A different approach to attributing coins using Reddit, Imgur, and PixelStix

I was really excited about finding the time to do this writeup and posted on a couple of other forums. Apologies if you've already seen this. It's hard to stay quiet when it's exciting! Also I am an avid Ancients collector but thought this article might pertain to anyone that has similar issue with attribution.

Video showing how coins are physically linked to my attributions on Reddit

*apologies for the poor lighting*

One of the aspects of Ancients that I enjoy the most is the attributing process and specifically researching the culture and peoples that are/were connected to a particular coin. The internet plays a big part for me in that process and although I very much enjoy opening a book to follow some research thread, relying on a vast database of media as well as the insight and advice of others is paramount (in my process).

With all that said, the technology used here may not be for everyone but this technique is solving a few problems for this guy and I thought that doing a quick write up might help someone else out. Assuming this continues to work for me I will eventually have a proper tutorial put up on the pixelstix.com site where we place all of our project tutorials, (however niche this may be).

My biggest challenge with the attributing process today is what to do with the information that I've collected during my research. Following are some solutions that didn't work for me in the past.

* trying to fit all the info within the 2x2 flip. A handwritten description is ideal to me but I could never fit all of the research on the tiny piece of paper. I suppose I could use larger paper and fold it up into the flip but the images, maps, Wiki Links -- There's no way to place it on the paper.
* reference no. on the paper in the flip that references a database or spreadsheet entry. This fixed the problem of having a vast amount of info (including digital), but ultimately didn't work for me because I found it inconvenient to have the information and coin in two separate places. Firstly, it was a disjointed experience when I wanted to just enjoy a coin that I had previously done the research for and secondly I didn't have a smooth way to transfer that information to a friend or customer that may own the coin after me.

So what ended making the most sense was storing all of the digital information physically inside the flip using Reddit, Imgur, and PixelStix. The combination of the three do a lot. As you'll see I use Reddit as a sort of public-forum data storage and Imgur is where I put my supporting media (large maps, pictures of plates from digital research or pictures uploaded from my phone of books), and PixelStix is the tech that physically lives inside the flip and provides the 'linkage' to my research. As one of the co-creators of PixelStix as well as an avid lover of ancient coins - it was only an amount of time I suppose.

Here's my typical process.

***step 1*** Research. Coin in hand, all the typical vehicles are used to research and form an attribution. For me, my goal is to come up with the basics. Where did it come from, when was it made, who's depicted on the Obverse and who/what is depicted on the Reverse. Of course during this process is where I seem to become enthralled and collect a lot more information that I ultimately want to preserve.

***step 2*** Post to Reddit. I'll typically first post images of the coin to Imgur and then make my Reddit posting an Image Link. I'll then place my attribution as a comment to my own posting. This is really important because this is where others can help by correcting any mistakes I may have made or even assist in the research. Any supporting media, like maps that depict the ancient area where the coin was struck should be also uploaded to Imgur and placed in the comment with the standard Reddit link formatting. Oh, and you can edit it a bajillion times if you need. That's always helpful (as you'll see) for adding any extra information down the road. It's also important to point out that even though I'm researching a coin in my personal collection the supporting information in these comments help others learn and fall in love with the culture and people it represents. That's a really nice benefit!

***step 3*** Comment Tarting. This is a technical bit I swear I will make much easier down the road. Today I grab the URL from the Permalink of my Reddit comment that contains the attribution and add it the api.pixelstix.com comment_tart script to make the comment-tart URL that we'll store on the PixelStix:


permalink example:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AncientCoi...gnize_this_thessalonica_goat_reverse/fc7kpeg/

completed comment-tart URL example:

https://api.pixelstix.com/util/comm...gnize_this_thessalonica_goat_reverse/fc7kpeg/


If you are following along this is a great time to put that URL in your browser and make sure it looks good. It should have the title, a small thumbnail, (which links to the Imgur gallery of coins images), and the complete comment with your attribution.


***step 4*** Assign the comment-tart URL to a PixelStix. Very easy to do but beyond the scope of this little tutorial and all of that info is on the pixelstix.com site. Basically you open the PixelStix app, touch your phone to it and it will ask what type of content you'd like to store on it. Choose Link and paste the comment-tart URL to store it on the PixelStix. You can get PixelStix up at pixelstix.com or just DM me, ask nicely and I'll be happy to send you some if you pay the shipping. I love helping fellow collectors!

***Voila!*** Now you can put the PixelStix in the flip under your coin. Usually there is no issue with the scanning happening through the coin. The only problem I've encountered is when the metal from the coin *completely* obstructs the PixelStix. In which case I just shift the coin so that the app can sense the technology.

As you can see in the video the end result is pretty much exactly what I was needing and although this sounds like a lot, I would recommend you to follow along for a coin or two and you'll see that all of these components are pretty easy to work with once you get the hang of it.

Feel free to let me know if you use this method and what you think!

 

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I dunno... seems pretty cool, but how much are the PixelStix stickers to purchase?

Maybe it's just me, but I can't find that info on the website.

 

Forgive me for running off in the wrong direction, but I had to go see what PixelStix is about.

The physical sticker holds an NFC tag, right? I assume you put a unique ID into each tag's onboard memory, and your app and API use that to point to the Imgur and Reddit content.

I understand that PixelStix isn't the same as a QR-code sticker, but what do you see as its advantages? I guess it's an advantage that it doesn't have to be visually prominent, but printing a QR code is probably always going to be a lot cheaper.

 

It's too new of a concept to be up there.. I'm still removing the rough edges of how this might work with coins. When it's a more streamlined process I'll put a nice tutorial up there and probably allow to buy standard 2x2 flips with tech already in it. We sell individual PixelStix for $5 and will likely just sell these 'smart flips' for the same price. What are your thoughts on that price?

 

100% correct. There are pros and cons to NFC vs QR codes and our software backend supports QR codes just fine (although the PixelStix app hasn't yet implemented it).

PixelStix is just a means to provide the linkage between the physical coin and online content. There are other ways and even raw NFC supports a link. You could theoretically just follow this tutorial and hardcode the link onto an NFC tag.

 

Hmmm, shouldn’t you also talk to the TPG’s about embedding this technology into each slab? Or is the barcode and certificate validation apps already sufficient?

 

PCGS just recently announced they are going to do it. But it appear it is just going to link to the certificate verification page. Which the barcode/QR code already does.

 

Any further discussion concerning Buy/Sell information should be by Conversations and not on the Forum, as this is a member selling or hyping a personal interest of monetary gains and is more an advertisement. Discussion of the product is allowed as per numismatics only. Please read the Rules. Jim

 

I understand what you are saying, but this approach seems intriguing as a way to extend the numismatic experience. I am also wondering if there are other approaches that are opened up even without consideration of a specific technology or product offering. In my personal view, I appreciated the product reference so I could follow up on the technology involved.

From there I am considering whether the same ends could be achieved by a simple photographic mapping of the coin. The coin could have a signature generated from the photographic information, and that could be tied to a larger store of data about the coin.

So, insofar as the OP does not push his product, I hope no boundaries are crossed that would shut down this exploration.

 

As I said:

is fine. Any solicitation / buy /sell/ etc. of ANY item on CT is only allowed as per rules in the classified section. Everybody gets the same comment if appropriate.
Stamps, microscopes, cameras, etc. are not allowed either.

Jim

 

I support this concept greatly and want this thread and others to help by contributing ideas or feedback about this new approach to attributing that I am just exploring.

On that note, it's very liberating to now have an attribution that both lives on my coin but is also visible to others so that it can be enjoyed and discussed/corrected by far more seasoned collectors.

 

I have been thinking about getting into NFC sticker.

I see the PixelStix cost $5 each. I have seen NFC stickers for sale elsewhere, 100 for $20. What is the difference between generic stickers and PixelStix?

 

Would 'about 85k lines of code' be an acceptable answer?

JK! Very cool to hear that you are thinking of kicking around NFC. Please consider reaching out if you have any questions or issues as you pursue this.

As for PixelStix vs NFC or PixelStix vs QRcodes (for that matter) you can think of PixelStix as a software platform that sits atop NFC. That is, it offers a IPhone/Android-agnostic way to extend what NFC can do. With NFC you can assign a URL to a tag but the experience for assigning and viewing is very different across phone platforms. I'm also pretty sure that assigning content to NFC is barely functional in the iPhone world? Either way, this all works with PixelStix plus weird things like:

1. Knowing the location of each scan of your coin. hint-hint anti-theft
2. Allow you to run analytics of scans. Think of this as a show. How valuable would it be to know which coin people looked at the most? Do people scan my greek or roman coins more?
3. Create scavenger hunts with your coins (odd but possible) by placing them in a city and adding them to a map.
4. Use a coin as a means to broadcast information to other coins. Yes, you can vlog to your coin.

Some of these may seem like odd uses for a coin but In the future, NFC will be seen in a similar way that the Altair was seen once personal computers arrived on the scene. Clever but nowhere as useful.

If you are in the US, happy to send you a few for you to play with as you explore NFC. Cheers!