What would be your ideal coin?
 

Me and some friends are looking at starting our own little artisan mint. We live in the BC kootenays, which is a pretty big mining area, and we'd be using locally mined gold/silver for our coins. IE We have a supplier that could supply us with 93.5% pure gold (the rest being mainly silver).

As these coins would be hand made, and this would be a small operation, we will be contracting a metalworker/smith in the area to do our coin press.

I do have some questions for the community though - if we are going to be making gold coins, what is your ideal coin? There are a few things we can consider -

design, we could make the coin's design nice and shiny or good old rustic looking

size, we could make the coins 1 troy oz, or fractional - we were thinking of doing our coins the same size as a sovereign, so roughly 1/4 troy ounce, to make them more affordable, if anyone were to buy them.

demand, would this just be for us, or would anyone else consider buying handmade gold coins?

I know ther eare tons of generic silver rounds out there, but no artisan gold coins...

i'd like some input, if anyone has a few mins to spare :)

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

Fractional silver woud be neat. Even a simple stupid 1/10 oz silver would be neat....need to keep them simple and hight production to keep the cost down.

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

Make em look like those old territorial coins. Those have pioneer and the spirit of discovery all over them!

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

The ideal coin is the one in my pocket. :D

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

I'd like a gold Kootenay! 1/2 oz.
Maybe with a native hunter or a Kootenay young women.

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

Have you considered the market? Gold art coins are almost unknown, and so is your mint. There would be considerable reluctance to buy until your reputation becomes established. That might take a while. Your best bet would be to start with a zodiac series featuring a nekkid chick on each coin. Then contact a well known newsletter publisher to offer 1/10 oz coins with his logo at an attractive price.

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

I was gonna say naked women, but SM beat me to it....
and a zodiac set just tops it off!
I'm a Gemini, so start with that one :wink:

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

oh, oh, i got a 2007 italian 50 euro gold coin with edward munchs scream.

ontopic: you cant go wrong with breasts, 0.2oz for the gold and 0.5oz for the silver.

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

we were thinking of calling our coins "old koots"

you know, the typical image of a prospector with his donkey.

We really want the rustic look (yes, like old pioneer coins), but we're not sure if people would shy away from them.

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

looks as though people would preffer a 1/2 oz over a 1/4 oz coin...

why would you dish out 500$ to an unknown mint for an unknown coin?

I think we might have a better chance with a 200-250$ coin at first, no?

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

we wouldnt be big scale. All coins would be hand made (no automatic press involved here) so we wouldnt want to sell thousands. I think the main concern for people who would be interest would be the purity of the gold, so some kind of assay certificate might help.

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

The other way to go would be small boutique limited runs. Make them fancy and appealing for the "art" of it. Do "Indian Tribes" of BC and the Northwest. Cool names (need permission), tribal motiffs... historical context with nice designs would sell well locally with tourists in small fractionals. I want a proof if you use this "Tribes" idea...:wink: Start with the Kootenay and see how it goes.

It sounds like you have an idea and a plan now you just need an artist to design something... good luck.

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

Are there any gold or silver coins without any markings except the fineness and weight? Fractional gold and silver would be nice. That would be my ideal coin.

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

you can get those with smaller gold bars... you can get 1gr, 5gr, 10gr etc gold bars which actually are so small as to look more like a coin than a bar.

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

I think that "bronze age" composition may be either your biggest problem - or your biggest selling point!

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

1/2 oz is a good size for a guy to wear in a bezel on a neck chain.
1/4 and 1/10 for ladies.
The coin should be sized to fit a standard size bezel.
Hopefully the artwork would be suitable to wear.

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

I will have to agree with a previous poster by saying that a fractional .999 pure silver round would be of great value. If you could buy small fractional pieces of pure silver at an affordable price, I would veer far away from junk.....:D:D

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

Some kind of pirate gold, skull and bones. Arggh.

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

still, better than krugs, is it not?

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

If you're in B.C. you've gotta put a marijuana leaf on the reverse.

The world would expect no less. :D

(Maybe a sasquatch on the front???)

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1..._SASQUATCH.jpg

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

Another excellent idea!
I would love some piratical treasure coins!

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

Iptuous, if that's your picture in your avitar...Get a haircut! lol

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

I would like to see more coins that look like the old spanish doubloons. Maybe there was something similar in the great white north years ago?

Naked chicks are good too though!

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

No can do....
I broke my flowbee, and now i've gotta save up for gold coins with naked pirate chicks on them!
:D

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

Tough to go wrong with boobies.

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

Yes, but that is not the point, which is that it is not a recognised carat number.

Maybe that doesn't matter though. I understand that unlike Europe, you don't have Hallmarking in the Americas.

As you are going for a "different" alloy, there may be an argument for different proportions, like the "1915" Austrian 4 Ducat, which is 40mm in diameter and very thin (about 29 thou") the sort of proportions that some mediaeval coins were.

{Krugers are 22 carat (22/24ths or 91.67% fine), as are Sovereigns}

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

As are GAE's.

One feature that I always like is the purity and weight on a coin. Panama Balboa's are a great example of a circulating coin telling its true value (note the center right and left notations on the reverse):

http://www.coins-of-panama.com/coins/pc25-2-AU.jpg

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

Works with 'tads. :D

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...12/bw2_big.jpg

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

I bought two of these for posterity

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/d...a/d5a19ee1.gif

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

I personaly like the size and price of sovereigns, which is why i'd like the coins to be fairly similar in shape. Smaller, but cheaper to buy

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

The Lasqueti mint has some very nice coins ... I do not own any of their stuff as it is way to expensive for me. http://chiefacoins.com/Database/Micr...eti-Island.htm

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

You will probally get your wish soon enough........ silver cracks 500 bucks I gauranteen people are gonna start spliting those coins themselve with a hack saw.


T

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

Love that Avatar!!!


T

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

You may want to do some Google research to get some insights into existing artisan mints. I have found 3:

LQ Mint on Lasqueti Island, BC (started in 1997 with ultimate frisbee tokens to take to the nationals. They now make both gold and silver and they can be used as currency on their island [legal]. Sorry Mone, but they have a gold coin with a marijuana leaf on it already)

The Cohen Mint, NY (Produce gold and silver coins, right down to the 1 grain size [yes, grain]. They also supply some additional metal bullion bars and are branching out into US coins)

Four Corners Coin and Currency, Winnipeg, MB (This is my local dealer who produces tokens the oooold fashion way. He hand carves the plates and uses a sledge hammer for each coin [sorry, token]. As far as I know, he has done gold, silver, and tin [test strikes].)

The one thing that I see with these artisan mints is the high premium on their coins. They seem to cater to coin collectors, and definately not bullion collectors.

Hope this helps.:D

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

GOLD COIN? MARIJUANA?!

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

http://www.jandm.com/script/getitem.asp?PID=271

Tried the picture, but couldn't get it. So here is a link to the picture: a 1/10 oz. gold coin 2008 for medicinal marijuana.

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

1991 10 Kilo Gold Panda 10th Anniversary, mintage 10.

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

Here it is:

http://www.jandm.com/i/lasq-2008-medical-mj-r.jpg

4 9's too - The good shit :-)

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

As for the original question of what I would like to see.......

It's kind of timely, as I've been talking with the local guy who creates tokens about a coin I'd like to get made whenever I could get the money. I was thinking silver, but you could do it in gold.

I was thinking of a modern piece of eight. the coin would be 31.2 grams in weight (why 0.1 grams over an oz in a bit). double lines 1 mm apart would split the coin in half, and additional double 1 mm lines would split the bottom half into 4 eighths. In the full half would be a pirate skull, a IV at the top, and bone hands stretching down to the bottom half. Each of the eighths on the bottom would be one of the aces of spades, clubs, hearts, and diamonds cards looking like a spread card hand. On the outer edge of each would be a roman numeral I. The back of the coin would have the troy weight and purity in each section, 1/2 oz 999 in the top half and 1/8 oz 999 in each eighth.

The roman numerals on the front are the markings for how much of the piece of eight it is. The lines would be a cutting guide (hatchet, knife and hammer, etc.) for separating for smaller purchases. The additional 0.1 gram of metal would be to allow for discrepencies when the piece is cut up.

I think it would be a nice bullion piece (I still think of it as being silver), and probably usefull for making change if TSHTF.

:D

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

My ideal coin would have low mintage, high numismatic value, with amazing toning, but most important, the value would always go up at least 30%, compounded daily, and it could never get lost or stolen and would some how make more coins like itself. :D

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

Yes Please!

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

I've seen a 1/4oz gold grizzly bear coin minted by some folks in the Kootenays for sale on Ebay a few months ago.

I can't remember the name of their outfit off hand.

They said they were thinking of coining up silver as well.

A fractional set of BC's finest outdoor (BTI) buds would be a great idea IMHSO

Kootenay Thunderf*ck could be the 1st
then Time Warp,Mighty Mite,Bramble,Mango etc.

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

If you'd like to be able to sell overseas, the coins should be 0.999+ or better purity. Anything less is subject to various taxes in some countries (including New Zealand).

As far as design an size: smaller coins are appealing, but only if there isn't a significant premium over the larger ones. I personally really like grains as an indication of weight, rather than ounces (480 grains to the troy ounce). That fits with your idea of a sovereign-sized coin, which are 113 grains -- although maybe a round number would be better, like 100 grains. I prefer a matte finish, since I like to handle my coins, and the proof-strike type shiny finish doesn't respond too well to that.

As far as design, I would be interested in representations of historical events surrounding individual freedom, liberty, achievement, etc. No famous people, please. Images that evoke strong feelings because of the powerful ideas behind them would be my ideal.

Finding a competent artist is going to be a much bigger challenge than making the coins, IMO.

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

I really like the sovereigns designs as well. Might also consider Civil War designs and renaissance designs. Maybe even ... religious. For the premium to work, consider things folks are passionate about or which may be given as gifts to those who are passionate about a subject.

Obverse:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...95-1498%29.jpg


Obverse:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Edward_Lee.jpg

Reverse:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...y_Jack_CSA.jpg

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

Ideal coin.

1/4 oz
22 K

Weight, purity, mint, stamped on the coin

On second thought, if you could come up with a fractional Palladium coin for a reasonable premium, the folks here would go nuts over it.

Re: What would be your ideal coin?
 

Chadwick Ram- Totally BC and would sell like crazy to all of the well heeled GIM sheephunters. They would buy them in mass for membership drives and banquets.

Sincerely,

Thomas