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 Replies: 43 / Views: 4,474 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7629 Posts |
I definitely appreciate all of the support my flagship website has received over the years - the number of people currently using it shows that not only are we in a boom of die variety interest, but that I have built a product that is at least useful. My purpose for this thread (and I expect it will eventually be a long one with many edits) is to discuss in some detail a new feature of coppercoins.com that I currently have in the planning stage. I am currently inviting full open discussion that I will use to eventually determine the direction I take in developing this new feature. I have been thinking about this for years, and call it "My Collection," or "MC" for short. What MC will do (in my vision) is allow collectors to match-up the die varieties they have to a list of all known die varieties according to the system used on coppercoins.com. Basically, to use the entire list of over 2,500 different die varieties as a 'checklist' to what you have in your collection. This part of the feature will allow you to: 1. Print lists of what you have and what you don't have, sorted in various ways (by value, limited to certain dates, doubled dies only, etc.) 2. Print itemized value lists of what you have according to the values published on the site (for insurance, peace of mind, etc.) 3. Create lists of what you have as extras for trade or sale. Another part of this feature will allow collectors who have certified Lincoln Cent die varieties to enter the label number of the certified coin into the system - again for centralization in case of insurance need, etc. All certified coins will be validated and verified through API to the grading companies (eventually). Additionally, uncertified coins can be verified through attribution to coppercoins.com staff, where we will certify the coins as being the die stated, tamper-evident seal the coins, and include verification in the system for that coin. With all this to wit, it would be possible at that juncture to create a point system based on rarity and value to each coin at each grade and track collections much like a registry set. Collections could then be ranked (at the collector's discretion) using names of any kind - like "Marcy's collection" or "the Oregon cents". The possibility for collectors to keep the entirety of their collection private would be included in the feature so they don't participate in any way in the public version of the registry. The website would use ALL totals for ALL dies to account for the total number of examples known for that die. That would be one of the biggest benefits for the site itself as well as the collectors out there who might want to use the site to determine for themselves just how common or scarce their coins are. Of course this feature would have to be in full-swing use for quite a while before the numbers would even represent anything close to accuracy. So...I would like input, opinions, suggestions, comments - anything you think could help bring this feature of my site to full operation and make it as user-friendly as possible. Of course for now there aren't even screen shots of the feature. Those will come with time. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7629 Posts |
And as a disclaimer - I should mention that once this feature goes into full production operation to the public that it would be a user name driven system that would require a fee be charged for the time to develop and maintain such a robust system. I am currently working with the idea of $5 monthly to participate to this level on the website, but have been grappling with the issue of rising operation costs for a long time.
I was already considering the user login and fee to allow collectors to dig through the 15,000+ marker photos we have on the site (currently a free part of the site).
As an additional benefit of the member program, I am also considering building a classified ads section where collectors could offer for sale or post wanted ads for die varieties. This would be legible to all visitors, but would be postable by paid members only.
I have been tossing this idea around for a long time, and only expose it here because I not only want to know what you think about it, but to get ideas that may help it be better than planned so it serves collectors better. I have owned and operated this site since its inception in 1999, and to date have not charged anyone a dime to use it. All of the operating expenses of the site have come out of my pocket and the pockets of a few generous donors and volunteers. This step would bring it into being more of a commerce site than just a collector's dream. I realize this, and cannot see how it can move forward without this necessity. I cannot continue to pay server fees out of pocket limitlessly.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7629 Posts |
Coppercoins will remain free for all to visit and use for the following:
The FAQ section, once it is rebuilt.
The grading section, once rebuilt.
Educational videos, photographs, and other help tools.
Basic die searches.
The forum (message board).
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Valued Member
United States
234 Posts |
Sounds awesome Chuck! I will certainly join up for this. Only $5.00!?!?! What a steal:).
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Valued Member
United States
128 Posts |
Wow! I think this is a great idea. Just the other day I was thinking to myself it would be great if there were some sort of checklist out there that I could match up my coins with. Just a thought, but it would be great if you could make a visual checklist where people could post pictures of their own coins and make it where others could see your collections.
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Valued Member
United States
459 Posts |
Once the kinks were worked out do you think it could be expanded to include some Canadian Copper? There is a huge need to classify die states there also. Many are interested and working on it already.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7629 Posts |
1. The possibility of having image uploads so a person's collection would be visible to others - that would be do-able. 2. The possibility of having need/want lists include a thumbnail picture of the variety needed - that's do-able too. Not sure which one you meant. 3. For nybird - Honestly any expansion beyond Lincoln cents would probably go in the direction of Jefferson nickels, Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, and Kennedy half dollars before it would go toward anything non-U.S. issued...and that alone would probably take the remainder of my lifetime to build. It is eventually my goal to spread the code used for coppercoins to other series...but I had planned on doing U.S. series only. |
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Valued Member
United States
459 Posts |
I was afraid you'd say that but I understand. Anything involving computers, and "my lifetime" says it all. Very commendable and ambitious project, good on-ya'
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Pillar of the Community
United States
900 Posts |
I think is a good idea and I would definitely use a system like this. There is a similar site that I use for my comic book collection.
My suggestion would be provide a brief user comment section that could be used to describe how the coin was obtained, ie: Found In the Wild, or purchased for $x.xx on 01/01/2000.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4000 Posts |
I think it sounds awesome Chuck. You know I'll be there.  I think you should have been charging all along! I have pilfered your site for so much information, I couldn't even begin to imagine where I would be without it. Probably still posting the die chip of the hour! I have learned so much from you and your website that I believe you should get paid! Tiger Woods wouldn't give out free golf lessons on a daily basis, now would he? Can I pay for the whole year up front? How about a CD or downloadable option of your listed varieties? When I'm mobile with my laptop, that would be a handy thing to have, since I've only memorized so many.  |
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Valued Member
United States
128 Posts |
Coppercoins, I actually meant the first thing you said. In my opinion, I don't really see a reason to have a need/want list to include a photo. Now of course you would have to be able to upload photos to your own personal sell/trade listings. Just a quick question, but would you also include RDV's, CAM's, WAM's, and die trails on the checklist? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4897 Posts |
I think that would be a great service to our hobby! I certainly could use the organization to my collection. Also would give the motivation to go through roll after roll of the wheaties I collected before I ever heard of varieties. I know they are not your thing but including transitional varieties would be cool too. IMO
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Valued Member
Colombia
86 Posts |
Well, you know we are all coppercoins enthusiasts in this forum. It's a reliable and vast source of numismatic knowledge.
You can count me there as well. :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7629 Posts |
All great motivation so far, and great suggestions too! Thank you!
It's not that varieties are NOT my thing, I just haven't invented a way of including them on my site due to its nature. Because die varieties are specific to the individual die, and varieties are not, I find it difficult to include any of them without being comprehensive and including them ALL.
Other varieties include all the different date sizes, all the different mintmark styles, etc.
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Valued Member
United States
117 Posts |
Chuck, Your site is the whole reason I started collecting LMC die varieties. And I am going to be completely honest here: if your site had been a pay site when I found it, I probably would not have signed up and I would have just moved on to collecting something else. That being said, I do think you should get paid for your hard work and your copious amount of information. Right now in my collecting career, I would definitely sign up and pay for the information. The point I am not making very eloquently is that maybe some of the information (maybe the top 100 and their die markers) should be free with others behind the pay wall. Think of it as an appetizer for the main course. Enough information to entice new collectors, but not so much that you are giving away the cow for free. Also, a two tiered membership might make sense. You have collectors like me that would probably never use the MC thing, but would gladly pay for access to the die marker photos, search function, and such. I, like Scooby Due, would also be very interested in a CD version of your database. Something that could be used on a laptop when the internet is not available. Maybe something updated yearly. Something like the C.D.Daughtrey 2011 Catalog. Anyway, thanks for everything that you have done for everyone here. I wish you the best of luck with such an ambitious project. I cannot wait to see it. Edited by ebm
04/05/2011 8:24 pm
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Valued Member
United States
184 Posts |
You can count me in too. I think ebm brings up some good points though.
Kie
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Replies: 43 / Views: 4,474 |
Posted 04/05/2011 5:55 pm
