So thanks to AtlantaGal, I have amassed a small collection of Geocoins () I intend on releasing into the wild. As much as I would like to preserve their integrity, I don't want them to end missing (stolen).

I understand there is no way of preventing someone from stealing anything if they're dead-set on it. I'd also like to NOT deface any coin by drilling a hole in it and attaching a disclaimer, etc. But, the options are limited.

I suppose this boils down to the age old question that is never really answered. I'd like to hear from some of the veteran Geocoiners in GGA to hear what they have to say. What's your opinion?

Is there a way I can share my coins with the community and not have to worry about that one bad apple in the bushel?

I think you have to deface the coin if you want it to move. People just take them. Either that, or hex them. That has worked on one of mine.

The first time I did the GGA come back coin of mine, I did not deface it. It came back anyway. Once I got it back, I wrote "mtn-man" on the coin in a magic marker after AtlantaGal suggested defacing the coin. It came back again. I have released one of my admin bricks finally. I took a dremel tool and etched "MOVE" onto the coin with my MM initials. I just released it last week. I have another one ready to go. Here is a picture of what I did.



If someone has that in their collection and show it to someone, I hope the connection is made and they get busted for keeping my coin.

I have released 3 Geocoins with out defacing them. And one has been Kept by a German Geocacher and the other 2 are fine. But its just a chance you have to take. look at the Jeeps for example Iam not sure why cachers want to keep them. Nothing drives me crazy when you go to an event and they have Like five jeeps and all you can do is log them. Good Luck on what ever decision you make.

I always get blamed :P

Well, you know I drill em and tag em. Overall the move/loss rate is acceptable. And I feel that more are kept travelling due to the fact they have a big hole in them. I'd have to do a count again, but I think I am at a 14% loss ratio currently.

quote:

I'd have to do a count again, but I think I am at a 14% loss ratio currently.

I can help raise that number if you like????


Yes I am back...

ugh.

Decisions, decisions. I'll have to weigh drilling a hole against getting handy with my dremel. Thanks for the suggestions.

quote:

Originally posted by Slayerette:

quote:

I'd have to do a count again, but I think I am at a 14% loss ratio currently.

I can help raise that number if you like????


Yes I am back...

Now why would YOU want to do that

quote:

Originally posted by 599er:
ugh.
Decisions, decisions. I'll have to weigh drilling a hole against getting handy with my dremel. Thanks for the suggestions.

You can make copies like LZ33 does. They seem to work well for him. I've discoverd quite a few of his copies. If one turns up missing ... just make another copy.

LZ33 has definately gotten better and producing copies of his coin. I saw a couple in Tennessee last week. I don't know how much time he spends duplicating his coins, but I'm sure it's more time than I'm willing to spend!

The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards drilling 'em. I'm not much into trading or collecting so it seems like the best choice if I wish to share the coin and keep it moving.

We just send ours out as is just in a baggie with a note. We have had one stolen and one held for a long time but eventually released. We do not have many out traveling (about 12) and most of the ones we do have out are in foreign countries. They tend to travel better overseas.

Hannah and I have not had much luck with geocoins but we made one more attempt with a non-defaced GGA coin this week. We dropped it in the "ORIGINAL STASH TRIBUTE PLAQUE" cache (GCGV0P) which is at the exact spot of Dave Ulmer's first geostash - the very start of geocaching. This coin's goal is to return to Georgia and we thought starting it at the starting point of geocaching might change our luck with TBs and bugs.

In the unlikely event that it actually makes it back to Georgia, we would sure appreciate any Georgia cacher that finds it in a cache helping it get back to us.