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Pepper

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Hasn't that pandora's box been opened already? Doesn't someone <clear throat> already have their sig items tracked on the site?

In a sense, yes, and Jeremy has been kicking himself for that decision ever since. We had no idea that the geocoin idea would become as big as it has, and the site was a lot smaller back then. I don't blame him for wanting to try to keep things in check now and leave my coins as a one-time-only exception that is very regrettable. :o

This is neither here nor there, but I wonder if at some point Groundspeak would just be willing to sell numbers to anyone who wanted their personal coins tracked.

 

Anyway, I leave the design to the people who have talent for that kind of thing.

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Patudles said:

If we made it a Groundspeak coin, doesn't that somewhat defeat the purpose of a state coin and limited editions.

Couldn't it then be attained by anyone just by ordering it through Groundspeak?

It seems to me that might take some of the uniqueness away.

At this point I vote to retain our individualism unless there is a better argument otherwise. [END QUOTE]

 

I feel very much the same way Patudles does.

 

The coin is not a TB, is it? PLEASE correct me if i'm wrong.

Me personally I’m not liking the idea of having to put the travel bug logo on the coin. Everybody seemed settled on the latest design and I for one thought it was GREAT! (Good job NavDog)

 

I vote to leave the coin as is and continue on as a state coin made by the people for the people and separate from Groundspeak.

 

The WSGA may want to at some point make a coin for the association. Then the people that make up that organization could get together and make a coin that meets the needs of Groundspeak and the WSGA, that coin could be tracked on the site.

 

I swore I was going to step out of this but I feel so strongly about what we have all created together as group.

 

So at this point I want 30 to 40 coins of the original design, and only one of the Groundspeak controlled coins (no offence Groundspeak).

 

Shane (my husband) has offered to track the coins for ya’ll if nobody else steps up to the bat.

 

So those are just my thoughts and opinions please don’t hold it against me.

 

<sigh>

 

Pepper

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To some extent, I can see Jeremy's concern about opening the Pandora's box with the tracking of the coins, however this is a coin that was designed to pay a very large tribute to the home of geocaching.com, so I would think the argument on tracking should be tempered considerably.

 

This may also be an opportunity for the WSGA to step up to the plate and offer to track the coins without a large presence of their logo on the coin, just a sentence inserted in the design to say: "track this coin at xxx.com. Unfortunately the WSGA site has no easily identifiable url, but it's a good way for the association to promote itself and still leave the design as a coin for the state, by the geocachers of the state. Changing the outline of the state for the WSGA logo completely destroys the idea of the backside of the coin. What's more important, showing the WSGA logo or showing the home of geocaching.com?

 

My opinion is that the design as it is now, really promotes what the state of Washington is about and what it means to geocaching. Someone mentioned earlier in this thread that this was not a storybook, but a coin. I disagree, it is a coin that should tell a story about the state and geocaching.

Edited by Navdog
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The coin is not a TB, is it? PLEASE correct me if i'm wrong.

Me personally I’m not liking the idea of having to put the travel bug logo on the coin. Everybody seemed settled on the latest design and I for one thought it was GREAT! (Good job NavDog)

 

Well, said. If you do decide to put the WSGA on it don't comprise the design and take out the state outline. So now, you all must decide what you want the most. The coin as it stands trackable or not, OR compromising what you all have worked together on and changing it to make it compatable to another system. I will still buy some either way you vote but I prefer it as it stands.

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I vote to leave as it is.

 

These won't be moved often when found except to the trophy shelf. That said I don't care if they are numbered or tracked.

If the coins are commercialised I will just buy one off the shelf like a CD. I suppose I could leave $10 in a cache instead of a coin and say buy your own.

 

I would love to be a part of an active WSGA, but looking at the web site it appears to have died about 2 years ago.

 

We were at about 400 requests for the original.

 

Feel free to beat me up now for my impertenance and bad spelling.

 

Shoknaw

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I am very happy to stick with the existing design as I think Navdog has done an incredible job with it. I was hoping to be able to track the coins on the web site because I felt that the chance for people to add a new icon to their profiles would further drive demand for the coins. I don't think that the interest in my coins would be so great if that wasn't a benefit of grabbing one, but I could be wrong. Yes, coins CAN be TBs, but I think a more enticing aspect of them is that extra icon.

 

Since the general consensus so far is to keep the existing design unchanged, should we consider using www.travelertags.com as an option?

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Being one of the lucky few to grab a M10B coin this weekend, having a trackable coin is cool. I think Lucy of L&R said it best. "We put geocoins in caches to generate interest in a cache." One of my Washington State coins I purchase will be on the self with my M10B coin and my L&R geocoin, but the others will be put out to roam the world with with or with out tracking. Peace, Nolenator

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I was hoping to be able to track the coins on the web site because I felt that the chance for people to add a new icon to their profiles would further drive demand for the coins. I don't think that the interest in my coins would be so great if that wasn't a benefit of grabbing one, but I could be wrong.

 

Since the general consensus so far is to keep the existing design unchanged, should we consider using www.travelertags.com as an option?

I'll humbly disagree with you on this point. :o I think your coins are so sought after because they are beautifully designed, and you are somewhat of an icon in the greater community. :o I personally could care less about the icons on gc.com, because I rarely look at my profile or cache page with the use of pocket queries and a PDA. I only visit the site anymore to log caches, and check the NW forum. Your coins (much like Peppers) are coveted, because they are an exceptional contribution to the game. They show you enjoy the hobby enough to contribute back to it.

 

That said, I say leave the coins as is. I don't want them tracked through gc.com for no other reason than the design is exceptional right now, and the creation of it has demonstrated the ability of an exceptional group of cachers to reach a consensus on something that identifies the state and geocaching here in WA.

 

I vote for sorting out the tracking issues on our own. travelertags.com might be a great option initially, until someone can be found or cajoled into helping create a tracking site. I might play around with it a little, but my knowledge of php is laughable and my time is extremely limited.

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I know I am not from Washinington anymore but I thought I would add something just an observation. Oregon has had its own coins for awhile now. They are tracked on the oreogn caching web page. I dont know how a lot of other coins are doing but I have placed 6 a couple moved a couple of times but then "disapeared" the others never made it past the first cache. I personally dont care if they move or not I put them out there for people to find and enjoy. They still disapear fast around here and there was just another order made so I believe we will have 1500 out and about. And when one is mentioned in a cahce they are usually the first thing to go.

 

As to collecting Montain bike coins to get an icon. I disagree I want one because they are cool. I collect SI and have one of the wooden ones but would love a real coin.

 

Getting a icon would be cool but believe me people will grab them just because they are cool.

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Okay, overall it sounds like people want to keep the current design and not worry about tracking the coins on Geocaching.com. But do we want to track them at all? If not, should we remove the numbers and "WA" prefix from the design?

Instead of WA and a tracking number then, how about the year they were minted and a small designator such as a, b, c, etc. indicating the order of mint in the same year?

 

If they're going to become collectibles, may as well put value of bragging rights to them.

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I haven't been following this thread all that closely lately (due to other events) but I didn't get the feeling that people expressly didn't want to track them. Rather I thought that the issue was the "hassle factor". Personally I would like to be able to track them.

 

Granted, we probably are all aware of how the ability to track something easily doesn't mean it will be tracked. (Rhetorical Question: How often have you found that a TB was not in the cache where it was listed? Check out the Travel Bug Rest Stop as an example.) Nonetheless I found trying to track the Canadian GeoCoins to be somewhat cumbersome, simply because it wasn't linked.

 

My two and a half cents. (Inflation, don cha know?)

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....I found trying to track the Canadian GeoCoins to be somewhat cumbersome, simply because it wasn't linked.

 

Here is an option for the coins to address the tracking info without having to put it on the coin. I made up a representation of some vinyl sleeves I've seen with some other coins.

 

coinholder-2.jpg

 

There are several advantages to these:

  • They allow tracking info without having to put it on the coin. There is always a chance a website may change or no longer br available for tracking.
  • Extra info about the coin can be added as well as a picture on the other side.
  • It allows each cacher to customize the sleeve to add any goals or cacher information.
  • Maybe (insert wishful thinking) the WSGA would be willing to have a custom sleeve with the association info in return for not having a large presence on the coin itself, and maybe it would satisfy the gc.com decision about only organization sponsored coins being tracked.

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Trackable or not?

 

I planned on ordering about a dozen when this topic was first came up, that decision has not changed based on the trackability of the coins.

 

Although I would prefer to have them trackable, and would be willing to pay more, it will not impact the amount of coins I purchase.

 

The coin looks great!

 

Thank you to everyone who has worked on this!

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I recenlty picked up the GeoCoin "Snohomish County Geocoin". It was inside a plastic sleeve similar to those shown in Pepper's post. (The Vinyl Sleeve.)

 

Anyway the sleeve broke in half, and so the insert will become separated from the pocket that holds the coin. I used scotch-tape to put them back together, but that's not going to last very long.

 

The hard case looks like it would last longer, but where would you put the data sheet? Maybe we could find something like those "proof" boxes that coin collectors use for the "2004 Mint Proof set". You know - room for the coin AND for a note as well.

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I just wouldn't put the URL of the tracking page on the coin because of the chance it might change. I guess it might not be such a problem with traveler tag? Has anyone had success with them? I bought a few Alabama coins and couldn't get them to log at all and wrote 3 emails to the company without a response. I'm not impressed.

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I hope they are numbered and tracked on geocaching.com. I found a Canadian geocoin once, and logged it on their site, but that made it kind of boring! I don't remember which one it was, and can't see where it went after I placed it in another cache because I didn't bother jotting it down for myself. Geocoins are much more interesting and desirable if they can appear as icons on a cache page and user stats. With the increase in geocoins being created, people are going to need a library to hold all of the different sites to track each one. If they cost more to be tracked on geocaching.com and you can't afford to buy as many, so what? It will just make each one more coveted and valuable.

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[*]Maybe (insert wishful thinking) the WSGA would be willing to have a custom sleeve with the association info in return for not having a large presence on the coin itself, and maybe it would satisfy the gc.com decision about only organization sponsored coins being tracked.

My onions:

  • I like the sleeve idea.
  • I think that the WSGA can be involved without incuding the logo on the coin. Perhaps just a mention on the sleeve. The organization is operated by and for Washington state geocachers. By default, this will be the official state geocoin. The WSGA will not compete with its membership for "coin rights".
  • Tracking is something we'll wish we had if we don't. On gc.com would be nice but I'd not want to change the design of the coin. I'm also not tickled about the distribution requirements.
  • The WSGA web site will be seeing an overhaul. Anyway that it can be used to the benefit of the coins will be considered.

- Seth!

WSGA VP, expressing a personal opinion not the official opinion of the Board.

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I know this would probably upset the design, but would it be possible to drill the coin / have a hole made at pressing? That way a dog tag or something similar could be attached with the required info.

Just a thought.

 

Yes, it is possible and you can do it to yours, but I don't want any holes drilled in mine. If you want to do that to make it a TB go for it. I once found a Buffalo Nickle with a hole drilled in it, in a cache. I was thinking of making a TB out of it. But as a coin it has no value.

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Okay, I heard back from Groundspeak and the word is that we will not be able to track the coins on Geocaching.com. There are just too many issues to work out and they are not yet prepared for the proverbial Pandora's Box.

 

So, I vote that we go ahead with the next step of the process. I think we should bump up the number of digits in the coin numbers from 3 to 4 (I'm not counting the "WA" prefix). Then, we can worry about tracking the coins later but in tghe meantime can get started on production.

 

Agreed?

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It might help to have someone in each area put the word out to fellow cachers who do not read the threads yet. I know of a few of those. Also would it help to have one person in an area be accountable for ordering and collecting funds and pick up and delivery for their area. ie: Cach-cadians. I am willing to take that responibility. I would be happy to make the trip and bring the coins home and I am sure my partner in crime (oops caching) would happily volunteer to help me. B) Wouldn't ya, Robinego?

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There is no need for random alphanumeric tracking IDs now, so we can have sequential numbering stamped on by the manufacturer.

So now wil there be a big argument on who gets coin #1 ? B) D'oh!

 

I'll be getting some, will keep an eye out for a thread on how to order.

 

Even tho I have been lurking on this post, the coin does look amazing... great job everybody!

 

Si

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I have been dreaming of the day I can put in my order for some of these coins. Not to far off now. :wacko:

 

I agree that Navdog should get coin #1 B) lucky Navdog but he deserves it for all his great work in the design. Without him where would we be in the design process?

Thanks to all that have keep the design process moving along so quickly. I can't wait to have one of those :mellow: awesome :unsure: coins in my hand.

Edited by Magilla Gorilla
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Let's get a final revision of the design from Navdog (if that's okay with you, Navdog), then I believe that lucyandrickie are going to start a thread about ordering.  We may host an order form on the WSGA web site to make it easy for everybody.

So there will be no "WA" on the number field? Just room for four numbers?

 

I'll do up a final revision to reflect this. We are also evidently allowed four colors per side with the possibility of five without an increase from the base price. I'll work up a color scheme for the front of the coin. A minimum of five colors would help keep it close to the last #10-2 revision.

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It's a good thing I wear a beard, it keeps the drool from dripping on my shirt. But it getting close to 'full', so I'm happy to see things progressing. (faster, faster ... who said that? :mellow: ) Lord, give me patience ... and give me it right now! B)

 

#2 should go to Pepper for getting this idea going.

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