Activation code question

[+PlantAKiss]

I have a very modest Geocoin collection. And only recently I have been buying a few new ones, but I'm receiving coins that have no activation codes with them. The older coins that I have, and as far as I can remember, the coins would come with a little card that had your activation code written on them. I just realize that a bunch of the coins I've just bought have no activation code/card with them. It's just the coin and I'm thinking the sellers made a mistake by not sending me the codes. I looked it up on the site and it says the activation code comes "with the packaging of the coin" and that's what I remember.  Is this something new where sellers do not send the activation code with the coin? It feels to me like the coin is incomplete without having the accompanying card and code. None of mine are activated and I would sure like to have an official card for its value if at some point I decide to dissolve my collection. I consider a new unactivated coin as including that card/code. So many things change with the game it is hard to keep up and I don't know if this is a common thing now that you just get the coin and nothing else. Am I just old and I'm behind the times with coins?Thanks for any info because I was about to go fuss at some sellers for not sending me my code card. 
 

[+GeoCharmer81]

On that page, under what you posted above is a hyperlink that says ''Retrieve your activation code'' where you can get that code.

[+PlantAKiss]

I saw that. So you are saying that nowadays coins don't come with the little card with the activation code on it? It's all done online? 

[+kunarion]

2 hours ago, PlantAKiss said:

I saw that. So you are saying that nowadays coins don't come with the little card with the activation code on it? It's all done online? 

 

I've most often seen them with activation codes, but occasionally it's a 3rd-party web site (even a defunct web site), no code word with the coin in those cases. 

 

When you said "it's just the coin", did you mean it was in its sealed coin flip with nothing but a coin?  Or no packaging at all?

[+GeoCharmer81]

I've purchased coins on ebay and from private collectors. And many from GC sponsored shops. Some have had the card with the coin and some don't. If the coins go through several sales or trades, the cards with the activation codes may be lost along the way. There are even some that have a ''manufacturer's'' card, but there is no activation code on it.

[+PlantAKiss]

On 3/22/2025 at 7:44 PM, kunarion said:

 

I've most often seen them with activation codes....

 

When you said "it's just the coin", did you mean it was in its sealed coin flip with nothing but a coin?  Or no packaging at all?

They came different ways. I just looked through these most recent:

 

From one company, 2 separate orders close together: 1 in tissue paper (no card); 1 in small open plastic bag (no card); 1 in bubblewrap sheath with flip protector (with card); 1 in velveteen bag (with card).

 

One eBay purchase from hell (PO lost it), seller didn't send card and said he didn't have it; don't know manufacturer (Geowoodstock XVII, OCBeans, Fort Worth, TX--if anyone knows anything about this coin?). I (foolishly I guess) assumed it was coming with a card because it's unactivated.

 

Another purchase from hell, a very unresponsive company, coin just in a plastic bag, no activation card. 

 

Im just used to getting a card for the code and don't know if it's not done any more or seller forgot to send. The cards I did get don't have the code written on them.

 

Maybe new coins with cards with activation codes is old school now? 

 

[+kunarion]

2 hours ago, PlantAKiss said:

They came different ways. I just looked through these most recent:

 

From one company, 2 separate orders close together: 1 in tissue paper (no card); 1 in small open plastic bag (no card); 1 in bubblewrap sheath with flip protector (with card); 1 in velveteen bag (with card).

 

One eBay purchase from hell (PO lost it), seller didn't send card and said he didn't have it; don't know manufacturer (Geowoodstock XVII, OCBeans, Fort Worth, TX--if anyone knows anything about this coin?). I (foolishly I guess) assumed it was coming with a card because it's unactivated.

 

Another purchase from hell, a very unresponsive company, coin just in a plastic bag, no activation card. 

 

Im just used to getting a card for the code and don't know if it's not done any more or seller forgot to send. The cards I did get don't have the code written on them.

 

Maybe new coins with cards with activation codes is old school now? 

 

 

It does look confusing!

I should check my coins.  All of mine are either from shops, or were prizes, and all in coin flips or similar packaging.  The most recent was purchased last year from the Geocaching Shop.  Even the various trackable tags are packaged and have activation codes.  But I'll see if anything changed over the years.

 

If you use the link that GeoCharmer81 posted, at least you can retrieve each code.  That will be some work if there are a lot of them.  Print or hand write the activation code on a slip of paper and pack it somehow with each coin.  Then if you ever want to activate or sell them, it saves a step later.  If you use that retrieve link, maybe also make a note of the exact letters and numbers in each Tracking Code.  You know, 0 looks like O, so you get to figure it out, might as well write it down.  Whoever activates it in the future will thank you. 

 

There's no requirement to activate a coin if you simply want to retrieve the activation code.

 

Edited March 27 by kunarion

[+GeoCharmer81]

I just received some trackable tags from one of the shops in Washington (not SG) today and they have cards with codes.

My most recent coins from the subscription club that ships from Michigan does not have cards or codes.

There is a shipment from Geocaching Shop due tomorrow. I'll put a note in here about them.

[+PlantAKiss]

Thank you! I know I can retrieve the code but I think it looks cheesy to have a handwritten piece of paper. The activation cards look nice. My collection is small and not selling them but one day I'll probably have to and they would look nicer with a professional card. Mine are all unactivated. 

[+GeoCharmer81]

The coins I got from Geocaching Shop all had the cards with the Activation Code.

[+GeoCharmer81]

On 4/7/2025 at 8:02 PM, PlantAKiss said:

Thank you! I know I can retrieve the code but I think it looks cheesy to have a handwritten piece of paper. The activation cards look nice. My collection is small and not selling them but one day I'll probably have to and they would look nicer with a professional card. Mine are all unactivated. 

 

If you want to do a not-so-small project... You can check into the manufacturer of the coins and make your own cards. If you find out the manufacturer, you may ask around to see if anyone has cards from that manufacturer. Then scan the card into your computer, use an editing program to change to the correct code and print it.

[+kunarion]

1 hour ago, GeoCharmer81 said:

 

If you want to do a not-so-small project... You can check into the manufacturer of the coins and make your own cards. If you find out the manufacturer, you may ask around to see if anyone has cards from that manufacturer. Then scan the card into your computer, use an editing program to change to the correct code and print it.

 

I suggested printing the cards, just a couple of replies ago.  But I wouldn't trust a home laser nor inkjet printer for such a project. And a professionally done card, with the specific typestyles that a coin company uses, on the correct card stock, cut perfectly, may not be worth the time and cost... regardless, it's still cheesy, especially when the coin never came with such a card.  Maybe it's slightly more secure to require that extra online "code retrieval".  And maybe that's a reason why recent coins don't have a card.

 

Edited April 9 by kunarion

[+kunarion]

On 4/7/2025 at 8:02 PM, PlantAKiss said:

Thank you! I know I can retrieve the code but I think it looks cheesy to have a handwritten piece of paper. The activation cards look nice. My collection is small and not selling them but one day I'll probably have to and they would look nicer with a professional card. Mine are all unactivated. 

 

If you're talking about coin flips in the original package, I'm thinking it is best not to change a thing. When it comes to collectors' items, buyers want the actual item's packaging in mint condition, unopened. That even the finest archival card insert you could make is still just something you made. It won't increase the coin's value.

 

However, if you have a small transparent package to place the unmolested coin flip, along with a note and other cards and stuff that the coin came with (a few of mine arrived with loose info cards and promotional items), you may print an Activation Code as nicely as you like and include it with the extras. In that case, I'd recommend also printing any special information you have about the coin. I'd bet that people will appreciate that.

[+PlantAKiss]

I guess I need to chase down the companies I bought from and see if they just forgot the card. I don't have a functioning computer or printer at the moment so that's out. I just got some trackables from GC.com and all came with cards and codes in flip cases. That's how I remember trackables being sent. Thank you all! 

[+GeoCharmer81]

41 minutes ago, PlantAKiss said:

I guess I need to chase down the companies I bought from and see if they just forgot the card. I don't have a functioning computer or printer at the moment so that's out. I just got some trackables from GC.com and all came with cards and codes in flip cases. That's how I remember trackables being sent. Thank you all! 

Sadly, some of the companies are no longer in business. And, if the coins are older, a company may not have the Activation Code cards for coins that are no longer in production. Although, they can likely provide you with the Activation Code itself.