Can someone fill me in on POTC coins please?

[G17RDY]

Hello,

I was wondering if someone could give me a bit of history and advice on the coins used in POTC, Curse of the Black Pearl.

I would like to own a few of the screen used coins used in the final cave scene, or indeed some metal replicas, but i am completely confused as to what is authentic and what is available.

On ebay coins come up for sale for £20 - claiming to be authenic ones from the movie, then i see others popping up for hundreds of dollars!

Also, i believe disney produced replicas, right? Were they metal, and could you get different kinds? Did they come in bags?

Did disney sell off the screen used coins in these bags?

Please please, someone give me a bit of background, and like i said i am looking to buy one or two, so if you can point me in the right direction, i would be very grateful.

many thanks
Gordy

 

[tripoli]

I would myself like to get some metal ones in bulk to set up a super display. But I hoped I could get them at bulk prices so as to afford the display as well. The MR ones at 10 dollars a pop makes a larger collection display quite expensive to do.

 

[Montagar]

Just to be clear, are you referring to the "cursed" coins? I ask because there are lots of other coins seen in the cave and some people have used those types of coins in displays as well.

 

[G17RDY]

I am generally talking about the 'other' coins stacked around the cave. There must of been thousands of them (well it looks that way in the movie) as well as gold nuggets etc, It is these coins i am curious about.

I know MR did a full size and scaled replica of the cursed coins. But i would love to get my hands on a screen used one as well.
Hoever for the moment, i would like to talk about the 'other' coins

 

[PHArchivist]

A lot of what you see on screen in those mounds of gold is simply gold-painted substrate material the set is built out of.

 

[glim999]

Don't know much about the other coins but I think I have every 1:1 cursed coin released. Here a comparison pic.

The MRs are metal and run between $10 and $15
The Disney World coins are also metal and cost $5
The Disney Store coins are made of plastic and were really cheap (forget the price though)
The Checkers are metal and came in the $25 game set (so, 32 coins for that price)

IMO, the checkers are the best value. They need repainting but their really detail and end up costing less than $1 each.

The Disney Store coins are nice too. They may be plastic, but weathered up it's impossible to tell without handling them.

I don't care for the Disney World or MR coins too much. They're the most expensive and the least detailed...

 

[G17RDY]

Great info so far guys, keep it up!!!

I think the disney world and the disney store weatherd look like the best replicas. Are they still for sale in DW or DS US? If so, good excuse to plan a holiday!!!:lol

 

[Serenity]

I was given the checkers set by a relative, and I was surprised at how relatively nice the "checker" coins were. I figured they would be plastic, so I was happy to see they were actually metal.

 

[kimncris]

There are metal lapel pins available at disneyland too - probably less than $10 per but I assume they are one sided. (the skull side obviously)

http://www.treasurekingdom.com/mm5/...e=TK&Product_Code=06DLAztecs&Category_Code=DP

 

[glim999]

As far as I know, the Disney World coin is still readily available and both Disney Parks. I haven't seen the Disney Store coins in a while though, so I think they may be out of production.

 

[jdebord]

Disneyauctionears (official Disney studio auctions on eBay) sold a fair amount of original POTC pieces upon release of the first film (and perhaps shortly before release).

The original film was kind of a surprise hit, so many really nice wardrobe pieces from principals in the film went fairly cheap.

They also auctioned off assortments/bags of coins and such, and in talking with a few original prop collectors, it sounds as though some got lucky, receiving a number of the "cursed coins" in these assortments that were marketed as lesser random coins and such.

Also, I know that some cursed coins were made following the release of the film (which would make them replicas, not originals) that were made either by those that made the originals or using the same materials/molds/methods, and I'm certain that these are or are close to indistinguishable from the original cursed coins used in the film. These were fairly inexpensive (under $100?) compared with what the originals were selling for (around $1,000?).

Jason

 

[KingNothing]

I know there is a member here who posted a comparison between the real screen used one and a bunch of others. I want to say roboprop...

BUt yeah many think the Disney store version is better than the regular MR.

Don't forget MR released a double sided coin. Like the ones that fall into the chest, where there is no aztec symbol on the back, just the skull on both sides.

As for the other coins... From what I understand a lot of it was just plastic coins painted gold, and rocks painted gold. I'll have to talk with the prop master when I'm in LA again and get some info. But until then maybe someone could chime in?

 

[Treadwell]

Great roundup, Glim!

But "there is another"!

I found a different $5 Disney World coin one year ago. Front is the same as yours, but take a gander at the redone back:

I also have a DW coin just like yours but it was purchased for me about 2 years ago and I don't know how much it was.

 

[glim999]

Oooo gotta make a trip to Orlando soon

Thanks for the info!!!

 

[Treadwell]

Found it in that gigantic store in the Marketplace.

 

[glim999]

I think I know the one you mean. The wife and I were planning a trip anyways, this just gives me more incentive :lol

 

[G17RDY]

WOW, fantastic info so far guys, this is the type of info and discussions i was hoping for, keep it up though, lets find out more about the 'other' lesser coins. Or if you have some lets see some pictures and tells us how you came to own them!!

Disneyauctionears (official Disney studio auctions on eBay) sold a fair amount of original POTC pieces upon release of the first film (and perhaps shortly before release).

The original film was kind of a surprise hit, so many really nice wardrobe pieces from principals in the film went fairly cheap.

They also auctioned off assortments/bags of coins and such, and in talking with a few original prop collectors, it sounds as though some got lucky, receiving a number of the "cursed coins" in these assortments that were marketed as lesser random coins and such.

Also, I know that some cursed coins were made following the release of the film (which would make them replicas, not originals) that were made either by those that made the originals or using the same materials/molds/methods, and I'm certain that these are or are close to indistinguishable from the original cursed coins used in the film. These were fairly inexpensive (under $100?) compared with what the originals were selling for (around $1,000?).

Jason

Great info Jason, Geez if only i could rewind time, and get in on some of those auctions!! Never know about disneyauctionears before, but will certainaly be watching future items for sale with great interest, Thanks very much:thumbsup

I know there is a member here who posted a comparison between the real screen used one and a bunch of others. I want to say roboprop...

BUt yeah many think the Disney store version is better than the regular MR.

Don't forget MR released a double sided coin. Like the ones that fall into the chest, where there is no aztec symbol on the back, just the skull on both sides.

As for the other coins... From what I understand a lot of it was just plastic coins painted gold, and rocks painted gold. I'll have to talk with the prop master when I'm in LA again and get some info. But until then maybe someone could chime in?

The info just keeps getting better and more exciting. If you can talk with the prop master and gather some info, WOW that would be very very interesting!! Well done!:thumbsup

 

[Kaylee]

I am generally talking about the 'other' coins stacked around the cave. There must of been thousands of them (well it looks that way in the movie) as well as gold nuggets etc, It is these coins i am curious about.

Oh! Those are easy. Mass-produced replicas of Spanish Reals for the most part, weren't they? I think the cheapest place is some of the "pirate stores" online - just search for "ersatz gold" or suchlike. We had some for decor one Talk Like a Pirate Day at work a couple years back.

 

[G17RDY]

Well, last night, i bought an auction lot from ebay comprising of 1 'other' coin and 3 gemstones, used in the final cave scene. For £30, that doesn't seem to bad, i will take some pics when the arrive, for your comments. Eagerly awaiting them, just hope they fulfill my hopes!!!

As for the replica coins, my sister-in-law is a flight attendant, and is in the USA quite regualrly, so i'm going to ask her to pick me up some replicas from a disney store, can anyone tell me what i should ask her to look out for in the disney stores (metal, plastic, single blister packs, or do they sell bags of metal replicas??)

The final option, for my display idea, is to have some loose coins, comprising of a few replicas and screen used, but to also 'cast' the 'other' coin i have just bought (purley for my own use / display) and / or to replicate my own using sculpey, varying in sizes and colours.
I would like to be able to have a few 'stacks' of coins around the main centre piece of my display.
However can i ask, as i know there is always a hot debate on 'casting' and 'recasting' - Is casting a coin direct from the movie, for your own display purposes, OK? I really loathe the whole re-casting thing, and don't want to be hippocritical and enter into that world myself - and yes i know its for my own purposes, but i just want to make sure i feel as though i'm keeping on the right side of the tracks!!!

Thanks for your input so far

Gordy

 

[RedTwoX]

Just to add another voice of agreement, I too remember reading that the majority of the treasure in the cave was mass produced plastic pieces purchased in bulk. If you hit some web sites and buy "bags" of injection molded plastic "gold coins" then you'll be on the right track to reproducing the set designers efforts.

As for the replica coins, my sister-in-law is a flight attendant, and is in the USA quite regualrly, so i'm going to ask her to pick me up some replicas from a disney store, can anyone tell me what i should ask her to look out for in the disney stores (metal, plastic, single blister packs, or do they sell bags of metal replicas??)

The Disney Store coins are plastic and were sold out of a treasure chest about 1.5'x3' and a foot deep. They provide small cloth bags, and the deal is "As many coins as you can fit in the bag for $5". It takes some work, but you can jam 20 coins in one of the bags if you aren't too gentle with it.

The final option, for my display idea, is to have some loose coins, comprising of a few replicas and screen used, but to also 'cast' the 'other' coin i have just bought (purley for my own use / display) and / or to replicate my own using sculpey, varying in sizes and colours.
I would like to be able to have a few 'stacks' of coins around the main centre piece of my display.
However can i ask, as i know there is always a hot debate on 'casting' and 'recasting' - Is casting a coin direct from the movie, for your own display purposes, OK? I really loathe the whole re-casting thing, and don't want to be hippocritical and enter into that world myself - and yes i know its for my own purposes, but i just want to make sure i feel as though i'm keeping on the right side of the tracks!!!

Thanks for your input so far

Gordy

Ugh! Recasting. Generally the practice is always frowned upon. People tend to make an exception, or turn a blind eye, to recasting original screen used props. I think there a few reasons behind this. 1) If you dropped a major chunk of money to get a screen used piece, then you've bought yourself a little leeway in what you can do with it 2) The original craftsman has already gotten paid for the work and isn't in the business of selling copies, so you aren't taking business/money from anyone by making copies 3) For most of us, the likelihood of getting a screen-used prop is next to nil, but we probably can swing a casting of screen used prop if the new owner were willing to make a copy.

Assuming we are correct about the origins of the cave coins, you'll be able to pick up plastic coins off the Internet for a lot less than you'll send on mold making and casting material. No, you won't have any guaranty that you are buying the same types of coins that the prop/set department of PotC bought, but you have any guaranty that the coin you just bought is screen used? Unless had proof positive that is was screen used, i would say "Close enough counts"... but it's your display and not mine. Do what makes you happy.