A cheap alternative to Campaign Coins

[Kaodi]

Why would I want cardboard coins when I've just bought hundreds of plastic ones for less than price of a coffee?

Well, you in particular do not need them, obviously. But for everyone else... If not cardboard, I would certainly like to see a real set of poker chips and plaques in the colour of D&D coins...

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Well, you in particular do not need them, obviously. But for everyone else... If not cardboard, I would certainly like to see a real set of poker chips and plaques in the colour of D&D coins...

If you search, you can find "coin inlay" poker chips for about $0.65/chip.
Las Vegas Metal Coin Inlays Poker Chips

(I know, not quite what you're looking for.)

Fully custom clay-only chips start about $0.70/each and go as high as $1 each, depending on exact specifications.

Custom Poker Chips, Custom Poker Supplies and Wholesale

I'd bet you could specify your designs and get a decent set for not too much.

Just a thought: you MIGHT be able to go to someplace that does currency exchanges and get some actual foreign coins for not too much hassle...something with a really good exchange rate. Get some pesos for your CP, some lira for your SP, and some yean or some such for your GP.

Bonus: if your buddies travel, they'll have pocket change!

 

[MortalPlague]

While I was waiting for the game shop to open one day, I noticed a coin collector shop next door. So I went in. I walked out with about 50 old metal coins, which make a great prop at the table. British shillings in particular have an old-timey look which I really liked.

 

[Rogue Agent]

I've looked at coins in the past, but since I'd never be able to afford the tens of thousands of coins that would be necessary to manage a typical mid-level D&D party's finances, I've just never seen the point of it.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

British shillings in particular have an old-timey look which I really liked.

I have to agree!

I've noticed you can get old Asian coins in oriental gift stores- I also find them in vendor booths when I attend the Intergem International Gem & Jewelry Show.

I know companies like Suraj International make inexpensive silver pendants from ancient coins and stamps. The coins are usually heavily oxidized & worn, but still have a nice presence. Since they are not collector quality coins, they keep the costs down. Perhaps they or some kind of coin vendor could hook you up?

 

[MortalPlague]

I've looked at coins in the past, but since I'd never be able to afford the tens of thousands of coins that would be necessary to manage a typical mid-level D&D party's finances, I've just never seen the point of it.

It's not the idea of managing finances to the last coin. The way I use it is as a prop. If the merchant tosses them a reward, it's fun to be able to actually toss a bag that clinks with coins. It makes the players sit up and take notice.

 

[nedjer]

This finished Kickstarter is getting real good reports from the backers as they get their coins. The picture shown is a lot of treasure/ a lot of money - but their $50 for 50 gold, silver, bronze - wish I'd backed it for the metal

The project's funded, but there's a message address and the pages are getting updated.

Only bullion-a-likes I ever tried were Terry's Neapolitans - which don't exist any more But there are some edible alternatives for special occasions, e.g. these Halloween Chocolate Neapolitans. Bit pricy - but maybe good for a FLGS promo event, newbies club night or an evening's indulgence.

 

[AeroDm]

You should check out this unboxing of the game Knights and Glory (starts about 2:30). Somewhere the creator of the game mentioned that the gold coins were $0.12 each and I am imagining you can get them from TheGameCrafter. They sound like they have a good heft to them as they clink together but it is hard to make out the actual detail on the coin from the video.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbk1YBSYiww&feature=player_embedded[/ame]

 

[Aeolius]

As an alternative to plastic bullion:

As a bonus, when the adventure is over you can have soup!

 

[Morrus]

I've whipped together the start of a basic handout for players. The numbers are kinda random right now, so I'll probably change them. Just wanted to get my thoughts down in writing. I won't be running a game for a while, so there's no rush.

The difficulty is scaling the values to accomodate 1st level and 20th level characters and the expected wealth they might have or discover. That's where the plastic bullion bars and diamonds and stuff come in with values in the thousands of gp.

Also, plastic coins seem to come in two sizes (small and large) and three colours: copper, gold, silver. So I'm kinda cheating and saying that the copper plastic coins are 1gp, and the gold coloured ones are higher denomination coins. The silver coloured ones are platinum.