So I visited Spink this morning...

Darkhorse · March 10, 2005 7:50PM

I sent in a resume and a link to my website earlier in the week and today I met the Executive Director. He's an intelligent man with a drrrrrryyyyy drrrrrryyyyyy sense of English humour, "I'll be honest- I'm a capitalist of course and as such my job is to exploit people like you. I'm just a right bastard... well... some people think I'm nice- no, no I'm a bastard."

We talked for about a half hour, he and another person were pretty impressed with my stuff. He liked the Germania, Macrimmon's old half penny (particularly because I shot it through the slab), dimitri's toned (we got into a tarnished-toned debate here) 1902 half crown.

Spink uses a freelancer to shoot the coins at £2 per coin which they feel is cheap, sometimes they just use staff. But they're aware of some of their shortcomings in the visual department. They're not quite sure in what capacity to use me, if at all. He's going to email me next week to either say "Thanks but no thanks" or "Here's what we're offering".

The director kind of understands the position I'm in in that I just arrived and I'm looking for a decent job and so I'd like to remain flexible. Hopefully things'll work out and I'll have a bit of temp work there... but then again I have things going on regarding Channel 4 as well.

Lots of possibilities. Fingers crossed.

sumnom · March 10, 2005 7:54PM

Good luck, Darkhorse!

Philip · March 10, 2005 7:58PM

Good luck, Phil

AuldFartte · March 10, 2005 11:06PM

Perhaps suggest to Spink that, when they convert to "full color" in
thier book, you are the man for the job

Best of luck

Darkhorse · March 10, 2005 11:18PM

Well I was given a couple of auction catalogues and those are in colour.

Darkhorse · March 10, 2005 11:19PM

...even though some of the golds look greenish and the red copper ones look brown.

cosmicdebris · March 10, 2005 11:24PM

Good Luck whatever happens.

Darkhorse · March 11, 2005 12:05AM

Thanks. I hope I'll get to speak with someone again. They talked with me about some of their eBay experience, they did an experiment back in Novemeber and had problems with their images. They're going to take another stab at it soon, maybe I could improve things in that regard.

Askari · March 11, 2005 12:24AM

You've certainly got the credentials and talent to help them there! Good luck!!

kieferscoins · March 11, 2005 12:32AM

Way to go! Keep us updated!

Cameron Kiefer

coinmickey · March 11, 2005 1:54AM

London is a great city...I hope you are successful there!! Good luck!

AndyBruce · March 11, 2005 3:04AM

Good luck, DH

BTW - what do you have going on with C4? Or are you sworn to secrecy?

Darkhorse · March 11, 2005 3:14AM

Before I left I got an email from someone who works for C4 new media who wanted me to do the artwork for 3 websites he's building. He's also going to pitch a book to some publishing companies, he asked if I could do an illustration pro bono for the pitch and I said sure.

When I arrived I found he had bought me a mobile phone with £25 of credit on it and sent my portfolio to his design director. So I'll be meeting with that director this coming week. Don't know if they'll have design or illustration work for me but it's goooood to make contacts there, and it's a big company so maybe they could squeeze a person like me in there as well.

But starting off doing work for Spink would be okay, althought it's a pain to get to Spink from Wimbledon; I had to take the bus from Wimbledon Chase to Wimbledon station then from there I take the train to Waterloo station and from there I take the northern tube line to Leicester Square and from there I take the Picadilly Line to Holburn.

SYRACUSIAN · March 11, 2005 3:18AM

He liked the Germania, Macrimmon's old half penny (particularly because I shot it through the slab), dimitri's toned (we got into a tarnished-toned debate here) 1902 half crown

So, out of all the English coins that you shot for me, he chose the 1902 halfcrown? Not any of the 1901 coins?

Spink uses a freelancer to shoot the coins at £2 per coin which they feel is cheap

It is cheap,but if he told you, it's a sign of what you should be expecting. The pictures in their monthly review, the Numismatic Circular, are not of great quality , but the ones in their colour catalogues are usually much better. Given the fact that it's Spink we're talking about, working for them is a great opportunity and experience and a very good credential in your future resume, so you might have to compromise your financial demands a little. But don't compromise for other coin shops. I wish you all the best Phil.

Darkhorse · March 11, 2005 3:28AM

I have the Circular in front of me, it's not particularly well designed. Lots of coins, even at 2 quid a coin that's good score.

Bill, do you have the Warwickshire Birmingham (Bell60 DH34)? Wild, wild Conder. Their picture of it sucks of course.

SYRACUSIAN · March 11, 2005 3:30AM

even at 2 quid a coin that's good score.

You picked up the accent pretty quick.

cosmicdebris · March 11, 2005 3:33AM

Sedition with the 4 imps is a great token which I do not have one of. IS it for sale? What does it grade? What do they want for it?

Darkhorse · March 11, 2005 3:35AM

Their grade is Good EF. I see great details in the reverse but it doesn't have the best rim as far as I can see. The price is £120.

cosmicdebris · March 11, 2005 3:37AM

Do they have an image online?

ajaan · March 11, 2005 3:40AM

Phil,

Darkhorse · March 11, 2005 3:42AM

<< Do they have an image online? >>

I couldn't find one. You might try emailing them. The auction number is TT3313 from the Spink Numismatic Circular.

cosmicdebris · March 11, 2005 3:43AM

I'll do that thanks for the heads up.

Darkhorse · March 11, 2005 3:48AM

They have DH239 too, it's INSANE.

cosmicdebris · March 11, 2005 4:05AM

Get me this flyer. What month is it from? The online circuler they have is from December 2004 and only goes up to TT3276. None of the Tokens have images.

cosmicdebris · March 11, 2005 4:07AM

Which DH239? What County?

MacCrimmon · March 11, 2005 4:08AM

<< But starting off doing work for Spink would be okay, althought it's a pain to get to Spink from Wimbledon; I had to take the bus from Wimbledon Chase to Wimbledon station then from there I take the train to Waterloo station and from there I take the northern tube line to Leicester Square and from there I take the Picadilly Line to Holburn. >>

That's nothing....wait til one or more of those tube lines goes down and you have to re-route!!

Hey, the TUBE is great fun....just remember, "MIND THE GAP"!!!!

Darkhorse · March 11, 2005 4:10AM

I'm sure they can send you one. This is from February's circular.

cosmicdebris · March 11, 2005 4:15AM

I'll have to ask for one.

Here is an image of the DH34 ( not the one for sale at Spinks )

Askari · March 11, 2005 4:27AM

Bill!!! BILL!!! STOP AND TAKE A BREATH!!!!!!!!

There now, doesn't that feel better???

cosmicdebris · March 11, 2005 4:30AM

Breath? Air? What's that?

wybrit · March 11, 2005 12:08PM

But starting off doing work for Spink would be okay, althought it's a pain to get to Spink from Wimbledon; I had to take the bus from Wimbledon Chase to Wimbledon station then from there I take the train to Waterloo station and from there I take the northern tube line to Leicester Square and from there I take the Picadilly Line to Holburn.

Why not take the District line from Wimbledon to Earl's Court and then the Piccadily line to Holborn? I know that District line is bloomin' slow, though.

Aethelred · March 11, 2005 2:28PM

Go get 'em Phil!

Teg · March 11, 2005 5:50PM

<< Thanks. I hope I'll get to speak with someone again. They talked with me about some of their eBay experience, they did an experiment back in Novemeber and had problems with their images. They're going to take another stab at it soon, maybe I could improve things in that regard. >>

They are on eBay now - and they suck :-

here

Photo too small, £5 for uninsured shipping, too lazy to put the date in the auction header - all that for a £20 coin.

Ask them to do a test - you take a proper photo of a similar coin - and see what difference it makes!

Teg

Darkhorse · March 11, 2005 5:56PM

I'll email Paul on Monday now that I've had time to digest their needs. That is pretty bad, there's no reason why they can't have larger pictures with a smartly designed HTML layout.

Can anyone give me an example of a nicely designed eBay page with large images?

canadiancoinguy · March 11, 2005 5:57PM

G'luck!

Darkhorse · March 12, 2005 12:55AM

<< Why not take the District line from Wimbledon to Earl's Court and then the Piccadily line to Holborn? I know that District line is bloomin' slow, though. >>

For the reason that the District line is slow. Might not be too bad though, I'll give it a try one day. It IS less hassle as well... and maybe I could sleep on someone's shoulder as well.

CoinAddict · March 12, 2005 1:18AM

Good luck, Phil.

Here is a nice example for you that airplanenut uses. (Beware Liteside)

Darkhorse · March 12, 2005 1:27AM

Thanks. I used NEN as the example in the email. Just stated I could do something like that and better. I also talked about improving the Circular as well. We'll see what happens early next week.

Darkhorse · March 17, 2005 12:54AM

Not happening unfortunately.

It's been a discouraging day

At least the weather is nice

WhiteLighnin · March 17, 2005 1:16AM

<< Not happening unfortunately.

It's been a discouraging day

At least the weather is nice

>>

Keep your head up Phillip!!! It just means there's somethin better for you waiting for you to find!!!!

AndyBruce · March 17, 2005 3:16AM

<< Not happening unfortunately.

It's been a discouraging day

At least the weather is nice

>>

Sorry to hear that Phil. You've got the C4 thing covered though and something else is bound to come along...

Steve27 · March 17, 2005 3:51AM

" Not happening unfortunately. "

Too bad, what did they say?

Darkhorse · March 17, 2005 3:55AM

Going in I'm not sure what they wanted or what they were looking for or even if they were looking for someone to begin with. I have nothing concrete with C4 and I can't get my hopes up with that.

But I must've emailed 20 magazines last night peddling my illustration work, and that's only from 1 publisher. I'm going to a WH Smith tomorrow and making a list of mags that could use me. I called some recruiters today, one was a bit surly or seemed as such which irritated me, the other seemed nicer but both told me to email in a CV... like I haven't already. Peh!

Steve27 · March 17, 2005 4:02AM

You might want to consider widening your search to include any type of photography work.

Darkhorse · March 17, 2005 4:05AM

The photography world is vicious, I'd rather avoid it and enjoy it as a hobby.

cosmicdebris · March 17, 2005 4:08AM

I figured you would of had a job by now.

By the way Spinks never answered my email about the token.

Steve27 · March 17, 2005 4:11AM

A guy I knew, started his photography career by photographing billboards and other advertising. (The pictures were used to prove that the advertisements were in-place.) No boss and no schedule, he just got paid by the picture. Later on, he was able to find other photography jobs, of a more creative nature, which was his original goal.

SYRACUSIAN · March 17, 2005 7:46AM

The photography world is vicious, I'd rather avoid it and enjoy it as a hobby.

No, no and no. Compromise while you're still young.

cosmicdebris · March 18, 2005 11:22AM

Well I heard back from Spinks and they sent me the below image of the Warks 34 they described as Good EF. The one from their flyer was sold but they had a second in stock. Most of these only come in Fine to Very Good so I told Spinks I'd take it. I am sure my images will be much better.

python · March 18, 2005 11:39AM

I hope this works out for you. Spink has nice coins but terrible images, if they had you do their coins I bet
they would sell more from on their stock list.

cosmicdebris · March 18, 2005 11:57AM

I am keeping my fingers crossed.

So I visited Spink this morning...

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