The Coins & The Packaging

[TheRealDubya]

So, now that they are out, what do people think of the coins and the packaging? I have to say I really love the packaging, now that I have the Darth Vader from the coin album. I think it looks really great, especially since it features such a prominent piece of character art on the upper right, and the coin placement is very nice.

As for the coins...I have have not held one yet as I have not yet opened the Vader...but it looks like plastic? Is this true, or are they covered in metal? Either way, I think I will be going for a complete collection of the coins. Hasbro has me right where they wanted me...ready to buy the whole the run, especially with the OT focus and great designs (except for the ROTJ Luke, which looks pretty frightful...I even like the Tatooine Luke, because it will make for a great "Twin Suns" pose.)

[Battle Droid]

I think the coins are aluminum, I believe that's what Hasbro said they were.

[jjreason]

They're very thin, cheap-feeling white metal (I've opened a bunch of them). They scratch, and I can imagine they'd bend without too much effort - they don't feel heavy or sturdy at all.

[Jargo]

i still think the packaging is way too messy and the product gets lost against the mishmash card. The coins are another thing to throw away along with the holo things and the sculpted bases of prior packaging. I'm afraid where the packaging is concerned I'm always going to be of the opinion that less is more and simple is best. I trash it all anyway. so it's a waste. I want the product not the cardboard and blister.

[Mr. JabbaJohnL]

I like the card a lot better than when the first pictures showed up. So far I only have Obi-Wan, Mace, and R2-D2, and I think they look pretty cool. The cards have not been showing up ruined, as everyone thought they would be. I think wave 2 has some pretty stupid-looking art on the cards in place of actual character pictures, which look dumb as hell, but from the looks of it, all the other figures will feature normal pictures (or slightly edited ones). I like how there is another section right behind the figure that relates to the main picture. This is the first time since before 2002 that the characters' pictures are not on an insert but rather on the actual card.

The best part, though, is that the entire card is completely on the front side and doesn't wrap around to the back anymore. Also, I like how now, there seems to be a little more order to the "stats" on the back of the card, since the TSC ones tended to be a little ridiculous toward the line's end (for R4-K5, it was "Used to be: A Jedi's Droid. Now is: A Sith's Droid. Looks good in: Black.").

I like the idea and look of the coins, but even on carded figures, they're extremely scratched-up. They should probably do something about that.

[Mad Slanted Powers]

I kind of like the look of the package, but the name of the figure doesn't seem to stand out well. In some cases, the character pictures slightly covers part of the name.

I open most of my figures now, but I also save the card. I've never been able to remove a blister without pulling up the part of the card that is attached to it. Sometimes I have trouble keeping the amount pulled up to just what was attached to the plastic. The first two TAC I've opened were particularly difficult in this regard. Also, with the design of the package and placement of the blister and picture, the card will now have a streak right through the picture where the blister has been removed. At least with the Saga and OTC cards, the blister surrounded the picture, so I was only messing up the very top and bottom.

I was never too keen on the coin idea. When I got The Action Figure Archive and saw the POTF figures with coins, I thought it was kind of a stupid idea, even though I do collect some regular coins. However, since it looked like I would probably get most of the figures this year anyway, I went ahead and got the coin album and will try to get them all. The album is nice and will look good with all the coins in them.

[LTBasker]

I've got mixed feelings for sure, though I used the completely hate the packaging, I've grown to like it some. The uneven edges all over it are bad for trying to hang them since you can't rely on each one side by side but the brightness of the art really pulls you into it.

Though, the packaging gives the illusion of being smaller than the past lines despite still being in the same 6' x 9' dimensions, I'm guessing it's mostly due to the bubble. It shows the figure off really well at all sides which is something that's been missing the last couple of lines. Still, it reminds me of those Japanese TPM Action Fleet figure 2-packs because of how small they look.

I wasn't looking forward to the coins too much but I was hoping they would at least be a nifty pack-in, when I finally started looking at one at the store, I was highly disappointed. I can't believe the coin is super thin, it looks like some sort of silver chip.

[figrin bran]

i love the packaging

i wasn't expecting much with the coins but having opened up more than a few TAC figures, i can say that more often than not, the coins are already scratched. and as mentioned, they are made of really cheap metal

[bigbarada]

The coins are about the same quality as the vintage POTF coins. Maybe a little bit thinner, but that's it.

I like the coins, but I doubt I'll be collecting a complete set of them. I never really knew what to do with the coins that came with my vintage figures and they just ended up at the bottom of a box somewhere. I have a feeling the same fate is in store for these coins once the new-ness and novelty wears off.

Now that I see the cards, I actually really like them. I love the fact that we're back to squared off blisters so the cards are stackable once again. I actually bought a couple of spares to keep carded. I think the Airborne Trooper and Concept Stormie actually look really sharp MOC.

I still think the Concept Stormtrooper is a terrible figure, but the overall presentation with the card art and the coin makes for a surprisingly nice looking mint-on-card display piece.

[Lord Malakite]

However, since it looked like I would probably get most of the figures this year anyway, I went ahead and got the coin album and will try to get them all. The album is nice and will look good with all the coins in them.
That maybe easier said than done though. Hasn't there already been an exclusive coin released for this set that was only available at the most recent Toy Fair?

I think I also heard mention of another exclusive coin sometime in the near future.

[LTBasker]

The ToyFair coin is going to be included with the coin set for the vintage figures.

[TheRealDubya]

And then I believe there will be 7 or 8 gold UGH coins as well?

[sebillba]

I open most of my figures now, but I also save the card. I've never been able to remove a blister without pulling up the part of the card that is attached to it. Sometimes I have trouble keeping the amount pulled up to just what was attached to the plastic. The first two TAC I've opened were particularly difficult in this regard. Also, with the design of the package and placement of the blister and picture, the card will now have a streak right through the picture where the blister has been removed.

I also open everything, and like to save the cards, but instead of trying to tear off the blister, I find it much easier and neater to cut round the bubble with a sharp craft knife - sure you're left with the glued down part still attached to the card, but you don't lose any of the picture underneath.

[Ji'dai]

I don't care for the TAC packaging style at all. Weird design, crappy artwork. Sure they stack better, but I don't buy two of every figure any more, so storage of carded figs is no longer a big deal.

The coins - like previous pack-ins - are completely superfluous to me. Why not more figure accessories instead of pack-ins? Extra blasters, backpacks, ponchos, capes, underwear, and oxygen masks are what I'd like to see.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

I like the packaging. It's different, colorful, and the odd corners make for a nice change. As for exclusives, the Coin Album has an extra 20 spaces for "extra coins or exclusive" ones. I plan on only getting a) the figures I like/want (read: McQuarrie Stormtrooper [been lookin' fer this'n fer a lotta years], McQuarrie Fett, Rebel-Standing-On-High-Tower Dude, a few others) or b) if they end up on sale. :cheapskate: :p

[DarkArtist]

I love the package and the coins. as I said in a different post it brings me back to my childhood from the Kenner POTF days.

[Mr. JabbaJohnL]

Rebel-Standing-On-High-Tower Dude
The Rebel Trooper in the crow's nest in the film is the same blue shirt, black vest outfit seen on the Tantive IV (not sure if he has the gray or khaki pants). The figure is a different one.

I plan on getting a "full set" of basic figure coins, and anything else is just gravy. I'm not going to bust my balls looking for gold ones, since that would require getting the same figure twice, and I'm not going to do that just to get a coin (unless it's another stormtrooper or something).

So far, they've announced 60 basic coins, 6 vintage coins (in the mail-away), and 1 Toy Fair coin (included in the mail-away). We're assuming they'll do several gold ones, and I bet the Celebration IV figure will have one too.

[JediTricks]

The coins feel very lightweight and lacking in substance. They look decent at first but up close there are a lot of issues in the finish with pitting and scratches, even what appears to be random gunk and hairs caught in the casting. What's on them is sorta cool but not really top notch excitement. In my book, they're certainly not doing their job of compensating the value in relation to the increased price.

The packaging is smaller than I expected, and not as actively offensive as the art looked when we first saw it, but I definitely don't care for it either - the graphics are busy and beyond the character art they say nothing well, not even "Star Wars". It's complex die-cut nature hampers its durability, I've already seen several bent and mangled Obi-Wan cards in a single trip.

[stad]

The coins feel very lightweight and lacking in substance. They look decent at first but up close there are a lot of issues in the finish with pitting and scratches, even what appears to be random gunk and hairs caught in the casting. What's on them is sorta cool but not really top notch excitement. In my book, they're certainly not doing their job of compensating the value in relation to the increased price.




Umm, just curious, but what increased price are you referring to? I can't speak for anywhere else, but the ones I've seen at K-Mart, Target, Wal-Mart, and TRU are the same price as last year's figures. At least, here in Tennessee.

[Mad Slanted Powers]

The ones I got at Fred Meyer were actually on sale for $5.99. I've not seen them at the other places yet. Maybe they will raise the prices once all the TSC are gone.

[Bel-Cam Jos]

The Rebel Trooper in the crow's nest in the film is the same blue shirt, black vest outfit seen on the Tantive IV (not sure if he has the gray or khaki pants). The figure is a different one.

So far, they've announced 60 basic coins, 6 vintage coins (in the mail-away), and 1 Toy Fair coin (included in the mail-away). We're assuming they'll do several gold ones, and I bet the Celebration IV figure will have one too.I now realize he's not Rebel-Standing-On-High-Tower Dude, but Rebel-Standing-on-the-Sides-of-the-Death-Star-Destruction-Celebration Dude.

Where/when/how does the mail away take place? I know I've missed some weblink or news story on this one.

[Mad Slanted Powers]

I posted a link to the picture here on SSG that shows the sticker on the vintage style figures. It is in the "What figure is the mail-in this year?" thread.

[JediTricks]

Umm, just curious, but what increased price are you referring to? I can't speak for anywhere else, but the ones I've seen at K-Mart, Target, Wal-Mart, and TRU are the same price as last year's figures. At least, here in Tennessee.I didn't say the price was increased from last year. The holos and coins are both "value compensators". After ROTS, Hasbro raised the price for whatever reasons and decided to throw in holos and then coins to raise the toy's perceived value for the dollar - most folks think the holos and coins and other pack-ins are what raises the price, but it's the opposite.

[abell748]

So far, they've announced 60 basic coins, 6 vintage coins (in the mail-away), and 1 Toy Fair coin (included in the mail-away). We're assuming they'll do several gold ones, and I bet the Celebration IV figure will have one too.

The Legends line is going to have coins from each movie. If the figure is from AOTC then it will have the AOTC coin. I do not remember if there is going to be an EU coin for the Dark Trooper or not. That will give us 13 of the 20 (7 Vintage + 6 movie). I expect CIV and SDCC to have a coin also.

[Engineernerd]

I have to say I could say I could care either way about the coins, but what I saw today REALLY ticked me off. Somebody had went to my local Wal Mart and stripped all the coins from one each of every figure they had. Including the only lava miner they had left. I hope we don't see this with the rare figures.

[TheRealDubya]

Yikes, I didn't even think about that. The coins are going for like $2.50 to $5.00 alone on eBay right now, so you can see the incentive for some dirt bag to that. People like that suck.

I've decided I'm a fan of the coins, light as they are. The full album will look really cool.

[JediTricks]

Weird, I know Hasbro was aware of the theft potential of these coins, they answered questions of it in the weekly Q&A. They do seem fairly "in there" in the tray, so someone must have enjoyed a lot of free time to snake all them coins - they're not easy to grab and go.

I saw a bunch of figures yesterday, and about a quarter of 'em had the whole left part of the card bent, a few more had bent right "ears" and J-hooks.

[UKWildcat]

I saw a bunch of figures yesterday, and about a quarter of 'em had the whole left part of the card bent, a few more had bent right "ears" and J-hooks.

Thats my only beef with the packaging (being a predominantly carded collector). The few figures that I have seen so far have almost all had some sort of damage to them. Other than that, I think they are really nice. I found that they look a lot better in person. I'm pretty neutral as far as the coins go.

[Kidhuman]

I could care less for the cards or the coins. They mean nada to me. The coins suck. The only thing i like about the cards is it is easy to read the characters names when you find fresh cases of them and open them

[Lord Malakite]

So far, they've announced 60 basic coins, 6 vintage coins (in the mail-away), and 1 Toy Fair coin (included in the mail-away). We're assuming they'll do several gold ones, and I bet the Celebration IV figure will have one too.
As I said earlier, you'll be lucky to get them all. :sleeping: In addition to the Toy Fair coin and the 6 vintage mail-away coins you now have 4 more exclusive coins to add to that list thanks to the exclusive Celebration IV/Celebration Europe McQuarrie figures and their 2 variant coins each. A "Celebration IV" McQuarrie Luke coin, a "Celebration Europe" McQuarrie Luke coin, a "Celebration IV" McQuarrie R2 & C-3PO coin, and a "Celebration Europe" McQuarrie R2 & C-3PO coin.

[Mad Slanted Powers]

As far as the album goes, I only care about the basic #1-#60. The other slots are not labeled, so those just look like extra slots.

[abell748]

As I said earlier, you'll be lucky to get them all. :sleeping: In addition to the Toy Fair coin and the 6 vintage mail-away coins you now have 4 more exclusive coins to add to that list thanks to the exclusive Celebration IV/Celebration Europe McQuarrie figures and their 2 variant coins each. A "Celebration IV" McQuarrie Luke coin, a "Celebration Europe" McQuarrie Luke coin, a "Celebration IV" McQuarrie R2 & C-3PO coin, and a "Celebration Europe" McQuarrie R2 & C-3PO coin.

I am putting a Luke and Droids coin in. Then I am putting in one with the CIV logo facing out. I really want 1 of the CE figures so that I can have a CE coin in the album too.

[Mr. JabbaJohnL]

As far as the album goes, I only care about the basic #1-#60. The other slots are not labeled, so those just look like extra slots.
Agreed. I'm not going to try to get variants of any of them.

One thing about the packaging, though, is that it looks too much like the Transformers packaging. Since they are sometimes near each other in the stores, it is at first somewhat confusing and they should've given one or the other a more "distinctive" look for the year.

[Veers]

I love them. Reminds me of the old Power of the Force coins in the late 80's. I liked it when they had coin figures that was sold as a Toys R Us exclusive also back in 96. I only have Chewbacca. Too pricey at $9.99 plus they were the same figs just repacked with a coin.

[JEDIpartner]

The coins are poo but the packaging is great!

[Lord Malakite]

Some more exclusive coins to note for those trying to collect them all.


McQuarrie Obi-Wan & Yoda coin (San Diego Comic Con - Included with the McQuarrie Obi-Wan & Yoda figure set.)
Celebration IV Coin (Celebration IV - Looks similar to the Toy Fair coin from what I can tell, but it says Celebration IV on it. It is being given out in a baggie at the Celebration IV Hasbro booth.)

[evenflow]

If anyone has any extra coins they are interested in getting rid of, send me a PM. I am trying to put together a set.

[JediTricks]

Celebration IV Coin (Celebration IV - Looks similar to the Toy Fair coin from what I can tell, but it says Celebration IV on it. It is being given out in a baggie at the Celebration IV Hasbro booth.)That is correct, and they gave out a ton of these.

[Lord Malakite]

That is correct, and they gave out a ton of these.

They also gave out the Celebration Europe Anniversary coin if you were paying attention.;) On Saturday Hasbro screwed up and started handing out coins from a wrong box.

The Celebration Europe coin also looks like the Toy Fair and CIV coin from the front. From the back it looks almost like the CIV coin, but it has the words "Celebration Europe" instead of "Celebration IV."

I'd imagine if you combine the fronts from the two CIV concept figure coins with the back from the CE 30th Anniversay coin you'd know what the CE concept figure coins will look like.