Geocoin
As Geocoin is called a kind of medal as a token in a board game from geocache to geocache travel to and their route can then be tracked on the Internet. Although geocoins are often colloquially referred to as coins , they are strictly speaking medals with no monetary value. Geocoins represent a special form of trackables , which generally refer to all logable traveling objects in geocaching.
The grammatical gender of the word in colloquial German language usage is not established. Both the feminine and the masculine form are common. On Geocaching.com , the largest internet platform for this hobby, only the female form is used as gender in all German-language texts. In the following, the term will be used in the context of this article with feminine gender.
Appearance
A geocoin usually has a diameter of 1½ to 2 inches (≈ 38 to 51 mm) and a thickness between 2.5 and 4 mm. Coins with a size of 1 inch (≈ 25 mm) are called micro-coins. These coins can also be placed in micro geocaches (e.g. film cans). The smallest geocoins with ½ inch (≈ 13 mm) are the nano-coins, which have been sold since 2009. One speaks of a macro-coin with a diameter of 3 inches (76 mm) and more. Only about half of all geocoins are circular. The base material is either bronze (if stamped) or a zinc alloy (if cast metal ).
In the course of larger geocaching events, oversized replicas of the official event geocoins (for example made of painted plywood) are occasionally made as individual pieces and given a tracking code. However, these are not regular geocoins that are supposed to travel from geocache to geocache or are part of a private collection, but rather exceptions.
Most geocoins have an individual six-digit serial number stamped on them, which is also known as a tracking ID, tracking code or tracking number. With this serial number, geocachers can log the discovery of the coin (e.g. in a geocache or an event cache) and its storage in another geocache on Geocaching.com. In order for third parties to be able to follow the path that the Geocoin has traveled on the Internet, the website of an activated Geocoin contains a code called a "reference number" (seven digits, starting with the affix "TB") instead of the tracking number, which enables the tracking of the Enables geocoin from geocacher to geocacher, but prevents logging.
These tracking codes are sold by Groundspeak and cost the manufacturer US $ 1.50 each (as of 2016). They are six to eight digits long: the first two digits are the same for every geocoin series, followed by a four to six digit alphanumeric code. Some geocoins have an additional number (usually three digits): This is the consecutive serial number (which has no further meaning).
If you have found and logged a geocoin, the find appears on the geocacher's personal statistics page with a special symbol assigned to the trackable. Some geocachers attach particular importance to collecting as many of these icons as possible. For an individual icon, Groundspeak charges the manufacturer a one-time fee of 150 US dollars (as of 2016).
It is also possible to log geocoins without further transport, the so-called discoving ('discovering'). The owner of the trackable receives a status report of the current location or holder by email with each log. There is also the Visit function : The Geocoin is virtually placed in a geocache and removed again immediately - this intermediate station report also updates the odometer. If a Geocoin is lost or can no longer be found, Missing ('missing') logged. This log type is currently only possible for the coin owner and the owner of the geocache in which they were last logged in.
Before a trackable can be put into circulation, it must be activated. An activation code is required for this, which is either supplied with the Geocoin or can be obtained from a website (usually that of the manufacturer). Since the end of 2010, the activation code has also been available directly from geocaching.com/track. Every trackable, like a geocache itself, can be transferred to another player at any time as part of a so-called adoption.
history
The first geocoins were brought into circulation by the geocacher with the player name Moun10Bike from 2001; Moun10Bike is now full-time at Groundspeak. These medals were trackable from the start via the central geocaching website and thus served as a model for the large number of geocoins that exist today. Because of their small number of copies, Moun10Bike geocoins are particularly in demand and usually don't even circulate. Finding such a medal in a geocache is correspondingly rare.
expenditure
In May 2017 there were already over 9800 different geocoindesigns (May 2016; 8900, May 2015: 8000, May 2014: 7100, May 2013: 6100: May 2012: 5200, May 2011: 4600, May 2010: 3500) - every day in the Add two to three new ones. Most of them also appear in different versions, which are referred to as "editions", such as various metal finishes (plating) such as gold, matt gold, silver, copper, bronze, nickel, black nickel / gun (BN), antique gold / Old gold (AG), antique silver / old silver (AS), chrome. The color scheme can also vary depending on the edition. The following common abbreviations are used for such editions (according to edition):
- RE - Regular Edition
- SE - Special Edition, sometimes also interpreted as Standard Edition (= RE)
- LE - Limited Edition
- XLE - Extra Limited Edition
- XXLE - Extremely Extra Limited Edition
- XXXLE - as above, only less often
- AE - Artist Edition (mostly in very small editions)
- PE - Personal Edition or Producer Edition
The very limited coin series appear in editions of around 10 to 30 pieces. Depending on the design, collectors pay very high prices for this. In addition, artist editions are being produced more and more often, these are coin versions that are not available in stores, but can usually only be exchanged. More than 85% of all geocoins are never put into circulation, but are collected and exchanged. For this purpose, geocoins without tracking ID are also offered, although rarely.
Problems
Compared to travel bugs, geocoins are more often lost on their journey, although one can only speculate about the causes. An appealing design may arouse desire and a passion for collecting, and a high weight may suggest a certain nominal value.
Other types of trackables
A complement to Geocoins are Pathtags ("path tags"), which were introduced in 2006 independently of Geocaching.com. These have the uniform standard size of a one-euro coin (23 mm diameter) and a hole so that they can be hung on a key ring or similar. All Pathtags of the same design have the same six- or seven-digit number (in contrast to the Geocoins, where each has an individual, six-digit code). Pathtags are only logged (found only) and produced via the website "pathtags.com", where Pathtag owners can also use tools for exchange.
Other alternatives for free trackables outside of Geocaching.com are Geokrets and Geolutins . The platforms for these trackables only offer number management / tracking. The objects for circulation must be produced by the geocachers themselves and provided with the corresponding tracking number.
The 30 mm Geosems were added in 2011 . As with the Pathtag, the exchange of a personal item is also in the foreground with a Geosem, online tracking is not a core function of this type of collector's medal.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Der oder Die Coin , website of a distributor for Geocoins, accessed on June 24, 2015.
- ↑ Groundspeak's information page on geocoins and trackables
- ↑ The Father of the Geocoin: Moun10Bike. In: geocaching.com. Retrieved July 12, 2020 .
- ^ TB cemetery .