+Ladybug Kids Posted November 26, 2011 Posted November 26, 2011 (edited) The Alaska 2011 Geocoin is manufactured from a 2" x 1.5" x 0.25" (5.1 cm x 3.8 cm x 0.6 cm) piece of the Alaska state gem, jade, extracted from Alaska's Kobuk River Valley. The sold out (via Alaska sales and early notification to prior GeocacheAlaska! geocoin purchasers) limted (LE) and extra limited (XLE) editions feature the Alaska state metal, gold. The geocoins are trackable on geocaching.com and have a custom icon (pictured above). 2011 Jade Geocoin (130 minted, $30), limited edition (50 minted, $70), XLE (20 minted, $125) Back of each geocoin The Jade Geocoin is packaged in a jewelry quality slider box and the LE and XLE Geocoins are packaged in an engraved birch display box. Each jade geocoin comes with a matching acrylic proxy to keep or release to the wild for traveling adventures. As stated above, the LE and XLE versions of the geocoins are sold out, but there are still plenty of the regular jade geocoins left. Click here to order your Alaska 2011 Jade Geocoin. These are Alaska's 2011 geocoins. Skyrocketing precious metals prices and die-making expense coupled with declining sales volumes led to the decision to try something new. We know the made in Alaska proof quality precious metal geocoins had their devote followers, but we just couldn't make the numbers pencil out this year. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to buy a piece of Alaska! GeocacheAlaska! is a 501©(3) tax exmempt organization and all proceeds from sales of these geocoins go toward our mission to educate geocachers, the public, and land managers about geocaching. Edited November 27, 2011 by Ladybug Kids Quote
+Ladybug Kids Posted November 26, 2011 Author Posted November 26, 2011 (edited) A high-level summary of the manufacturing process is given below. A slab is cut from a large jade boulder. The jade slab is then cut to size for cutting the jade blanks. The jade blanks are then polished using progressively finer grit. While the jade blanks were being laser engraved and inlayed with golden foil, raw gold nuggets were hand selected at a local assay office. More complete details about the process may be found by clicking here. Edited November 27, 2011 by Ladybug Kids Quote
+DresselDragons Posted November 27, 2011 Posted November 27, 2011 A high-level summary of the manufacturing process is given below. A slab is cut from a large jade boulder. The jade slab is then cut to size for cutting the jade blanks. The jade blanks are then polished using progressively finer grit. While the jade blanks were being laser engraved, gold nuggets were hand selected at a local assay business. More complete details about the process may be found by clicking here. Reminds me of my geotechnology class...except we sliced our rocks a lot thinner Cannot wait to get mine in the mail! Quote
+boiler-todd Posted November 27, 2011 Posted November 27, 2011 Very Nice!! What is the approximate weight of the gold nuggets? Quote
+Savoy Posted November 27, 2011 Posted November 27, 2011 OK... that is just COOL! Great job on the concept.. .and thanks for the inside look at how this is done. Very nice. - Savoy Quote
+Six Little Spookies Posted November 27, 2011 Posted November 27, 2011 Very nice! I put in an order for one. Quote
+Ladybug Kids Posted November 27, 2011 Author Posted November 27, 2011 Very Nice!! What is the approximate weight of the gold nuggets? A little less than an average of 1/40 ounce for the Polaris/North Star nugget on the LE and XLE editions and about the same weight for the combined seven Ursa Major/Big Dipper XLE nuggets. The nuggets were not individually weighed, but they were selected from collections of nuggets that had been passed through #6 and #10 classifying screens, respectively, so they are the same approximate size. Like each piece of jade, each nugget is unique, making each complete piece unique aside from the tracking number. Quote
+jpbarr Posted November 27, 2011 Posted November 27, 2011 A fantastic idea with an even better result. And I really enjoyed seeing how it was made. I will be quite envious of those that have bought them. I would love to have something as unique as that in my collection but it's way out of my buget I'm afraid. Quote
+Azure Sky Posted November 29, 2011 Posted November 29, 2011 Got my jade coin today (Regular Version), but have a few issues: 1. The inlays for one of bottom stars is outside the outline. 2. the top arm on the "K" is really wavy - it looks too skinny compared to the rest of the letter. 3. The dot on the letter "i" in the word "frontier" is is missing foil inlay completely. 4. The white wolf printed on the back of the coin has a scratch through it. Considering how well it was packaged, I don't think it got this way in the mail. I don't think the gold foil inlay was a wise choice; I'm actually afraid to touch the front of the coin with my fingers, thinking the gold stuff will rub right off, it looks so fragile. I guess I will have to see if anyone else finds any problems when they get theirs. Quote
+Ladybug Kids Posted November 29, 2011 Author Posted November 29, 2011 (edited) Got my jade coin today (Regular Version), but have a few issues: 1. The inlays for one of bottom stars is outside the outline. 2. the top arm on the "K" is really wavy - it looks too skinny compared to the rest of the letter. 3. The dot on the letter "i" in the word "frontier" is is missing foil inlay completely. 4. The white wolf printed on the back of the coin has a scratch through it. Considering how well it was packaged, I don't think it got this way in the mail. I don't think the gold foil inlay was a wise choice; I'm actually afraid to touch the front of the coin with my fingers, thinking the gold stuff will rub right off, it looks so fragile. I guess I will have to see if anyone else finds any problems when they get theirs. That certainly isn't acceptable by our standards, either. I sent you an e-mail discussing options depending on whether or not you activated the geocoin. If properly applied, the golden foil is actually pretty tough. We had to remove the foil from the stars for some of the LE and XLE editions and it application of the pointy end of a knife. Anyone with a quality concern about the coin(s) they received is encouraged to e-mail me. Edited November 29, 2011 by Ladybug Kids Quote
+Azure Sky Posted December 6, 2011 Posted December 6, 2011 To follow up on my last post: I was contacted by LK and a replacement coin was sent. I am extremely happy with the replacement and the issue has been resolved to my satisfaction. Quote
+boiler-todd Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 Got my Jade Le yesterday. Thanks for the coin. Quote
+Jayman11 Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 Wow that is very cool! Awesome coin, love the how it was made pics! Quote
+rosebud55112 Posted December 8, 2011 Posted December 8, 2011 I ordered mine today. I visited Alaska for the first time this year, and this will be a great souvenir. Thanks for offering this! Quote
+Ladybug Kids Posted December 9, 2011 Author Posted December 9, 2011 There are about 25 jade geocoins left and we can still ship in time for Christmas delivery. Quote
+JackHoe Posted December 15, 2011 Posted December 15, 2011 The RE coin I ordered arrived today and it looks great. I'm very happy with it. I wish I had been able to buy a Le and XLE too, but you can't have them all Quote
+Greenish Posted December 19, 2011 Posted December 19, 2011 Seriously thrilled with my LE. I just adore the Alaskan geocoin series, and this one is truly unique and special. I am a bit stunned Ladybugkids have any coins left, as I thought they'd all go like hotcakes. If you dont have one, and are a serious collector of beauty..... GET ONE!!! Quote
+Ladybug Kids Posted December 20, 2011 Author Posted December 20, 2011 Thanks, everyone, for the positive feedback. We do have about a dozen and a half of the regular edition jade geocoins left and that's going to be it for this series. We're already brainstorming options for 2012. It's going to be tough to match or top the 2011 edition. Quote
+rosebud55112 Posted December 25, 2011 Posted December 25, 2011 Santa brought me my coin last night. This will be a great personal geocoin to track my mileage with in 2012. Every time I see this coin it will remind me of my wonderful trip to Alaska in July 2011. Quote
+mo pirate Posted January 19, 2012 Posted January 19, 2012 Do you have any left? Would you be willing to trade some of the difference for my Titanic 100 year anniversary geocoin/pathtag combo coin? It is here on the forums and in 2 versions? Let me know please. thanks, mo pirate Quote
+CedarPointFreak Posted February 29, 2012 Posted February 29, 2012 Got mine a couple weeks ago. Just love it! A "jewel" in my collection! Quote
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