Custom GeoCoin

[shroomAzoom]

I'm thinking of making a custom NWOG geocoin, hopefully to have ready for the SCC. It probably would be a 3D coin as opposed to a colourful coin (like money.) Although, perhaps the logo side could be in colour, it all depends on the price. Once side would be the NWOG logo, the other side would be a typical northern Ontario scene: a forest on the lake shore. The logo side is done and I've blocked out the scene side, but have a lot of work to do on the embossing. If anyone has any suggestions for what text to put on the back, I'm open. Right now I've just got "Caching North of Superior."

For those unfamiliar with 3D greyscale art, black is raised the highest, white is the lowest and the greys in between are various other heights and depths. The darker the line, the more raised the metal.

Anyway, I'm attaching a sample of where I'm at so far for your consideration.

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[jleecollins]

Looks good.

Please make sure that the geocoin is traceable on geocaching.com.

I will get at least two of them or more - depends if you have different versions, e.g. metal composition.

Jim

[ChrisDom]

I've been waiting for one of these.  Looks great; count me in for 3 to 5 coins.

[hunter-killer]

They look good, but like Jim asked will they be trackable ?

[ragbag]

Looks good to me, too.  I would like a couple.  Are you going to have Castleman make them???  He has been pretty generous with his coins locally.  Just a thought.

Bob

[shroomAzoom]

So, I've looking into prices at a couple places. Castleman was really quick at getting back to me, but he's not interested in doing it. He says he's not doing it too much anymore because it was hard to make much money at it. He suggested Landsharkz as someone in Canada to do it as well as Oakcoins (who I also contacted.)

So, I'll let you know what I hear back, but it looks like we'll need a minimum order of 250 if we want it trackable at geocaching.com (and what's the point of a geocoin if it's not trackable!  ) The tracking numbers cost an additional $1.50-ish US per coin too. So that'll up the price.

Anyway, this could be pretty cool. I've asked at each place if it's would be possible to have it by the end of April (so we can have it for the SCC,) and I'll let you know when I hear from folks.

PS: I'm still looking for ideas for what to say in place of "Caching North of Superior" on the back side. Help!



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[jleecollins]

"Caching North of Superior"  sounds good to me.

[shroomAzoom]

Okay, two quotes are in. One from Landsharkz in BC and one from Oakcoins in the states. The good news is, we don't have to order 250 to make them tractable, only 100. I've got one more outstanding, 3Geeks in Nova Scotia. Here's what the prices look like so far...

Oakcoins 100 Coins 2D/3D $407US Engraved tracking numbers $27US Groundspeak tracking codes $150US Shipping $75US Total $659US ~$840 Canadian =$8.50/coin (+tax and duty)

Landsharkz 100 Coins 2D/3D $1040 (Includes shipping, engraved numbers, Canadian coin icon on GC.com) Groundspeak tracking codes ($150US) ~$192 Total $1232 =$12.32/coin (+GST)

I'm presuming I'll be the contact person for the order. I won't be able to front $800-$1200 for the coins myself and then hope they sell. So, if we decided to get coins, we'll have to pre-sell them before we make the order. 

[ChrisDom]

Count me in for five (ten if that helps to fill the gap).

[Get_Off_The_Paved]

I'll Take 5 to start for sure.

[shroomAzoom]

Okay, got the quote from the third place, so here are all three...

Oakcoins 100 Coins 2D/3D $407US Engraved tracking numbers $27US Groundspeak tracking codes $150US Shipping $75US Total $659US ~$840 Canadian =$8.50/coin (+tax and duty)	Landsharkz 100 Coins 2D/3D $1040 (Includes shipping, engraved numbers, Canadian coin icon on GC.com) Groundspeak tracking codes ($150US) ~$192 Total $1232 =$12.32/coin (+GST)	3Geeks 100 Coins 2D/3D $580 Engraved tracking numbers $32 Groundspeak tracking codes $195 Shipping and Handling $120 Total $927 =$9.27/coin (+GST)
Will tidy art for free Standard coin icon on GC.com Offered a 2D/2D for $70 less 3 weeks for production after approval plus shipping time Oakcoins also quoted for 50 coins at ~$675 or $13.5 a coin (the quote was in US$)	Will have their artist work on an original 3D scene for back for free Can do a pseudo 3D scene in 2D for a cheaper price (like 50-75c less per coin) Will let us use their Canadian geocoin icon on GC.com for free Coins delivered by end of April if we get art started promptly	No help with art Standard coin icon on GC.com Delivered within 4 weeks of final design approval

All quotes are for 1.5" and 3mm sized coins.

I'm leaning towards Oakcoins (simply due to the price.) I'd like to go with Landsharkz, they've been very friendly and helpful (and have offered the icon, art and cost-saving 2D/2D thing,) but they're expensive. 3Geeks, while Canadian have been quite matter-of-fact, and while they are middle of the road, if we want to go Canadian, I'd rather spend a couple bucks extra per coin on the service Landsharkz is offering. They really seem to know what they're doing.

I'll leave this open for comments for a few days, then try to make a decision on Friday. If there is enough committed "buy-in," I'll make an order early next week.

[ragbag]

I'll take 5 as well.

Bob

[hunter-killer]

Count us in for 5 as well.

[ragbag]

Perhaps if there is enough interest, we could use some of the coins to do a race.  I have seen this with other coins or travel bugs, and typically, the coins are released on a certain date, and then are tracked for a year, or some other time period, and the coin that travels the farthest, or has visited the most caches, or some other criterion, is declared the winner.
Is there any interest in this from our mambers?
 
Bob

[Get_Off_The_Paved]

     Well I have to say that it be nice to keep the money in Canada... but when you look at the difference in price sometimes you just have to head south.  With almost $4 a coin difference I think that Oakcoins is my choice.  And I do like the idea of the "coin race" that ragbag talked about... I think that it would work well with a summer of travel time between the SCC's (as long as you can't take it to Cuba for your March break).