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Post by mward15t on Jan 15, 2007 23:09:36 GMT -9
I've been surfing around the net looking at the thousands of geocoins. I like the annual coins this group has produced so far. I found this design and I figured that this type of design might be right up the alley of an Alaska Organization coin. cointracking.com/view_series.php?sid=460The state outline on this is awesome and I think it would definitely work for Alaska too. A little feedback on this would be appreciated and a little idea bashing too! ( only if necessary please!! ) Matt
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Post by ladybugkids on Jan 16, 2007 5:28:26 GMT -9
The state outline on this is awesome and I think it would definitely work for Alaska too. It IS a good idea and a version of such a coin will be coming out in 2007. It's being produced as part of a larger project and several Alaskans made input in this thread. I can't share specifics, yet, but if one wants to own an entire set of the series, one might want to buy a Geocaching Zone coin set. Regarding shaped and colored coins, we are limited to round shapes with the Alaska Mint. However, we are trying a colored coin made by an Outside mint with the 2007 micro coin. If that non-Alaskan produced coin is received well, we'll do more with the same company and can make virtually any shape. Oleruns suggested a bear paw shaped coin that would be fun to produce. Keep those ideas coming!
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Post by mward15t on Jan 16, 2007 5:51:57 GMT -9
Awesome!!
Can't wait to see the results of this project!
Matt
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Post by oleruns on Jan 16, 2007 6:58:13 GMT -9
I think an igloo shape would be fun as well. It will be a long time before the ideas run out. I hope there are enough people that will keep purchasing the coins and it looks like there will. I do like the shape of Alaska for a coin but our cachers on Saint Lawrence Island may not like being left off. I think that is where the state seal is from?
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Post by Hazelsgroup on Jan 18, 2007 7:48:24 GMT -9
I love the idea of an Alaskan shape or igloo with a character face at door way. A coin with the traditional blanket toss scene or eskimo throwing a harpoon would be awsome too. O is right, lots of great ideas... the series set above is in the mail on the way to my home.
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Post by ladybugkids on Jan 19, 2007 20:18:50 GMT -9
Hot off the e-mail...the next editions of the Caching Zone coin sets will be available in about a month. Here's a sneak preview: The 49th and 50th states are featured together... This puts Alaska in perspective... Here's the full set to date... As posted above, the lower 48 states a currently being sold as a set of four. Alaska and Hawaii will be sold as a stand alone coin and Canada will be sold as a set of four.
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Post by Hazelsgroup on Jan 19, 2007 21:35:38 GMT -9
I am ok with the design, not thrilled but glad there is one with Alaska and Hawaii. Thanks for your work on the project or getting us the insight.
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Post by mward15t on Jan 20, 2007 17:58:28 GMT -9
I'm not too hip on the design myself. I like the outline of Alaska but not with Hawaii attached.
I kinda pictured the outline of Alaska with perhaps the stars on the front with a blue background and then some sort of scenic representation of Alaska on the backside.
I might would purchase one of the Zone coins.
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Post by ladybugkids on Jan 20, 2007 23:03:54 GMT -9
I'm not too hip on the design myself. I like the outline of Alaska but not with Hawaii attached. I kinda pictured the outline of Alaska with perhaps the stars on the front with a blue background and then some sort of scenic representation of Alaska on the backside. I might would purchase one of the Zone coins. The Caching Zone coins are being produced by Oakcoins and are the result of a collaboration of many cachers (see the linked gc.com thread a few posts above this one). GeocacheAlaska! can do its own version of an Alaska-shaped coin in the future, too.
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Post by mward15t on Jan 21, 2007 11:51:48 GMT -9
How many would be interested in a Geocache Alaska coin?
I started looking into the design fees and the two places I checked are $100. Anyone know of any place cheaper?
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Post by ladybugkids on Jan 21, 2007 12:31:21 GMT -9
How many would be interested in a Geocache Alaska coin? I started looking into the design fees and the two places I checked are $100. Anyone know of any place cheaper? Are you talking about an Alaska-shaped coin design? We have the resources to create artwork that the mints are able to run with, so we don't have to pay artists' fees. If you are talking about set up fees, there are mints that don't charge for set-up and dies, but that just means the cost is buried in the unit cost of each coin. As an aside, with the 2007 Alaska micro about to be delivered, the 2007 Alaska Mint version tracking for issue in April, and the Oakcoins Caching Zone Alaska/Hawaii coin coming out in the next few weeks, GeocacheAlaska! would probably be better off staging release of its next coin for later in the year. Too many coins with a similar theme will cannibalize each others' sales. This is especially important to consider because roughly 80% of prior GeocacheAlaska! coin sales have been to out of state cachers. We don't have sufficient numbers of active cachers interested in coins up here to wholly support a coin project with only in-state sales. Groundspeak requires a minimum of 250 coins in an edition for a custom icon and prefix to be issued. An individual cacher can produce a personal coin at any time.
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Post by mward15t on Jan 21, 2007 13:21:39 GMT -9
Yes, I am talking about an Alaska shaped coin. I read that some of the mints bury their fees in the end cost.
I was tossing around ideas about a coin and am not looking at producing one anytime soon.
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Post by oleruns on Jan 21, 2007 13:49:02 GMT -9
Can't wait for the micro and you know you can count me in for some. The state shape coin as well and a new house to keep all my coins Thanks guys!
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Post by NorthWes on Jan 21, 2007 16:27:47 GMT -9
The Oakcoins Caching Zone project was was 'cooked' in the geocaching.com forums with extensive international commentary. A lot of behind the scenes effort goes into the development of such a series - not the least of which is the financier. As a participant in that discussion, I can attest there was generally little interest on the part of the caching community outside (or even inside) Alaska for a coin that represented Alaska in its correct map position, and at its correct size relative to the rest of the nation, as a part of the Caching Zone project. That lack of interest occured for two reasons: 1) cost , and 2) apathy regarding accuracy in representing Alaska's size and position.
Inspired largely in part by the Ladybug Kids' efforts, Oakcoins developed a coin series that extended beyond the original four time zones in the contiguous lower 48 US states - to include Canada's provinces and Alaska (with Hawaii on a blue field below Alaska... just not 5 hours south of us!), despite the cost and apparent advance apathy. The result is awesome - North America (except for Mexico) is shown in scale, by time zone - keeping the 'Caching Zone' theme intact with geographic accuracy - in a series of separate coins. (And hey - isn't geocaching somewhat about geographic accuracy?) Oakcoins is handling the marketing and distribution of the coin series - no small task in itself. It's not a Geocache Alaska! project as our 2005 and 2006 coins were, or the soon to be released 2007 Micro or the 'currently in concept/design stage' 2007 state coin.
As a statewide organization (which geocaching.com requires before licensing production of a 'state' geocoin) Geocache Alaska! puts tremendous effort into drawing as many Alaskans as possible into the design development, production and distribution of our state geocoin. It's time and money intensive on a scale that's hard to imagine unless your hands (and wallet) are directly involved. There's always room for new ideas; best of all however is the opportunity for hands-on help! We don't want folks to think there's no room for involvement in the state coin process - but only a handful of folks have stepped up to comment / work on past efforts (and not many more locals have bought the coin product, versus the larger market's demand for the Alaska coin from outside and international cachers and coin collectors - yes, our coin is collected by non-cachers who're numismatic collectors!). No apologies or whining about this fact - it's just how it's been so far.
Thus far we've focused on mint-quality coinage that fits the high demand 'picky collector' end of the geocoin market. It's been distinctive and successful to date. We've steered clear of the temptation to produce a state shape coin in favor of a traditional coin shape, featuring a highly detailed and unique Alaskan image. The state shape as an icon isn't as saleable as images of what makes Alaska different... according to our ad-hoc market research. There's room for an Alaska-shaped coin (witness the Caching Zone series), but we've not gone in that direction yet. Unfortunately, it's hard to produce an Alaskan shape and still have room in miniature to put a usable image on it.
Don't think we're not into new ideas - that's why this forum exists! From time to time it's healthy to review what's gone before, and why the prior choices have been made. Let's keep on talking! Just keep in mind - geocoins need an investment of a minimum of several thousands of dollars to get a short run - and a state coin takes the same amount of money (up front) as the purchase of a new car... so knowing the market in advance is important.
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Post by ladybugkids on Jan 21, 2007 18:39:43 GMT -9
Given how long it takes to finalize designs, it's definitely a good idea to get ideas posted so people can provide feedback and the creator can make changes and refinements. So the ideas that have been posted don't get lost in the thread, we have: 1) State shape (with perhaps the stars on the front with a blue background and then some sort of scenic representation of Alaska on the backside). 2) Igloo with face in the doorway. 3) Traditional blanket toss scene. 4) Eskimo throwing a harpoon would be awsome too. 5) Bear paw. People are encouraged to post conceptual artwork...let the brainstorming begin! Also, if anyone wants to produce a personal coin with any of the above ideas or something different, there are great pinned references in the gc.com geocoin forums. I can also help walk you through the process.
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Post by ladybugkids on Jan 21, 2007 19:06:14 GMT -9
In addition to what Northwes posted two posts above, other factors that have been considered are:
1) With the exception of the 2007 micro coin, all other Alaska geocoins have been made at the Alaska Mint which adds cachet to the coins. It costs a bit more to have the coins made locally, but it makes a difference to folks Outside. I traded the 2006 coins with someone in California and once he received the coins, he e-mailed back asking whether the coins were made in Alaska anymore because the tracking number was retrievable from Oakcoins.
2) Those who have underwritten the past coin and pin projects (more than $50,000 fronted and not entirely recovered for the 2005, 2006, and 2007 coins and pins) are partial to using Oakcoins for non-Alaskan made coins such as the 2007 micro. Oakcoins is competitive with other geocoin manufacturers, is responsive to special requests, and helps greatly with the creative process. It also helps that they are only one time zone ahead of Alaska. They also helped us move several thousand dollars of 2006 geocoins when we overestimated the market (e.g. 1500 bronze 2005 coins sold, while only 1000 2006 bronze coins sold even though they were gc.com trackable). There are many other equally good manufacturers listed in the gc.com geocoin pinned topics and people are encouraged to shop around for their own projects.
3) The 2007 Alaska micro geocoin is a "test the waters" type of project. Several Alaskans asked for a coin that was "more affordable." The only way to reduce costs was to send the work overseas. Design ideas were requested in these forums and elements of several of the suggestions were incorporated. We hope this coin helps fill that niche and Alaskans will demonstrate whether it meets their needs by scooping them up before the coins are offered for sale to Outside cachers.
Glad folks are getting interested in coin projects...they are a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.
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Post by Hazelsgroup on Jan 21, 2007 20:23:31 GMT -9
Thank you to the Alaskan Geocachers that put the tremendous effort into the design development, production and distribution of our state geocoins. I know time, effort and upfront fees that can come out of the enthusiastic individuals pocket that is driving the train to get a coin to represent their own organization, hobby or club produced.
I am ready for that Micro to hit the streets!! Count me in for a few!!
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