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[EAST] Challenge Coin - No more coins!
Update 3/29/2013: I have passed along the info on everyone left on the waiting list to Chirishman, who indicates that he will be looking into doing a final short-run minting for those of you who didn't make it off the waiting list. If you never signed up for the waiting list, please get in contact with Chirishman. I have removed the links to the Google doc, as I will no longer be monitoring it (but everyone who signed up prior to today, has in fact had his or her info passed along, except the one guy who asked me to take him off the list).
Update 3/17/2013: That's it, I'm out of coins! I'm afraid those on the waiting list who haven't been emailed yet are not going to get coins this go-around. If anyone from the waiting list steps forward to try to do a final reminting, I'd be happy to help pass along the necessary info, but I won't be involved in actually sending out any more coins myself. See you at PAX!
Update 2/1/2013: Orders are now officially closed, which means the waiting list is now open. To get on the waiting list, fill out the information on what you want using this form. I am ordering a very small surplus in case of mailing issues, so if no mailing issues arise, we should be able to take a few people off the waiting list. Also, the waiting list will get any coins which aren't paid for by the people who submitted orders before the cut-off. So, if you haven't submitted your order yet, don't despair! There's a very good chance that some people will get coins from the waiting list! Obviously, I will go through the waiting list in chronological order, so the sooner you enter a waiting list order, the better your odds. The cost per coin ended up being $4.12, plus $5.95 for domestic shipping, plus the PayPal fee of
If you got your order in before the cut-off, then expect to see your invoice shortly. I have a small supply of coins from the trial run (100 coins, to be precise), so the first orders paid for will get early shipping. Once those 100 coins run out, you'll have to wait for the second batch to come in (sometime around the end of February) at which point I will mail the rest. If you have not paid for your coins by the time I receive the second batch (again, around the end of February), then expect that your coins may be given away to people on the waiting list. Please do not make me do this! I am doing this at cost, and so if you don't pay for your order, and there's no one on the waiting list, I am out the money.
Update 1/3/2013: Wow, almost double where we were a week ago: 317 coins. That means the estimated per-cost coin should be around $4.67 (again, to emphasize, this is an estimated cost, based on Phoenix's earlier quotes, which may not be valid by the time we order). We're also tentatively looking at accepting orders for the PAX East 2012 coin (last year's coin). If you want to order those, use the same form, but mark "PAX East 2012" in the comments field. If there's enough interest, I'll go out to Phoenix for a quote on that.
Update 12/27/2012: Thanks to everyone's orders, we're up to 168 coins at the moment. That means the per-coin cost has dropped to $5.60 (plus shipping and Paypal fees, as described below). Everyone will pay the same price, so the first orders will get the price drop as well as new orders. Also, I've had some questions on shipping. As I understand it, the padded mailer is flat-rate, as long as everything fits in the envelope. I know that at least 5 coins will fit, but more than that, I can't definitively say until I've got coins in hand and try stuffing them in myself. So more information should be available next week.
Update 12/24/2012: Orders are now open! Please use this form to reserve the number of coins you want. Orders will be accepted until February 1st (orders received after February 1st will go to the waiting list). On February 2nd, I will submit a request to Phoenix to mint that number of coins, and will send out invoices to everyone who submitted an order. Please pay promptly, as unpaid orders may have their coins released to the waiting list after 2 weeks (i.e., on about February 16th). Also, orders will ship in the order in which payment is received.
How much does it cost? That depends on how many orders we get. I will bill everyone the exact amount needed to break even. Since we have certain fixed costs (such as the die cost), that means the more orders, the cheaper each coin will be. Also, fluctuations in metal costs could potentially increase (or decrease) coin costs. However, based on the prices Phoenix quoted me in December, I expect that if we get 100 orders (we're at 79 right now), each coin should cost about $6.50. One week before coin ordering ends, I will give a more precise quote, with the opportunity to back out, but this estimate should be good for now. I'll update estimated per coin costs as orders come in, but I will say that if we end up with 400, about the quantity of last year, then prices would be closer to $4.50/coin.
In addition to the base cost of the coins, US orders add $5.30 for a basic, priority mail flat rate envelope. If you want additional shipping features (delivery confirm, etc.) I'm happy to do that, and will add the cost of those features to your invoice (please see usps.gov for more info on services and rates). International orders would add whatever the cost is of shipping to their countries. I strongly advise giving me instructions on how you want it shipped to you if you are international. Note that there will be no will call pick-up at PAX, as that has proved to be too much of a logistical issue.
Also, PayPal takes a cut of $0.30 + 2.9%. So, if you ordered 5 coins at $4.67 each, your total cost would be: (5*4.67 + 5.30) * 1.029 + 0.30 = $29.78.
Last but not least, here are pictures of how it looks!
Original post (with edits):
Yes, it's getting to be that time again. The Challenge Coin has a long and storied PAX history, and is frankly probably the most awesome swag that the show produces. The past coins are pictured below:
This year is, as always, a volunteer, collaborative effort. The coin is "for" all PAX attendees, but we recognize that most of the people who end up participating in the project are forum-ers. Cost is generally about $5. Over the past couple of years, certain features have become standing traditions:
The size of the coin is 1.75"
The finish for the East coin is antique nickel (Prime sometimes uses the golden "antique brass finish")
The coin has smooth edges (this has changed from year to year, but this year the voting was for smooth).
The obverse features an image from the host city (along with a border featuring the date and location: "PAX East 2013" "Boston, MA" and "March 22 - 24") while the reverse features a gaming image (along with the Pac-Man border, featuring the Wheaton's Law and "Welcome Home")
Having spent several weeks brainstorming, discussing, and debating, we seem to have settled on the following ideas. The obverse (image from host city) will feature the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, while the reverse will feature linked Game Boys. The overall theme of the coin then (which arrived kind of by accident), is "making connections."
In order to get the designs to Phoenix Challenge Coins early enough so that we're not scrambling to ship them before PAX, we aim to follow this schedule:
Until October 20: Brainstorming/general discussion. Done! See agreed-upon themes above!
October 21-November 10: Submission of mock-ups and designs based on the agreed-upon theme. Done!
November 11-November 25: Current stage! Work with Phoenix to finalize designs. Close and tally voting for edge (smooth versus ridged). Done!
After November 25: Collect money, approve designs for Phoenix, take orders (the exact order of these steps is still open for debate, as I would like to avoid the situation we've had the last couple go-arounds where someone has to front the money for the order).
Update 3/17/2013: That's it, I'm out of coins! I'm afraid those on the waiting list who haven't been emailed yet are not going to get coins this go-around. If anyone from the waiting list steps forward to try to do a final reminting, I'd be happy to help pass along the necessary info, but I won't be involved in actually sending out any more coins myself. See you at PAX!
Update 2/1/2013: Orders are now officially closed, which means the waiting list is now open. To get on the waiting list, fill out the information on what you want using this form. I am ordering a very small surplus in case of mailing issues, so if no mailing issues arise, we should be able to take a few people off the waiting list. Also, the waiting list will get any coins which aren't paid for by the people who submitted orders before the cut-off. So, if you haven't submitted your order yet, don't despair! There's a very good chance that some people will get coins from the waiting list! Obviously, I will go through the waiting list in chronological order, so the sooner you enter a waiting list order, the better your odds. The cost per coin ended up being $4.12, plus $5.95 for domestic shipping, plus the PayPal fee of
If you got your order in before the cut-off, then expect to see your invoice shortly. I have a small supply of coins from the trial run (100 coins, to be precise), so the first orders paid for will get early shipping. Once those 100 coins run out, you'll have to wait for the second batch to come in (sometime around the end of February) at which point I will mail the rest. If you have not paid for your coins by the time I receive the second batch (again, around the end of February), then expect that your coins may be given away to people on the waiting list. Please do not make me do this! I am doing this at cost, and so if you don't pay for your order, and there's no one on the waiting list, I am out the money.
Update 1/3/2013: Wow, almost double where we were a week ago: 317 coins. That means the estimated per-cost coin should be around $4.67 (again, to emphasize, this is an estimated cost, based on Phoenix's earlier quotes, which may not be valid by the time we order). We're also tentatively looking at accepting orders for the PAX East 2012 coin (last year's coin). If you want to order those, use the same form, but mark "PAX East 2012" in the comments field. If there's enough interest, I'll go out to Phoenix for a quote on that.
Update 12/27/2012: Thanks to everyone's orders, we're up to 168 coins at the moment. That means the per-coin cost has dropped to $5.60 (plus shipping and Paypal fees, as described below). Everyone will pay the same price, so the first orders will get the price drop as well as new orders. Also, I've had some questions on shipping. As I understand it, the padded mailer is flat-rate, as long as everything fits in the envelope. I know that at least 5 coins will fit, but more than that, I can't definitively say until I've got coins in hand and try stuffing them in myself. So more information should be available next week.
Update 12/24/2012: Orders are now open! Please use this form to reserve the number of coins you want. Orders will be accepted until February 1st (orders received after February 1st will go to the waiting list). On February 2nd, I will submit a request to Phoenix to mint that number of coins, and will send out invoices to everyone who submitted an order. Please pay promptly, as unpaid orders may have their coins released to the waiting list after 2 weeks (i.e., on about February 16th). Also, orders will ship in the order in which payment is received.
How much does it cost? That depends on how many orders we get. I will bill everyone the exact amount needed to break even. Since we have certain fixed costs (such as the die cost), that means the more orders, the cheaper each coin will be. Also, fluctuations in metal costs could potentially increase (or decrease) coin costs. However, based on the prices Phoenix quoted me in December, I expect that if we get 100 orders (we're at 79 right now), each coin should cost about $6.50. One week before coin ordering ends, I will give a more precise quote, with the opportunity to back out, but this estimate should be good for now. I'll update estimated per coin costs as orders come in, but I will say that if we end up with 400, about the quantity of last year, then prices would be closer to $4.50/coin.
In addition to the base cost of the coins, US orders add $5.30 for a basic, priority mail flat rate envelope. If you want additional shipping features (delivery confirm, etc.) I'm happy to do that, and will add the cost of those features to your invoice (please see usps.gov for more info on services and rates). International orders would add whatever the cost is of shipping to their countries. I strongly advise giving me instructions on how you want it shipped to you if you are international. Note that there will be no will call pick-up at PAX, as that has proved to be too much of a logistical issue.
Also, PayPal takes a cut of $0.30 + 2.9%. So, if you ordered 5 coins at $4.67 each, your total cost would be: (5*4.67 + 5.30) * 1.029 + 0.30 = $29.78.
Last but not least, here are pictures of how it looks!
Original post (with edits):
Yes, it's getting to be that time again. The Challenge Coin has a long and storied PAX history, and is frankly probably the most awesome swag that the show produces. The past coins are pictured below:
PAX Prime 2012
PAX East 2012 (it looks yellow-ish in these pictures, but is in fact a matte nickel finish)
Earlier coins
PAX East 2012 (it looks yellow-ish in these pictures, but is in fact a matte nickel finish)
Earlier coins
This year is, as always, a volunteer, collaborative effort. The coin is "for" all PAX attendees, but we recognize that most of the people who end up participating in the project are forum-ers. Cost is generally about $5. Over the past couple of years, certain features have become standing traditions:
The size of the coin is 1.75"
The finish for the East coin is antique nickel (Prime sometimes uses the golden "antique brass finish")
The coin has smooth edges (this has changed from year to year, but this year the voting was for smooth).
The obverse features an image from the host city (along with a border featuring the date and location: "PAX East 2013" "Boston, MA" and "March 22 - 24") while the reverse features a gaming image (along with the Pac-Man border, featuring the Wheaton's Law and "Welcome Home")
Having spent several weeks brainstorming, discussing, and debating, we seem to have settled on the following ideas. The obverse (image from host city) will feature the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge, while the reverse will feature linked Game Boys. The overall theme of the coin then (which arrived kind of by accident), is "making connections."
In order to get the designs to Phoenix Challenge Coins early enough so that we're not scrambling to ship them before PAX, we aim to follow this schedule:
Until October 20: Brainstorming/general discussion. Done! See agreed-upon themes above!
October 21-November 10: Submission of mock-ups and designs based on the agreed-upon theme. Done!
November 11-November 25: Current stage! Work with Phoenix to finalize designs. Close and tally voting for edge (smooth versus ridged). Done!
After November 25: Collect money, approve designs for Phoenix, take orders (the exact order of these steps is still open for debate, as I would like to avoid the situation we've had the last couple go-arounds where someone has to front the money for the order).
KoalaBro2 on
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For the reverse, I feel like consoles have been getting short shrift, and so I think we should try to do something console-themed this time around.
PS - This is my annual plea to go back to smooth edges. Can't stand the reeded edge.
Faneuil Hall wouldn't be too bad, but on a coin I'm afraid Bunker Hill would just look like the Washington Monument.
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There are cards on the East 2011 coins. They are below the dice (last pic in the spoiler in the OP).
lol Dunkin Donuts are in loads of east coast places though, not just boston
I really like the idea of the bridge, and as for the gaming side... To be honest I'd love to see some kind of PC gaming related thing on it but since that was done for prime's coin, it probably wouldn't fly.
Some kind of controller seems cool to me though. Maybe a Dreamcast controller? I've always held that system pretty dearly in my mind.
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I really like the idea of the bridge, and as for the gaming side... To be honest I'd love to see some kind of PC gaming related thing on it but since that was done for prime's coin, it probably wouldn't fly.
Some kind of controller seems cool to me though. Maybe a Dreamcast controller? I've always held that system pretty dearly in my mind.
EDIT: CRAP. Somehow this double posted on me. Can I get this one deleted? =/
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Whoops. Thought those were tablets. Sorry.
perhaps it could be a dunkin donuts directly across the street from another dunkin donuts? lol.
while i still like the atari joystick idea, i'm curious; how can we represent handheld in a way that is unique from the previous handheld design? mainly i'm curious because i can't come up with anything myself. thoughts?
Or best of all worlds, a drawing that is a 3/4 top down view of a queue line that wraps snake style back and forth either from bottom to top or left to right, and in the line are all of the various aspects of PAX - person playing hand-held, people getting pranked, cookie brigade, cards, enforcers.. almost a where's waldo. I know there's not a lot of space, and this would require an artist's touch to do, but it could be all things.. and therefore epic
Points for creativity, but I can't see that ever working on a 1.75" coin. We can't even put the official Forum Crest on the coin because it's too intricate/detailed to be legible.
as far as handheld goes, if we do indeed use that concept, I would like to try and venture away from the (3)ds... and don't get me wrong... as of right now its the only hand held I own, there are others out there...maybe involve the vita?
I completely second this idea, the two Gameboys link-cabled, that is, I think that's an excellent idea.
[x]In awe that my 30 minute badge window prediction was pretty close to accurate.
[x]Badge (HOLYCRAPIGOTA4DAY!)
[x]Hotel
[ ]Airfare
[ ]Buttoneering Buttons
[ ]Challenge Coin
that's about as hand-held as a gamegear plus all 80 battery packs you had to take with you.
But if we wanna keep it retro for handhelds, maybe throwing a Game and Watch of Tiger Electronics device on that side of the coin?
TWDT '13: Hufflepuff OotP
I really like using the BCEC in the coin, especially if we draw it from this angle: http://www.massconvention.com/newsletter/0411/images/Marquee.jpg or http://wiki.paxcommunity.net/wiki/images/thumb/b/ba/BCEC-Exterior_Night.jpg/400px-BCEC-Exterior_Night.jpg I like the one with the Marquee because the Marquee could have the PAX logo on it.
I think the flip side should be a board game - something recognizable like Catan or Ticket. Or maybe even a Catan road bleeding into a ticket to ride train... something like that! It hasn't been done before and the Board Game area keeps getting bigger and bigger every year.
I think we should shelve the BCEC and use it for the 5th anniversary East (next year). I think the bridge would be a good choice this year, and next year we use the BCEC and a PAX V or something on the marquee.
Also, I kind of like the Settlers' board idea - it would probably translate better than a standard rectangle board like Monopoly. Everyone has to keep in mind that we are putting this on to a coin that's less than 2 inches across, so detail is a bit hard to come by.