**DESIGN PERIOD COMPLETE - 2007 BYOAC Token BACK SIDE Design Thread**

[rockin_rick]

I'd also vote for brass.  Perhaps a vote could be taken for brass vs nickel and then the winner is minted at potentially a bit of a savings (due to economies of scale)?

BTW - Is the nickel version nickel plated brass?  And, more importantly, will the nickel perform IDENTICALLY as brass in a mech?  I'm guessing that the 'magnet deceleration' feature of the mech would be the part that may cause the issue (if there is one).  (or do I not fully understand the operation of a mech...)

Rick

[missioncontrol]

So the way you posted it PH, it sounds like the consensus in the past has been toward the nickel instead of brass, is that correct?  Personally if I am going to have custom tokens I think that they would look cooler/more retro/more like tokens if they were brass.  Am I way off base here.  If I wanted silver color I'd use quarters.  I also like the idea of brass probably being cheaper since my to cabs have quarter mechs right now and in addition to the tokens I'd have to buy 3 token mechs if I want these darn things, and I probably will since there are at least 3 designs I'd be willing to use.

bfauska

you may be able to hack your coin mechs to accept tokens and quarters. I hacked my mechs and they seem to work well.... except for the fact that my cabinet isn't finished, but dry run test of the mechs proved that once hacked they were able to accept both. There is a tutorial thread somewhere on this site and I believe Santoro has links to other token hack tutorials....


ahhh here's the page that might help.....

http://www.arcadereplay.com/content/

So unless your coindoor is the special type that need to have the hole the quarter goes in dremmeled out a bit, the hack should be fairly easy. I still need to drimmel out the quarter slots on my pin though.....

[fatfingers]

[My fake Latin attempt]

In Arcadus We Trustis

[siropa]

now that i've seen mrC design with bling... MUST. HAVE. NOW!!!

btw, brass all the way for me. old style token like that has to be in brass, even better once its tarnished up a bit.

[Zero_Hour]

now that i've seen mrC design with bling... MUST. HAVE. NOW!!!

Indeed.
I've always said I want to get some BYOAC tokens, and then never pull the trigger...
Mr. C's in Brass would be the end of that trend for sure. Beautiful. 

[patrickl]

Wow I missed this thread for a while. Mr C, that's a seriously cool design.

[MameMaster!]

WOW.....really nice job Mr. C......that's cool.

....now I have to buy more frickern' tokens!! 

[Pixelhugger]

Man, I am SO excited to see the interest picking up. I was getting nervous this run wouldn't be doable.

[bfauska]

Do we have a rough idea of cost?  I know somebody mentioned that it would likely be more than previous years, could we get an estimate based on the previous years quantities and the current price of production, or does it depend on the art?

Even a general figure...
100 for $10.00 or 100 for $100.00?

[Kaytrim]

Do we have a rough idea of cost?  I know somebody mentioned that it would likely be more than previous years, could we get an estimate based on the previous years quantities and the current price of production, or does it depend on the art?

Even a general figure...
100 for $10.00 or 100 for $100.00?

The current price for the previous tokes is $26.99 for 100.  You can look here.

TTFN

edit** I'd like to see a re-order of the 2006 tokens and then offer a mixed bag of like 50 tokens from each year.

[Pixelhugger]

I'm pretty sure the mint has raised prices from last year so I'd expect a bump up from the 26.99.

[bfauska]

An assortment option would be great, I can't imagine I will need more than 100 tokens though, so maybe 25 each of 2004, 2005, 2006, & 2007.  I suppose if that option doesn't come up I may be able to find 3 other people interested in that and then we'd just split them amongst ourselves.

[Santoro]

BTW - Is the nickel version nickel plated brass?  And, more importantly, will the nickel perform IDENTICALLY as brass in a mech? 

Yes, and yes.  At least in my experience ofer 4 years. ...

I'm guessing that the 'magnet deceleration' feature of the mech would be the part that may cause the issue (if there is one).  (or do I not fully understand the operation of a mech...)

I haven't heard of my tokens having any magnetic issues to date. There's a pretty good chance that's a non-issue.

[mr.Curmudgeon]

I've got a quick question about the final tokens. On Santoro's site they look like they have an actual patina to them? (ie: there's a dark/antique-like appearance on the recessed part of the token) Is this how the final tokens look, or is this an effect for viewing details on the web?

If they do come out with a patina, that'd be AWESOME...on any token design!

See attached example.

[Pixelhugger]

Mine have definitely aged. They do seem to darken (oxidize?) over time.

[Santoro]

I've got a quick question about the final tokens. On Santoro's site they look like they have an actual patina to them? (ie: there's a dark/antique-like appearance on the recessed part of the token) Is this how the final tokens look, or is this an effect for viewing details on the web?

If they do come out with a patina, that'd be AWESOME...on any token design!

See attached example.

They do age nicely, IMHO, especially with frequent use.

As far as the photos go, I did polish the tokens with Brasso prior to sending them to Markrvp for phographing, but the intent was for them to look 'shiny new.'  I think that the 'patina' is a result of two things -  the polishing, and the lighting that Mark used. 

[Pixelhugger]

That makes sense. I was gonna say mine have darkened pretty evenly overall unlike the photos which are mostly dark around the details. So I'm guessing a bit of brass polish enhances the aged look by lightening the raised/detailed areas and leaving the lowered areas oxidized. That look would be awesome on Mr. C's intricate design!

[JustMichael]

Here is a picture of a token I took quite a while back (warning NOT NOT NOT dialup friendly...did I mention NOT?):



The darkening at the top is a trick of the light and all of the token is nice and shiny.

For a direct link to the full size picture: http://folks.harbornet.com/exclavieor/BYOAC%20Token.jpg

[Santoro]

Just to confirm - the design sumission period is formally closed as of last Friday.  I will try to post polls with what I have tonight or tomorrow.  If you haven't sent your design to Pixelhugger for blinging, I will use what you posted as the picture of your design.  (you should send it to him for blinging!)

[Pixelhugger]

Please wait until tomorrow, I've still got to get the submissions provided to me blinged.  If you have a sumission you haven't emailed me or PM'd me get in in TODAY. 

[Santoro]

Here is an unpolished token that has been on my keyring for three years. 

[Santoro]

Please wait until tomorrow, I've still got to get the submissions provided to me blinged.  If you have a sumission you haven't emailed me or PM'd me get in in TODAY. 

Oh, I didn't know that.  How much time do you need?  We can wait.. you are volunteering for this!

[Pixelhugger]

Well, I'll try to get them done tonight/tomorrow during work.

[mr.Curmudgeon]

Man, I so want your job.   

Here is an unpolished token that has been on my keyring for three years. 

OMG! That's awesome looking. I'm totally putting any tokens I buy on keyrings for three years!   

[Pixelhugger]

I should probably post these in their respective threads for front and back, but to keep things simple I'm just gonna put all blinged entries here. Is that OK santoro?

[Pixelhugger]

Am I missing anyone? There are definitely posts that nobody has sent files for. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

[Pixelhugger]

 Took the liberty to stipple behind the invader. Lemme know if I shouldn't Kevin.

[Pixelhugger]

That's all I've got. I'm withdrawing mine.

[Pixelhugger]

Still have a couple more to come. This is the final Mr. C. front. Back to follow.

[JoyMonkey]

Here is an unpolished token that has been on my keyring for three years. 

OMG! That's awesome looking. I'm totally putting any tokens I buy on keyrings for three years!   

No ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---. I'm going to take a few tokens to work and drill holes in them tomorrow. 
I can see the headline now; "Immigrant looses eye in horrific arcade token drill press accident"

[langdoguk]

An assortment option would be great, I can't imagine I will need more than 100 tokens though, so maybe 25 each of 2004, 2005, 2006, & 2007.  I suppose if that option doesn't come up I may be able to find 3 other people interested in that and then we'd just split them amongst ourselves.

   I agree , that would be ideal for myself too .

[missioncontrol]

I wonder how good Mr. C's design would look without the stipple

[mr.Curmudgeon]

I think on that latest rendering, the stipple looks more pronounced than it would be normally, since the lighting is a bit different (brighter) than the last image.
Look at the first 'blinged' image, and you'll see the difference.

The stipple, I think, would make the details stand out more on an actual token. Without it, the various design elements would probably blend together.

I've got a 'Retroblast' token, with stippling on it, an it looks *really* nice. It's very subtle.

EDIT: Here's an image comparing the two. The stipple on an actual coin, looks more like the rendering on the left.

[Santoro]

An assortment option would be great, I can't imagine I will need more than 100 tokens though, so maybe 25 each of 2004, 2005, 2006, & 2007.  I suppose if that option doesn't come up I may be able to find 3 other people interested in that and then we'd just split them amongst ourselves.

I need to structure the sales in a way that we get enough orders to justify making the tokens at all.. this due to factory minimums.  I also need to be sure I don't get stuck with too many unsold tokens.

Because of this, I do the same thing every year.. We have minimum orders of 200 of each metal for the first round, then a a few months after the tokens are avaiiable I make 100-lots available.   If I had 100 or 50-lots available up front, most people would go for those to save money. This is not a very big market, and it's likely we would either not have enough tokens to order at all, or I might not make any profit at all due to unsold ones.

This way everyone wins.. If you want a smaller lot, you will be able to get one, you just need a little patience. 

[Pixelhugger]

Not stippling is a huge mistake. Not only does it emphasize details, but the lowest areas of the coin if left unstippled tend to look tin like and flat. I realize the "blinging" has its drawbacks. The actual feel of the stipple is pretty hard to accurately convey.

[missioncontrol]

most my older tokens doesn't have the stippling and they look good. I'm in for a set either way though so you don't have to sell it to me.

[bfauska]

An assortment option would be great, I can't imagine I will need more than 100 tokens though, so maybe 25 each of 2004, 2005, 2006, & 2007.  I suppose if that option doesn't come up I may be able to find 3 other people interested in that and then we'd just split them amongst ourselves.

I need to structure the sales in a way that we get enough orders to justify making the tokens at all.. this due to factory minimums.  I also need to be sure I don't get stuck with too many unsold tokens.

Because of this, I do the same thing every year.. We have minimum orders of 200 of each metal for the first round, then a a few months after the tokens are avaiiable I make 100-lots available.   If I had 100 or 50-lots available up front, most people would go for those to save money. This is not a very big market, and it's likely we would either not have enough tokens to order at all, or I might not make any profit at all due to unsold ones.

This way everyone wins.. If you want a smaller lot, you will be able to get one, you just need a little patience. 

That makes sense.  I suppose that if I find 8 people willing to do this that we could work out the split amongst ourselves and then still contribute to the initial set of 200 or more token orders.

[mr.Curmudgeon]

Am I going to have to change the date on the token to 2008?   

[missioncontrol]

Where's the polls at?

[Pixelhugger]

I'm still blinging a couple.