| Trackable Options |
Found this item? Log in. |
Printable information sheet to attach to 2008 Alaska Geocoin - silver w. gold
Print Info Sheet |
|
This is a truly beautiful geocoin celebrating the US state of Alaska. It has no color, but instead relies on a fantastic, mirror-like finish of the background contrasting with the raised effect of the items in the foreground. One side reads "www.geocachealaska.org" and features a fearsome-looking bear, with suggestions of mountains in the background - or possibly the Aurora Borealis.
The other side has the text "Exploring Alaska - one cache at a time", and a mountain landscape, with a hiker in the foreground. He has his GPSr in hand and is carrying a backpack with a conspicious spade and pickax protruding from it. Maybe he is going to dig for gold while geocaching?
This coin comes in several metal versions. The basic bronze colored version is the more common one. However, a pure silver coin was also available, as well as this silver coin with gold accents, and finally, a pure 99.9%, 1 ounze gold goin. With a price tag of about US$1,100, you are not likely to see many of the 10 gold coins minted in caches :)!
This silver coin is really amazing. The mirror surface is astonishing, and the pure gold accents on the bear and Aurora Borealis in the background, as well as the edge, really bring out these items. There is also edge writing with the words: "ALASKA MINT 1 OZ .999 FINE SILVER".
Also included in the coin presentation box is a little leaflet with the following text:
Alaska Mint Medallion
Made in Alaska
www.alaskamin.com
At the Alaska mint, quality assurance is our outmost concern. With that in mind, medallions are minted one at a time and go through rigorous stages of quality control. This way our customers always receive a flawless and beautiful product.
Our finest medallions consist of .999 fine silver or .9999 fine gold in various weights, from 1/20 ounce to 2 ounces. From production to packaging, all medallions are handled with gloved hands and dusted with moisture-free air. This inhibits any form of tarnishing or discoloration.
Each medallion starts out as an idea. That idea is then given to our very talented artisan that specializes in detailed, graphic design. That design is then transferred to a precision cut steel die. After this is complete, the die is hardened in order to withstand tons of pressure. When hardened, the die is polished to a mirror surface and ready for production.
We utilize three hydraullic presses, the original is a hydraulic Hobbing press, build in the late 1950´s and originally used in a general machine shop. In 1990, The Alaska Mint rebuilt and retooled the same press and has been producing medallions of the highest quality ever since.
Our medallions are minted as either a proof or proof-like. When minting a proof-like medallion, the dies are cleaned and planchets are struck once using 140 tons of pressure. They have a reeded edge. Proofs are our highest quality and finest medallions. The dies are polished to a flawless mirror finish and planchets are struck twice using a pressure of 160-180 tons. Proofs have a smooth edge and are edge-lettered with our hallmark and .999 fine silver to assure purity and authenticity...