.

Edited July 22, 2011 by Eartha

[+FraenCache]

Simply put: it's none of your business what I do with the trackables that I purchase. If you don't like proxies, leave them be. I'll do as I please with my purchase, and don't care much to hear whining about it if it displeases people who have never bothered to send out hundreds of dollars worth of coins with nothing but a long list of theft to show for it.

 

I don't mean to call the OP out, but he's got 4 trackables on his seen list. How often can proxy sightings possibly be happening to him?

 

Simply put: I find them boring an stopped moving and logging them ...

 

Again, what´s the sense behind logging, for example on a Stargate Coin Site, when the real coin is in some Collection and all others get to see a blank piece of aluminum?

IMO a cache should be some kind of "treasurechest" with some sort of "preacious" things to find in there. The reality sadly is that the find itself is the only excitement, 90% of the "swag" (at least in my area) is broken plastic figure crap. There´s way more excitement about finding a real coin ...

 

If a coin gets lost, why don´t let it die? What´s gone is gone. Sad but true. What´s the excitement of bringing a copy on the road continuing a travel it hasen´t done?

 

In the end, sure, do what you like. Really. I just wondered and wanted to know what people think about it. Not more not less. And I wouldn´t quit caching because of this.

 

Also I got three stunning coins at home, which I never will send out. And I never would activate them. Why should I, when they never leave my home? They´re no Travel items anymore. They´re collected. One of them I bought twice, one to keep an one to let go. People should be able to find precious things. Just for the wow effect ...

That´s all I´m saying.

 

You've got a weird double standard with your desire only to see real coins, yet not being willing to set free your own. I hope you see that.

 

When I buy a trackable, I'm more interested in the tracking number and the ability to share that number. The medium through which I do it is usually secondary. If I share that number with you, you get proof of it through your trackables history page, and that's the mark that I enjoy leaving. Almost as much as I enjoy the mark that you leave on my trackables history page.

 

All of this being said, I've never released a proxy coin. I've always released the actual coins. But I think it shows an odd sense of entitlement for you to be so judgmental towards people for not sending out trackables in the form that you wish to see them in. Nobody HAS to send out anything, and we should all be grateful for the fact that anyone sends out anything that cost them upwards of $10, expecting nothing in return, even if it is just a copy. Would you honestly prefer no trackables over proxies?

 

Ok, maybe you should read carefully.

First, where is this so called double standard? I got one coin on the road, one I bought twice, 1st in my inventory to send it out when I find the right cache to start and 2nd to keep and two others that I would keep. This makes 2 on 3. I really can´t see a double standard there.

 

Second, when it comes to Geocoins (not Travelbugs!) the excitement about it IMO is to hold a beatiful piece of art in hands. With all its weight, its shininess, its structure etc. It´s some sort of a great physical experience. And psychological, you found something precious! Heeey, well done! ... You may agree, that a laminated piece of paper can´t match this experience by any means. I´m talking about keeping VALUE in the game, and I don´t talk about money here. AGAIN, that´s about coins NOT TBs. If you more enjoy a tiny graphic shown in your account, well, ok.

 

I must agree, I´m not in any position to judge how people act with theyr property. Let´s say I just intended to give suggestions. And I am grateful for the invention of trackables. BUT, I for myself enjoy also the physical component of a well designed and manufactured coin. And I´m participating though I´m unemployed at the moment. So I shure can tell about nominal value of a coin.

 

I may change my opinion on proxys maybe, if I will loose several coins in future, but at the moment, I think I´m still a bit idealistic as a beginner. Who knows.

 

I´d like to apologize, if my contribution was a little bit to harsh here and there. It´s not my intention to tell people how they shall act.

I enjoy the hunt and find of a cache far the most, that´s clear, but the second component still is the swag and stuff you´re able to find and trade. Sadly swag most of the time is just things, I´d put in a litter, not a cache. And thats the point, where a part of the fun gets lost. That´s all I´m talking about.

Edited July 21, 2011 by FraenCache

[+FraenCache]

hmm... well... I can understand that you do not like proxies... I understand that you are expecting to see the real coin and you end up seeing a laminated cardboard or something similar, but.... you always have the chance not to pick it up or discover it!

 

...

 

Please forgive me for the long post, and consider my post as a very friendly talk. I hope the way I am writing is not to be missunderstood etc!

 

Thanks for your post, I´ve read the whole thing and i appreciate what you´re talking about and first and foremost the way you wrote it.

 

Reading all the posts made me think, and in the end, that´s why we all take part in discussions in this myriad of forums around the internet.

Before I started this thread I already thought about it. Now hearing about it from many people changed my fiew a bit towards greater understanding.

On the other hand I still beliefe in continuing to release originals, as I was saying earlier, to keep some sort of value in the game. We need and create precious things for our lifes all the time. But we should also be aware, that they can be lost and if, we should be able to let them go without eternal regret. Sadly there will always be people who disrespect foreign property or feelings. But because of these few ones, everybody else shouldn´t stop giving good things to the world. And that´s not only about geocoins. (Wow, that sentence consumed my whole idealism for the next few month maybe ... but no joke, I mean it!)

 

I´d be very curious about finding a well made "real or physical or youknowwhatimean copy" of a coin. Until now, I haven´t had this luck ...

 

Again, I´d like to apologize if I hurt someones feelings or acted a bit to offensiv. That was never the intention. I hope this controversy goes on a littel bit more. It´s a every time topic and may be a guideline for other idealistic beginners like me.

 

Tanks to everyone sharing her/his thoughts!

 

p.s. I´m from germany, it´s no secret and you shouldn´t feel bad about lurking around any profile. It´s there for your information

[+The Blorenges]

No apologising required in this direction!

 

The views on Copy/Proxy geocoins vary from

 

"No way. I only want to see/log the original geocoin. I will destroy any other item which I find which is pretending to be a geocoin"

 

to

 

"I'm keeping my geocoins safe at home but I'll put out a piece of paper with the name and tracking number on it and that'll do if people want to log it."

 

For your amusement, here are a few of the geocoin "proxy items" which I've released:

 

Hawaii or bust!

 

Beetling along

 

Moon marble

 

Porsche "write-off"

 

 

MrsB

[+GATOULIS]

hmm... well... I can understand that you do not like proxies... I understand that you are expecting to see the real coin and you end up seeing a laminated cardboard or something similar, but.... you always have the chance not to pick it up or discover it!

 

...

 

Please forgive me for the long post, and consider my post as a very friendly talk. I hope the way I am writing is not to be missunderstood etc!

 

Thanks for your post, I´ve read the whole thing and i appreciate what you´re talking about and first and foremost the way you wrote it.

 

Reading all the posts made me think, and in the end, that´s why we all take part in discussions in this myriad of forums around the internet.

Before I started this thread I already thought about it. Now hearing about it from many people changed my fiew a bit towards greater understanding.

On the other hand I still beliefe in continuing to release originals, as I was saying earlier, to keep some sort of value in the game. We need and create precious things for our lifes all the time. But we should also be aware, that they can be lost and if, we should be able to let them go without eternal regret. Sadly there will always be people who disrespect foreign property or feelings. But because of these few ones, everybody else shouldn´t stop giving good things to the world. And that´s not only about geocoins. (Wow, that sentence consumed my whole idealism for the next few month maybe ... but no joke, I mean it!)

 

I´d be very curious about finding a well made "real or physical or youknowwhatimean copy" of a coin. Until now, I haven´t had this luck ...

 

Again, I´d like to apologize if I hurt someones feelings or acted a bit to offensiv. That was never the intention. I hope this controversy goes on a littel bit more. It´s a every time topic and may be a guideline for other idealistic beginners like me.

 

Tanks to everyone sharing her/his thoughts!

 

p.s. I´m from germany, it´s no secret and you shouldn´t feel bad about lurking around any profile. It´s there for your information

 

Hello my German friend! I just entered in your profile... WOW!!! what a cute dog!!! the hat is so perfect on him!!! WOW!!!

 

Hmm.... are there any local currency in your area? like chiemgauer, volmetaler...etc??? many do not know them but there are many local currencies in Germany... thye are using them instead of euros... I have some, and I love them!

 

some copies are really well made! huh.... mine was.... and that was probably the reason...it was stollen!

I do not remember writing about something else.... it is good to check the coin's page if it says proxy, copy or something like that... sometimes... the real coin are out... but somewhere in the middle of their trip... they are ending being copies... without even the owners knowing that! I think there was an issue about it... in the forums.. but I do not remember when... maybe 1 or 2 years ago? Someone was stealing coins and he was perlacing them with proxies... the finders thought that thiswas the coin and the owners didn't know.... I do not remember where this happent... maybe in USA.... but I am not sure... anyway... if the listing of the coin, or the title doesn't say anything... mention it in the page of the coin..(in your log) or contact with the owners... maybe they do not it...

 

BTW... we were all new... we all had and still have questions about the game, the trackables, the caches...

If you do not ask... you will never learn!

[+goosefraba1]

No apologising required in this direction!

 

The views on Copy/Proxy geocoins vary from

 

"No way. I only want to see/log the original geocoin. I will destroy any other item which I find which is pretending to be a geocoin"

 

to

 

"I'm keeping my geocoins safe at home but I'll put out a piece of paper with the name and tracking number on it and that'll do if people want to log it."

 

For your amusement, here are a few of the geocoin "proxy items" which I've released:

 

Hawaii or bust!

 

Beetling along

 

Moon marble

 

Porsche "write-off"

 

 

MrsB

 

Now that is how to re-release! Very good ideas.... and I like the write-ups on them as well. They seem to be traveling well. Just wondering... what did the set-up look like on the Hawaiian postcard. I mean did you laminate it or anything to keep from mildew in the cache?

[+FraenCache]

 

Hello my German friend! I just entered in your profile... WOW!!! what a cute dog!!! the hat is so perfect on him!!! WOW!!!

 

Hmm.... are there any local currency in your area? like chiemgauer, volmetaler...etc??? many do not know them but there are many local currencies in Germany... thye are using them instead of euros... I have some, and I love them!

 

It´s my sisters dog. I love him, he´s so funny sometimes. When i took this picture of him with his tounge hanging out I instantly had the idea of combining it with one of my selfshots. And what can I say, it matched perfectly ...

 

I´ve heard of those local currencys on the news but I never seen/used some. But maybe, according to the Euro / Dollar crisis coming up, they will get more important and spread out ... Or we´ll need to get back to barter trade soon ... Then I´d collect some Euros / Dollars, too ... Just to show my kids in future the most evil invention, mankind ever made: Money ... But that´s another story.

I keep my eyes open, and if I stumble upon some of these, I´ll remember you and get some. Promised!

 

How crazy is that, collecting real geocoins out of caches and repalcing them by copys! There´s nothing in this world that´s impossible to happen ... How sneaky can one be?!

[+fox-and-the-hound]

 

Second, when it comes to Geocoins (not Travelbugs!) the excitement about it IMO is to hold a beatiful piece of art in hands. With all its weight, its shininess, its structure etc. It´s some sort of a great physical experience. And psychological, you found something precious! Heeey, well done! ... You may agree, that a laminated piece of paper can´t match this experience by any means. I´m talking about keeping VALUE in the game, and I don´t talk about money here. AGAIN, that´s about coins NOT TBs. If you more enjoy a tiny graphic shown in your account, well, ok.

 

 

I can understand your feelings of excitement and the value of this particular experience. I've experienced it myself and know the joy What I believe upsets many of us is the idea that this is the ONLY experience of value you should have with a trackable coin is to hold an original in hand. While the original is precious and has both a monetary and tactile value, that is actually secondary to it's purpose which is to TRAVEL. What you're effectively saying when you express the need to keep value in the game is that only a precious piece of metal has value and that the founding element of trackability is worthless. We set loose TBs, Coins and Proxies to travel. The gift is in giving people a chance to be a part of the traveling experience, not just the item itself.

 

Saying there is no value in anything less than the original coin is akin to someone offering you a chance to take part in an incredible roadtrip of a lifetime and having you say, "Sorry, I wouldn't be caught dead in that junkheap because it's just not up to my personal standards of what is a good car". If anything, all the copies, replacements and various fixes to missing coins should only make finding an original coin an even greater experience.

[+The Blorenges]

No apologising required in this direction!

 

The views on Copy/Proxy geocoins vary from

 

"No way. I only want to see/log the original geocoin. I will destroy any other item which I find which is pretending to be a geocoin"

 

to

 

"I'm keeping my geocoins safe at home but I'll put out a piece of paper with the name and tracking number on it and that'll do if people want to log it."

 

For your amusement, here are a few of the geocoin "proxy items" which I've released:

 

Hawaii or bust!

 

Beetling along

 

Moon marble

 

Porsche "write-off"

 

 

MrsB

 

Now that is how to re-release! Very good ideas.... and I like the write-ups on them as well. They seem to be traveling well. Just wondering... what did the set-up look like on the Hawaiian postcard. I mean did you laminate it or anything to keep from mildew in the cache?

 

I got the postcard off Ebay then stuck the TB tag where the stamp would be, wrote a message on it (Can't remember what!) and then laminated the whole thing, so the tag is laminated into place.

 

MrsB

[+goosefraba1]

No apologising required in this direction!

 

The views on Copy/Proxy geocoins vary from

 

"No way. I only want to see/log the original geocoin. I will destroy any other item which I find which is pretending to be a geocoin"

 

to

 

"I'm keeping my geocoins safe at home but I'll put out a piece of paper with the name and tracking number on it and that'll do if people want to log it."

 

For your amusement, here are a few of the geocoin "proxy items" which I've released:

 

Hawaii or bust!

 

Beetling along

 

Moon marble

 

Porsche "write-off"

 

 

MrsB

 

Now that is how to re-release! Very good ideas.... and I like the write-ups on them as well. They seem to be traveling well. Just wondering... what did the set-up look like on the Hawaiian postcard. I mean did you laminate it or anything to keep from mildew in the cache?

 

I got the postcard off Ebay then stuck the TB tag where the stamp would be, wrote a message on it (Can't remember what!) and then laminated the whole thing, so the tag is laminated into place.

 

MrsB

 

That's what I figured... I need to get creative with my "extra TB codes". Thanks for some inspiration.

[avroair]

Saying there is no value in anything less than the original coin is akin to someone offering you a chance to take part in an incredible roadtrip of a lifetime and having you say, "Sorry, I wouldn't be caught dead in that junkheap because it's just not up to my personal standards of what is a good car". If anything, all the copies, replacements and various fixes to missing coins should only make finding an original coin an even greater experience.

 

I somewhat agree. Using your analogy, there is a disappointment when you expect to go on said road trip in your dream car only to find you have to sit on a donkey all the way instead, some get over the disappointment faster than others... I have seen some cool proxies, which I am happy to move along. If it's laminated paper I usually pass for fear I will lose it! Then again, I don't jump to caches with coins in them specifically.

[+FraenCache]

 

I can understand your feelings of excitement and the value of this particular experience. I've experienced it myself and know the joy What I believe upsets many of us is the idea that this is the ONLY experience of value you should have with a trackable coin is to hold an original in hand. While the original is precious and has both a monetary and tactile value, that is actually secondary to it's purpose which is to TRAVEL. What you're effectively saying when you express the need to keep value in the game is that only a precious piece of metal has value and that the founding element of trackability is worthless. We set loose TBs, Coins and Proxies to travel. The gift is in giving people a chance to be a part of the traveling experience, not just the item itself.

 

Saying there is no value in anything less than the original coin is akin to someone offering you a chance to take part in an incredible roadtrip of a lifetime and having you say, "Sorry, I wouldn't be caught dead in that junkheap because it's just not up to my personal standards of what is a good car". If anything, all the copies, replacements and various fixes to missing coins should only make finding an original coin an even greater experience.

 

I know and I can understand what you´re talking about, but IMO the aspect of first of all being a part of the travel history of an item meets best with TBs. A coin is something different and should stay a coin. A plastic plate with the number of a coin engraved "degrades" to a Travelbug, IMO.

Shure, being part of the travelhistory is the certain purpose behind that all, but a Coin is something explicit to me, where the original item is inseprable connected to the fact of tackability. Everything else is a "plain" TB.

 

Again, what´s the sense in participating in the travelhistory of an Item, that obviously never left the hand of the owner and isn´t traveling? If one cares so much about his valuable property, why he not just buys a less valuable TB to enjoy the Travel aspect on that and keep his geocoins unactivated in his collection.

I don´t want the icon of a coin shown to everybody on my profile wich I sadly never have had in my hands.

Also if a coin gets lost. Why sending something else out to continue a travel some other item has made? I also wouldn´t want to have a taxidermy of my dog. It would be not even half the fun. And everybody knows, how expensive a dog is.

 

I slightly think this whole question is a question of philosopy. And as we all know, some philospys we´re debating 3000 jears about now.

 

I really don´t want to change the world here, I´m just talking about my opinion on things. Everybody shall do what he pleases to do, no doubt. I´m just asking, why some things are the way they are ...

[+fox-and-the-hound]

 

I know and I can understand what you´re talking about, but IMO the aspect of first of all being a part of the travel history of an item meets best with TBs. A coin is something different and should stay a coin. A plastic plate with the number of a coin engraved "degrades" to a Travelbug, IMO.

Shure, being part of the travelhistory is the certain purpose behind that all, but a Coin is something explicit to me, where the original item is inseprable connected to the fact of tackability. Everything else is a "plain" TB.

 

Again, what´s the sense in participating in the travelhistory of an Item, that obviously never left the hand of the owner and isn´t traveling? If one cares so much about his valuable property, why he not just buys a less valuable TB to enjoy the Travel aspect on that and keep his geocoins unactivated in his collection.

I don´t want the icon of a coin shown to everybody on my profile wich I sadly never have had in my hands.

Also if a coin gets lost. Why sending something else out to continue a travel some other item has made? I also wouldn´t want to have a taxidermy of my dog. It would be not even half the fun. And everybody knows, how expensive a dog is.

 

I slightly think this whole question is a question of philosopy. And as we all know, some philospys we´re debating 3000 jears about now.

 

I really don´t want to change the world here, I´m just talking about my opinion on things. Everybody shall do what he pleases to do, no doubt. I´m just asking, why some things are the way they are ...

 

You're just asking, but you don't seem to be actually listening. You're looking for support on your particular aspect. So I'll address your points one at a time...

 

1) "IMO the aspect of first of all being a part of the travel history of an item meets best with TBs. A coin is something different and should stay a coin. A plastic plate with the number of a coin engraved "degrades" to a Travelbug, IMO."

 

I geocoin, first and foremost does not need to be trackable. Many are not. Adding trackability makes a geocoin into a TB. Once that number is added it is no longer just a coin. It doesn't degrade a geocoin to have a tracking code. It upgrades a geocoin to TB status. It makes it more than just a chunk of metal. It makes it a traveler with a mission.

 

2) "a Coin is something explicit to me, where the original item is inseprable connected to the fact of tackability"

 

I think it would be a good experience for you to look into some of the threads on what constitutes a coin. Not because I think you're wrong, but because you're definitely looking along the same lines that many others have already beaten some good trails to. A coin, by it's very nature is a copy. It's irrefutable. It is not and never was "original". That's why the coin was invented. Man needed a simple way to many copies of one original. Every minted coin is a copy of a single true original. That doesn't make them worthless to you so why should a copy of a copy be worth any less? Sometimes copies of originals end up better than the original, but of course "better" is also perspective. Back to my point... if you vaporize said coin the trackability remains. Why? Because the trackable number is original and unique.

 

3) what´s the sense in participating in the travelhistory of an Item, that obviously never left the hand of the owner and isn´t traveling?

 

That's a wildy inaccurate assumption to make. How do you know that's the case? Do you check the history and talk to the owner of every single coin you ever discover or move? The sense in being part of a travel history is to take part in a Mission. The idea is the real value, not the polished chunk of tin attached to it. (that coming from someone who eats, sleeps and breathes geocoin creating!) Why hunt for a cache that's been replaced after being muggled or destroyed by animals/weather/etc.? It's not the original. Because the reason for the cache is what is unique just as the mission for the coin is.

 

4)I don´t want the icon of a coin shown to everybody on my profile wich I sadly never have had in my hands.

 

That's a simple fix. If you don't want to discover or move a copy, then don't. No icon, no problem. We each get to play our own way and it's a wonderful freedom to enjoy.

 

5) Also if a coin gets lost. Why sending something else out to continue a travel some other item has made?

 

See point 1. The mission. TBs come with a backup. Sadly, because of cost, coins do not. If people had the ability to just order another coin with their original trackable number I think it would happen. Would you feel the same if an original coin had a backup and was sent out to continue the mission after the first got lost? Why or why not?

 

 

You're asking why things the way they are. Here's why... because many of us see more than just an object. We see an ideal, an opportunity, an experience, a chance to be part of something bigger and a way to share ourselves with others. Afterall, that's what geocaching is about.