Geocoins

[shootah]

I've heard of geocoins that I'm guessing are numbered and trackable like travel bugs. I've never seen one of these type but have found the ones that look like casino poker chips with the geocaching logo on them. Can somebody tell me about both and their purpose?

[+ZackJones]

Go to the Travel Bug tracking page and look at this one: TBD5D3

 

Geocoins can be tracked through this web site and do not require a tag like a regular travel bug does. The coin is numbered and that number is used for tracking purposes.

 

Zack

[+GeoCyclist]

Anyone know why there are so few geocoins out there compared to the number of travel bugs? At least in my area there are at least 100 TBs for one geocoin. I was looking at prices on the web and coins cost about the same as TBs. Am I missing something? I realize the TB allows the owner to attach something to it so this makes it different from the coin.

[+Team DEMP]

My guess is that people tend to keep the coins while TBs are more understood and placed in another cache.

[+Renegade Knight]

Anyone know why there are so few geocoins out there compared to the number of travel bugs? At least in my area there are at least 100 TBs for one geocoin. I was looking at prices on the web and coins cost about the same as TBs. Am I missing something? I realize the TB allows the owner to attach something to it so this makes it different from the coin.

First they cost money. A single coin isn't to bad but to make them you have to pay a die cost and have a minimum order size and it adds up to several hundred dollars before you are done. Even if several cachers share the cost they have to agree on the design and their individual share is still sizable.

 

Second as has been pointed out they are more collectable than most travel bugs. We have a trackable coin around here and though I like coins from caches (it's what I trade for and about it) I'm not going to go get this one because it's trackable and the owner would frown on my taking it. That wouldn't stop other people though.

[+IV_Warrior]

Coins are a little more expensive, and I think more likely to get kept as a "prize" than a travel bug, which is slightly more likely to actually travel. At least, that's why I haven't bought any coins, although I might buy a couple, just because they're cool.

[FISUR]

I've heard of geocoins that I'm guessing are numbered and trackable like travel bugs. I've never seen one of these type but have found the ones that look like casino poker chips with the geocaching logo on them. Can somebody tell me about both and their purpose? 

shootah: There are two geocoins which are trackable on geocaching.com as travel bugs (i.e., Moun10Bike and USA geocoins). There are a number of other geocoins which are trackable on other sites (e.g., Texas, California, Canada, Alabama, Oregon, Conejo Cachers, CrimsonWrath, GeoNap, etc.). Many other geocoins or geotokens are signature items that are not intended to be tracked (e.g, Crusso, FISUR, Oreo Cookies, MountainMudBug, etc.) For more information, check out the Geocoin Designs section of our home page.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Team FISUR

Edited June 28, 2004 by FISUR

[dampeoples]

I think it might be because you have to go offsite to get them. I don't personally like buying brand x related gear at brand y's website. I did just order myself a new coin though. I even ordered the #1 case, where I can write on it, and tell people it's goals and that it's supposed to move, maybe that will help!

[+Mechanics Hands]

I personally love to find signature items. I will take a geocoin, when I find one, but then check to see its mission etc. If the owner wanted it to be traveling I will abide by it and place it in my next cache. However if the owner didnt care, and if I didnt have one like it, I would keep it. I am working on developing my own signature item (time permitting) Its going to be about 2 inches in diameter with cupped hands holding an airplane on one side. Wrapped around the top it will say A mechanics hands and wrapped around the bottom will be "the heart of an aircraft mechanic" I will also attach a copy of the story I wrote entitled "the mechancis Hands" I will release these as a signature item (hoping one day for them to be true coins) but not intending them to travel unless attached to a TB.

 

In reality its really all about what the owner (not the person in possesion of it) would like the item to do and respecting their wishes.

 

MH

[+Team DEMP]

Mechanic Hands: Can you link me to a geocoin page where the owner released the coin and didn't care if you kept it or not? Sounds more like a FTF prize then a geocoin which is just a specialized TB.

[+Mechanics Hands]

I have seen some, cant remember the numbers that the owners simply placed them because they were geocoins from their home state and they were out traveling or living in a new area and wanted something specialized with a taste of home. Granted most are intended to travel, but many others are not.

 

MH

[+Kealia]

I own some of the California Geocoins and I have to just realize that when I place them they are going ot be kept.

 

While I wish they would travel, I know they won't. That's why I only leave them in the GREAT caches.

 

They did cost me about the same as TBs, but people see TBs all the time. Coins are more rare.

[+dzdiver]

I own a couple of the USA Geocoins. I have placed one into circulation so far. I have had great success with that coin. It is now overseas and travelling aimlessly from cache to cache as I intended. I plan to place the other into my first cache that I place. I for one intend my geocoin to travel and not be collected as personal property by geocachers. I have also purchased travel bugs, but have not placed them into circulation yet, as I have not found something suitable to attach them to. That is what attracted me to the geocoin, it is simple, elegant, and trackable.