Money for nothing.

by Caroline Black

My metal coin addiction started with the metal coins for Viticulture Essential Edition. I researched for ages before I decided what to buy. I decided that the denominations and the good colour differentiation would make these the perfect set. But they weren’t because they don’t stack in a satisfying way. Nevertheless they really add to my enjoyment of the game. And that’s the problem, once you play with metal coins, cardboard money doesn’t seem good enough any more.



I always thought I would just stop after one set and use it for all my games but I didn’t. Glen More II: Chronicles followed. These come in a nice little bag. I didn’t even own the game at the time, preferring to play the original. But in my defence I found them really cheaply. I think these are inked.



That’s the thing about metal money. By the time you’ve added on the postage costs it would probably be cheaper to use proper money.

I think the next lot I got was from the upgrade pack from Tokaido. I have a lot of Asian games so I used these mainly for At the Gates of Loyang. Tokaido being a beautiful but not very interesting game and it being lockdown and me playing At the Gates of Loyang solo. I do love these although you can get the same coin fix by buying a set if cheap Feng Shui coins from ebay.



It was playing Nusfjord solo a lot as well so picked up the metal coins from Nusfjord: Plaice Deck. These are pretty rubbish to be honest but not as bad as the ones that come with Everdell: Collector's Edition.

The metal coins for Architects of the West Kingdom followed. These are even worse for stacking than the Viticulture one.



By now my coin addiction was in full swing. I saw a cheap set for Little Town which is one of my all time favourite games. The denominations are a bit out on these. There are not enough ones which is the cost of activating a building.



When you do a post on metal coins someone always jumps in and says what you really need are iron clays. I have the Roxley ones from Brass: Birmingham (another game I don’t own) I like them but always forget to use them. I also own the wooden coins for Villagers which are a good multi use coin.



Next came the coins for Lisboa. (Another game I don’t own) I had always hanker after the Nanty Narking ones for Obsession but bought these as a substitute. Then I found the Nanty Narking ones. I have amassed a collection of coins for games I don’t own.



Coins are normally hard to get if they come with a kickstarter. That’s why I originally bought the Viticulture ones. They were readily available. Well Stonemaier Games knocked it out of the park with the Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest one. Inked they are just gorgeous with a neat little container to keep them in. Just prefect for pirate themed games.



My favourite metal coins aren’t coins. They are silverlings. I don’t know what I will do with the metal coins from the latest edition The Castles of Burgundy: Special Edition. I will probably try and sell them.

Another favourite is the credits for Underwater Cities.



I’ve never succumbed to one of those metal coin Kickstarters. I tend to only buy the official coins.

Recently it just got completely out of control. Recently delivered Kickstarters with coins includes Flamecraft, Hamlet: The Village Building Game and Castles of Mad King Ludwig: Collector's Edition.



I would love to get the ones for Merchants of the Dark Road which have ceramic on them. I have seen them in the flesh and they look stunning. I don’t have any funny shaped coins. I probably would get these given the chance. But in general, I think the time is coming when my metal coin collection is complete.



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