Introducing the Coiniverse Coin Task Force
Here at Coiniverse, we take pride in our ever-growing coin catalog. It's a source of information and inspiration for coin collectors worldwide. However, we know there's always the potential to make it even better, which is where the Coin Task Force comes in.
What is the Coin Task Force?
The Coin Task Force is a community project made up of Coiniverse community members.
Our community coin enthusiasts volunteer their time and expertise to help us find missing coins and enhance the information we have within the Coiniverse coin catalog. It's a true partnership between our team and the users who make Coiniverse so special.
Meet the Task Force: Péter
To get a sense of why people join our Coin Task Force, let's introduce one of our valuable members, Péter.
How I became a collector...the story of Péter
“My collecting journey dates back eight years ago. I never really planned to choose numismatics as a hobby, but while browsing the internet, I noticed a - in my opinion - uniquely beautiful 2000 forint banknote issued on the occasion of the Hungarian Millennium. It was love at first sight, and then everything just followed its own path. The next addition to the collection was the then “current” 2000 forint circulation banknote, just to have a nice pair, and so on and so forth. ”
“I organized the circulation coins of the Hungarian People's Republic and the Hungarian Republic as complete circulation sets, as well as by each issuance year.”
“Due to my new hobby, I started researching the issuances of coins and banknotes from various eras, based on which I planned and expanded my collection. Banknotes have now turned into coins, and today I mainly collect Hungarian circulation coins (including commemorative issues) from three main eras: the Korona, the Pengő, and the Forint issuances. As a side collection (which is still ongoing), I created a timeline from the age of the first Hungarian coin (King Stephen I) through the reigns of rulers up to the present day.”
“I can surely say that I have been completely "addict" the world of old payment tools, as this is not just about a particular coin, it is much more interesting and complex than that! Holding an early Krajcár or Pengő coin in hand, one cannot ignore their beauty, graphic design, and engraving execution. A curious collector can read and learn many interesting things about the design, production, and execution of a coin, as well as about the artists and technologies behind the issuance, which also gives us a broader perspective. It is not an exaggeration to say that this hobby is eternal, with countless branches to pursue!”
“Hungarian coins are special and interesting in many ways. Through our history and culture, we can trace the changes in coins and the development of technology. The diversity of Hungarian coins reflects our past, the era of kingdoms, political and ideological periods, and events. I don't have a specific favorite coin; each period has its own uniqueness, from the various depictions of the Árpád dynasty kings to the special "dual" coins following the regime change after the People's Republic. During this period, a circulation series appeared featuring both the coat of arms of the party state and the inscription of the Republic. These transitional coins are still considered rarities and numismatic curiosities today.”
“There are countless applications and online platforms available worldwide for numismatists. However, a few months ago, I discovered a new, more versatile application than ever before, perfect for use on a phone or handheld device (a collection carried in your pocket), which I immediately started using. I have never seen such high-quality photos, detailed descriptions, and stories combined into a collection management application like Coiniverse! It's not just a collection manager but much more of an educational, knowledge-sharing application with numerous pre-built coin/country-specific interfaces, its own blog, event calendar, news feed. It's hard to match with anything else!
My vision of the Coiniverse world is quite straightforward. Uniquely, numerous mints worldwide have joined a partnership program within the application, providing ample opportunities for collectors to broaden their horizons, discover coins from new countries, and establish new collecting areas. And this is just the beginning. It could play a significant role in fostering a sense of community, as the circle of collectors' "society" continues to expand, contributing to our collective knowledge by introducing coins from their own countries that were previously only known in narrow, local circles, thus acquainting others with their country's culture through their coins.
As a volunteer for Coiniverse, this is exactly what I aim for as well. I feel honored to be able to present to the world the milestones and eras of coin minting in my country, Hungary, and through them, the events of our thousand-year-old culture and history, all through this wonderful hobby, to anyone interested! The Task Force is not just a project; it is rather an invitation to anyone who would like to share their country's coin minting and history with the world as part of a supportive, highly knowledgeable team, contributing to the creation of a more comprehensive numismatic database accessible to everyone!“
How Does the Task Force Work?
Task Force volunteers receive guidance from the Coiniverse team on what kind of coin data we're looking for. Our community members then use their knowledge and resources to hunt down missing coins and their information, adding them to the Coiniverse catalog. This might involve researching online, referencing trusted coin catalogs, and examining coins from personal collections.
We use regular calls and a dedicated WhatsApp group to keep the Task Force connected, allowing for collaboration and real-time support.
Want to Get Involved?
Do you share Péter’s passion for coin collecting? If you'd like to be part of this community initiative and help improve the Coiniverse coin catalog, we'd love to hear from you! Join the Coiniverse Coin Catalog Task Force by emailing Antti at Team Coiniverse (antti (a) coiniverse.app)