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Geo-Coins?


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I've found a source for Canadian geo-coins that can be left at a cache....and I've found a source for Texas coins....but these are all numbered and designed to be tracked.

 

What I'm wondering is does anyone know where I can get a special coin done with my team logo on it that I can use as a trade item? It would have to be affordable...but yet nice looking.....(no plastic would be nice).

 

Thanks....

 

Northern-Lights

Michigan

 

We're going on a treasure hunt...we're not quite sure just where...but our trusty GPS, we'll find a cache stashed there!!

By Daughter Cheryl

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quote:
Originally posted by Northern-Lights:

I've found a source for Canadian geo-coins that can be left at a cache....and I've found a source for Texas coins....but these are all numbered and designed to be tracked.

 

What I'm wondering is does anyone know where I can get a special coin done with my team logo on it that I can use as a trade item? It would have to be affordable...but yet nice looking.....(no plastic would be nice).

 

Thanks....

 

Northern-Lights

Michigan

 

We're going on a treasure hunt...we're not quite sure just where...but our trusty GPS, we'll find a cache stashed there!!

By Daughter Cheryl


 

Check out this site:

 

http://www.geocities.com/team_fisur/geocoins/index.html

 

If you want nice pins for $1.50 each, no minimum, no set-up fee. Try here:

 

http://www.littleawards.com/littleawards/

 

They also do patches and are very easy to work with.

 

micky4.gif

====================================

"Boredom is the state of one's mind"

====================================

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Northern-Lights, there are a number of different companies that you can turn to for personalized geocoins. Do an internet search for "challenge coin", "poker chip", or "wooden nickel". And if you conduct a Groundspeak forum search under the word "geocoins", you'll see several references to companies that have been used in the past. (We'll email you some specific company names.)

 

If you are interested in bronze coins, be prepared to spend about $4 per coin for the first set since you'll have to pay for the production of the die. The next set of bronze coins will cost substantially less.

 

On 10/06/02, Groundspeak indicated that it would make a die available for one side of the coin with a geocaching.com logo. This should make the initial expense much less, but we're not aware of that die being made available yet. You might want to check with Groundspeak.

 

Plastic and wooden geocoins are a good, less expensive alternative. Don't veto plastic or wood before taking a good look at that option. There are some nice ones out there.

 

Also, don't limit your imagination to geocoins. There a lot of other geo-creations to consider, such as keychains, pouches, calling cards, pins, magnets, patches, photo CDs, even desiccant packs and eggs.

 

One final word, if you plan on using the geocaching.com trademark design on any side of the coin, be sure to check with Groundspeak.

 

If you're looking for some ideas, check out the images of geocoins and other geo-creations on our home page.

 

Good luck,

 

Team FISUR

 

Rhode Island Geocaching

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I've made my own geocoins using polymer clay. Its cheap, quick, relatively easy, and it looks pretty good for a handmade item. They go fast when I put them in caches, and most importantly I have fun making them icon_wink.gif

(The photo of the other side didn't come out clearly - its a wire globe with Geocaching USA written around it.)

 

pubimage.asp?id_=1463010

 

______________________________________________________________________

Remember that happiness is a way of travel, not a destination. - Roy M. Goodman

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Got the info from FISUR....very nice indeed. And I guess I'll also look into plastic and wood like it was suggested. I think I'd like a good bronze coin.......but price may make that out of our range.......we will see.

 

icon_razz.gif

 

We're going on a treasure hunt...we're not quite sure just where...but with our trusty GPS, we'll find a cache stashed there!!

By Daughter Cheryl

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mt. mudbug wrote

 

quote:
They go fast when I put them in caches, and most importantly I have fun making them


 

I appreciate that you "get it." Having fun is the most important aspect. That being said; your coin looks great, and although an extreme unlikelihood, I would love to find one some day. But hey, that's what makes them collectable!

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Or anyone else familiar with polymer clay coins...

 

How to do? It would be totally awesome to make our own coins - especially since our second set of sig. items is running out. Thanks!

 

Edit: I'm familiar with the polymer clay - but do you use any sort of mold? And how do you do the print? I don't want to just try and "form" them by hand, and use a former to carve a design... We're easy: A large, big "M" on one side, with some sort of geocaching logo (we'll get creative and design our own) on the other. That would be cool, and worth a try! The ones on the website above are fantastic! Believe it or not, we have one of the SpiderTracks from last year. It's not really a "coin," but a laminated token - but it's still creative and that's what counts! I tried to make some like the SpiderTrack but I do believe I failed miserably in my "quest" and abandoned said effort! icon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gif

 

If you hide it, they will come.

Grandmaster Cache

 

[This message was edited by GRANDMASTER CACHE on January 30, 2003 at 12:16 AM.]

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Grandmaster Cache, I'm glad you like the polymer idea - I'm heading out for the day (hopefully to get a couple caches!) but when I get back tonight I'll give a run-down here of the creation process. It involves rubber erasers as molds, I'll say that much now icon_smile.gif

 

______________________________________________________________________

Remember that happiness is a way of travel, not a destination. - Roy M. Goodman

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Awesome... Totally awesome. I only hope I can make something 1/2 as nice.

 

You should figure out some sort of price to make a batch of those (seeing as you are skilled with the whole "molding" concept) and offer some for sale. Those are so unique, and each one is truly one of a kind. I'm going to try and make some, but if someone wants something truly unique and doesn't have the time/energy/desire to make their own - you should check these out - maybe you can commission Mt. Mudbug to make you a batch - I bet it would be cheaper than most coins - and a lot more personable. I imagine I'll screw up royally and go through a lot of erasers icon_biggrin.gif but I'm definitely excited to give these a shot! We're about out of our Team BigM's Prehistoric Cache Locators here, so maybe I can get some coins cooking this weekend! icon_smile.gif

 

Thanks so much for sharing that with everybody. It would be so awesome to see the different teams out here leaving coins - and I can think of nothing more creative than such a great looking, handmade geocoin!

 

Cheers!

 

If you hide it, they will come.

Grandmaster Cache

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quote:
Originally posted by MountainMudbug:

As promised, here is a description of how I made my http://www.geocities.com/graphixoutpost/geocoins.html.

 

______________________________________________________________________

Remember that happiness is a way of travel, not a destination. - Roy M. Goodman


 

Mountain Mudbug, you have inspired me. I'm just thinking to myself, or actually thinking like my wife - "Like he needs another hobby?" icon_rolleyes.gif

 

Webfoot icon_razz.gif

 

My hobby? Tromping through the underbrush looking for Tupperware containers.

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Well, nobody knew what Speedy-Cut carving blocks were... So I guessed and went with some basswood sheets... I've no idea what I'm doing. icon_confused.gif I did get two erasers, but they are awful narrow (plenty thick, though). I got the clay, got the acrylic... And a good Exacto.

 

I'm going to have to see how creative I can get! LOL Here goes to a late Friday night! icon_biggrin.gif

 

If you hide it, they will come.

Grandmaster Cache

Tank at: FISH WHISPERER'S LAGOON

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I should have included a few links to stamping supplies on the how-to page above - I've done some searching on the web and have found some sites that show the kinds of supplies you may be looking for.

Also I need to be more clear about using the term 'block.' It can be used to refer to several materials: either wood, rubber, linoleum, or plastic. The term is thrown around in a general manner to refer to any 'hunk' of stuff - like a block of cheese, for example. Most carving blocks are soft, pliable materials that cut smoothly and don't splinter. Hope this hasn't caused too much confusion, and check out these links for more info on stamp carving materials.

 

I'll update the geocoin page tomorrow:

 

Sculpey Clay products & info

 

Staedtler Mastercarve Artists Carving Blocks

 

Speedball Speedy-Cut Carving Blocks

 

Speedball Block Printing Supplies

 

Polymer Clay Express - Mold & Stamp-making

 

______________________________________________________________________

Remember that happiness is a way of travel, not a destination. - Roy M. Goodman

 

[This message was edited by MountainMudbug on February 01, 2003 at 01:48 PM.]

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Hey MountainMudbug, that's a fantastic idea with the Sculpey! I've done quite a bit of linoleum printmaking, so once I saw your idea I knew exactly how the process must work - just needed to get some Sculpey.

 

Anyway, I'm kind of late discovering this thread, but here are some new homemade coins that may start appearing out there:

 

geocoins.jpg

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I found this site. Their prices arn't too bad. You can get chips for $.10 each with a logo. $.16 with the logo on both sides, but there is a $65 setup fee. So you're looking at $200 for 500 chips with a logo on both sides. After looking around this doesn't look like too bad of a deal.

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quote:
Originally posted by HeadLlama:

I followed MountainMudbugs lead and made some coins out of clay. It was a lot of work but I had fun making them. Can't wait to start putting them in caches..I've even set up a tracking system for them.

http://daw.dyndns.org/thumbs/geocoins/tn_smcoins.jpg

 

http://daw.dyndns.org/geocoins.html

Those look great! I am also doign polymer clay for my geocoins, but am still in the design phase.

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quote:
Originally posted by HeadLlama:

I followed MountainMudbugs lead and made some coins out of clay. It was a lot of work but I had fun making them. Can't wait to start putting them in caches..I've even set up a tracking system for them.


 

Very nice. While it may not work for your particular coins, polymer clay can take excellent impressions from rubber stamps.

 

Ron/yumitori

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Those chips where created for Crusso. Unfortunately, these cannot be used anymore. (Groundspeak logo violation) I tried. I did hear on other forums that someone was able to order additional chips. As for myself I went through the approval process with Groundspeak and was able to get logo approval (square logo) not round as own the web site.

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MountainBug: Ok I got the supplies, carved And when I go to press them the clay sticks, Do you use something to keep the clay from sticking? Like chefs use flour (guessing flour though would not work for clay.) Otherwise I will probably just make flat clay coins and stamp it. I have put enough blood into chiseling the stamp, I got the cuts to prove it. :-( Ouch. heheh (and I did cut away from me. lol, except my finger was away from me also.)

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quote:
Originally posted by team oreo cookies:

Those chips where created for Crusso. Unfortunately, these cannot be used anymore. (Groundspeak logo violation)


Really? I did not realize that was a violation. Could you please tell us any more details? I'm curious since I was part of the original Crusso order. I was under the impression that permission was granted...

 

-- I recognize fun when I see it.

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As a point of reference I started this quest sometime in Feb 03.

I thought the chips you guys order where way too cool and I wanted a few for my self. I posted a note on the original message thread (the one where crusso generously offered to put together an order) asking if there was anyway I could get in if another order was to be placed or if there were anymore available. No response...

Since I didn't hear back from anyone on the above thread, I decided to do this on my own. There is a lot of discussion on the boards with regards to the logo and copyrights. I figured that the "crusso" chip was already approved for his original order. If I needed to have chips made for me I would need approval for myself. What the heck? It should be easy to get approval since someone already these chips in circulation and must have been approved already. I had made up my mind that I would use a modified "gustaf variant" logo on one side, but I had nothing on the other side.

I submitted a request to Groundspeak for approval to use the geocaching logo on the reverse side of my chip. I attached the geocaching logo chip graphic as found on the poker chip site. The reply I received from Groundspeak that I would not be able icon_frown.gif to use the logo because of the rounded appearance; the "gecocaching" logo could not be modified in any way. I asked the folks then at Groundspeak if they could provide a logo I could use on my chips, they sent me the square one icon_smile.gif. All they wanted to see was the final "artwork" before I went to production. This is my story. My chips should be coming in this week or next, I can't wait. Now on to finder’s buttons for my cache(s)!!!

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quote:
Originally posted by Majick Man:

MountainBug: Ok I got the supplies, carved And when I go to press them the clay sticks, Do you use something to keep the clay from sticking? Like chefs use flour (guessing flour though would not work for clay.) Otherwise I will probably just make flat clay coins and stamp it. I have put enough blood into chiseling the stamp, I got the cuts to prove it. :-( Ouch. heheh (and I did cut away from me. lol, except my finger was away from me also.)


 

I'd been dusting the molds lightly with talc/baby powder for a while, but I've switched to using corn starch - its not safe to inhale the talc. The corn starch (near the flour in your market) seems to work just as well and now my work station doesn't smell like a freshly diapered baby butt.

 

You might consider purchasing a set of Speedball carving tools (most craft/art supply stores carry them)- you'll cut off less of yourself with those icon_biggrin.gif

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quote:
Originally posted by team oreo cookies:

This is my story. My chips should be coming in this week or next, I can't wait. Now on to finder’s buttons for my cache(s)!!!


THANKS, team oreo cookies. I did not realize all the back-n-forth behind the scenes of this one. Well, when you get yours, I;d be curious to see a picture of them. Maybe you can post here?

 

joesbar:

Yes, I believe that is where Crusso ordered said chips. They did a nice job.

 

-- I recognize fun when I see it.

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Nice Chips Oreo, Which store did you go too? I looked at chips and went to casinosupply.com and a couple others.

 

Mountain MudBug: Sadly I was using the speedball carving tool. icon_frown.gif

 

I resorted to Wooden Nickels 2 1/4 where I stamped it then with my burning tool, engraved them. basically though it is the image you see to the left<<<<

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quote:
Originally posted by team oreo cookies:

Got my hips in the other day. It took a while for me to figure how to get the pics uploaded. what do you guys/gals think?


Looking very cool! Now, where are you? In other words. what caches might we see these in? icon_smile.gif

 

-- I recognize fun when I see it.

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If anyone is trying the technique where you carve erasers to make geocoin molds .......

 

Regarding carving, my suggestions are:

 

1. Make sure you are carving on a decent quality eraser - ie: white ones are often better than the pink ones. The eraser should come out in thin strips, not chunks, as you carve.

Generally office supply stores will have a good variety - you may spend a couple dollars finding one that suits your abilities (trust me, I've got a box full of erasers with chunks out)

 

2. Use tweezers, needlenose pliers, etc. to remove the strips of eraser as you work.

 

3. If using an exacto knife, make sure you have a nice new blade in - you'd be AMAZED at the difference this can make. Really.

Cut at an angle with the blade, not straight down. Think of the letters as a butte or plateau land formation - they need a nice fat base to stand on or they'll topple over. So, cut at an angle away from the top surface of the letters, it will make them stronger.

 

4. If using a Speedball carving set and not having success, you may want to try an Exacto knife. I switch back and forth between the two until I find the one that "feels right" for whatever I'm carving.

 

5. Don't start too small! Practice on some larger designs first. Before I started carving molds for my coins I was carving larger stamps for my letterboxing activities. Those are more like index-card sized rather than quarter sized - much easier to get the hang of!

 

6. Consider making a signature item that is larger than a coin - it could still be made of clay and done by same process. Making a two-sided clay business card type thingie could actually be very cool (I may have a new project here)

 

7. Be patient. If you're getting frustrated and mad, put it down and walk away - it won't get done when you're angry (trust me again). Come back and try again later when your mood is better and you're more relaxed.

 

This project may be more difficult for some people simply due to the size of your hands. I have small girlie hands and semi-long fingernails, which makes it easier for me to get ahold of these tiny pieces. Some people may have difficulty simply because they have big manly hands! Don't feel like you're a butterfingers - give yourself time and practice.

 

If think you just aren't going to get it, don't feel badly. This might not be the best project for you, but you can definitely come up with something else cool to make. Something that reflects your personality, your state, your culture, your job......

 

And if you can't make it, buy it!

And if you can't afford it, well.... I guess it's back to Took Nothing, Left Nothing, Signed Log. icon_wink.gif

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Speedycut stuff if supposed to be very good for carving. I have a hunk of it but haven't tried carving it yet (too many projects on the table!)

 

quote:
How deep do you go down....?

 

I'd start with about 1/16 to 1/8 inch deep cuts. You can alway cut it deeper later, but ya can't stick it back on once its off! icon_biggrin.gif

 

Take a scrap of your carving block and cut a few lines, curves, letters, squiggles, etc. as an experiment. Cut some of them deep, some shallow, some narrow lines, some fat lines..... then take the test chunk and press it in a piece of polymer clay. (You may want to lightly dust your test carving with talc/cornstarch before pressing into the clay to prevent sticking)

 

That is a great way to see how your cuts look when they're in real dimension! You'll also get a better feeling as to what type of line you need to carve to get the end result you're looking for.

 

After you've seen the first impression, you can re-cut some of the test lines deeper and re-press your test block into the clay to see how different it then looks from the first impression.

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quote:
Posted by Ballast & the Booby

can you tell us how many you had made and what the total cost was?


 

They are .85 a piece or 85/100 chips with a minimum initial order of 300 chips. Aprox $255 plus shipping. They have a grapohic artis on staff to help with the design.

Crusso, had gotten a bunch of people together to place an order, MissJenn was part of that order. I don't know if each person could have their own design on one side of the chip on just one order. You may want to check with Anne @ pokerchips.com to see ehat they can do.

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as quoted:

"Chips

I found this site. Their prices arn't too bad. You can get chips for $.10 each with a logo. $.16 with the logo on both sides, but there is a $65 setup fee. So you're looking at $200 for 500 chips with a logo on both sides. After looking around this doesn't look like too bad of a deal."

 

I checked the site quoted above... Doesn't include the price of the chips at .27 each Makes the chips about .43 each double sided plus the set up fee of $65 or about $280 in quantity of 500... comes out to about .55 per chip. Still not bad.

 

As far as my original chips... I initially made them under what I interpreted was the nonprofit clause in the logo usage guidelines. I didn't realize what a can of worms I was opening. When the whole logo thing became an issue I stopped making them & contacted Groundspeak several times offering to turn over my artwork to them. I even sent them sample chips & all my company contact info in case they wanted to offer them through the online store. I never got any response but didn't want to chance any problems with "The Powers That Be" so I never had any new chips reissued.

 

I see they gave a cacher above permission to use the square logo. I'm glad as this shows how willing TPTB are to work with us cachers.

 

When I dealt with the chip company, they were more than happy to personalize the opposite side of the chip in small quantities & were very easy to work with. Hope to see more of these out there!

 

Wherever you go, there you are!

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quote:
Originally posted by MountainMudbug:

I've made my own geocoins using polymer clay. Its cheap, quick, relatively easy, and it looks pretty good for a handmade item. They go fast when I put them in caches, and most importantly I have fun making them icon_wink.gif

(The photo of the other side didn't come out clearly - its a wire globe with Geocaching USA written around it.)


 

Wow, those are very nicely done! Very inspiring! icon_smile.gif

 

Team Kender - "The Sun is coming up!" "No, the horizon is going down."

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