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where did 'DARKSIDE' come from?
ɹoʇɔǝlloɔ
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one of the more confusing things as a newer forum member was to decode the darkside references
how did that start as a way to - as I've gleaned - refer to non-us coins?
thx!
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A long time ago in a Galaxy far far away.....
Darkside of the moon?
I don’t know, but I think I’ve also seen Canadian coins referred to as “greyside”. I’m guessing that came after darkside? Is that because they’re non-US, but North American and have some English writing on them?
I think it's a little tongue in cheek.
IG: DeCourcyCoinsEbay: neilrobertson
"Numismatic categorizations, if left unconstrained, will increase spontaneously over time." -me
I’ve seen threads from 2004 already using the term. Maybe @lordmarcovan knows the origins?
And I found these links from another forum:
https://www.coincommunity.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=60320
https://www.coincommunity.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3574
wow! it goes wayyyy back - fascinating
I'm sure it is tongue in cheek, I just like origin stories
It goes back before we had the direct forerunners of this software to host the boards. I was on those boards in the late 1990s to early 2000s and we had Askari using that term regularly.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
Pink Floyd and Star Wars!
I couldn't tell you the origins, as the term predates my tenure here, and I joined in August of 2001. So I reckon it originated before the millennium, even.
Ah, yes. I remember @Askari.
I lurked once or twice on those ancient boards. By the time I joined up in late '01 the platform had changed.
I vaguely remember posting about 9/11 when it happened.
Darkside= World coins
Greyside= Canadian coins
Liteside= US coins
Farside= exonumia
Phychadelic?
From France
Steve
We have our slang here. For example, some of us refer to NGC as "across the street."
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
What's interesting is that on the ATS forums, they call PCGS "across the street"
I thought it was an uncleaned coin in all it's aged funky patina...ness. Peace Roy
BST: endeavor1967, synchr, kliao, Outhaul, Donttellthewife, U1Chicago, ajaan, mCarney1173, SurfinHi, MWallace, Sandman70gt, mustanggt, Pittstate03, Lazybones, Walkerguy21D, coinandcurrency242 , thebigeng, Collectorcoins, JimTyler, USMarine6, Elkevvo, Coll3ctor, Yorkshireman, CUKevin, ranshdow, CoinHunter4, bennybravo, Centsearcher, braddick, Windycity, ZoidMeister, mirabela, JJM, RichURich, Bullsitter, jmski52, LukeMarshall, coinsarefun, MichaelDixon, NickPatton, ProfLiz, Twobitcollector,Jesbroken oih82w8, DCW
Usually those coins are referred to as being "crusty".
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
I love this place...
POST NUBILA PHOEBUS / AFTER CLOUDS, SUN
Love for Music / Collector of Dreck
It's probably the same people ATS calling this place ATS when they are ATS.
I think both sides called the other ATS even in 2002 when I was here the first time. Dark side was commonly used then. I think it’s as simple as it was the “other side” as the dark side was opposite of the light side of the force. No idea who originally coined it but it was probably a joke that just kept on.
thanks @TomB @lordmarcovan and others - great to understand the history and slang used here a bit better - incredible that some of this stuff goes back to the 90s and maybe even earlier
At one time there wasn't a WAC forum. Askari and another member, I forget who, asked PCGS to make a world coin forum because they felt they were on the darkside talking about world coins on a mainly US coin forum. Mark, Askari, has an old thread explaining the whole origin. I'll try to find it later.
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
On VAMWorld, darkside has become to refer to Peace dollars. I'm not sure when that started.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
Askari was a very active member back then.... influenced my interest in gold Britannia's.... not sure why he does not post anymore... Cheers, RickO
Blindside= the day your grades pop!
thanks, @ajaan - would be great to see that
How do they refer to US coins in China? When it's "light" here it's "dark" there. Could that have anything to do with it?
it's crackers to slip a rozzer the dropsy in snide
I recall it being used at rec.collecting.coins in 1998. One guy had it as part of his sig line. Must have originated before 1998, then.
Ahh, did a search and found what I was thinking of: "Donn Pearlman (collector, former journalist and newscaster, now on "the Dark Side of the Force"-- PR)" - from a post on Sep. 3, 1998. Or, should I say 3 Sep 1998, to stay on the dark side?!
Rocking my "shiny-object-syndrome"!!!
Why did the Numismatist do a crossover? Because their coin was originally graded across the street.
Can someone please give me an lol, I am dying here...
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@ɹoʇɔǝlloɔ
Here's the story as told by Askari many years ago:
This is from an archived post by Askari, whose whereabouts are not known (last seen in 2005).
THE LEGEND OF THE DARKSIDE
Well, you're in the thick of it right now!imageimage The "Dark Side" comprises CU's 'World & Ancient Coins' and 'US & World Currency' forums. "Liteside" refers to the 'US Coins' forum, which is haunted by sl@bgoblins and trolls amidst which you can sometimes discover some brilliant gems of wisdom and, if you're lucky and clever, return from. "Greyside" is a friendly monikor adopted by our collectors of numismia Canadienne since, like the citizens of that northern land, they know they're not part of the US, but they're pretty sure they're 'Americans' (especially after a few Molsons).
<< Okay, so where did all this "darkside" business come froom? >>
Ah, so you want the story as it's been handed down through the Dark Side generations? [That's "... generations, eh?" for you Greysiders.image] Well, pull up a comfy chair to park your keister in, open a cold one (non-domestic, natch), and listen up, my friend:
Once upon a time there were a few lonely posters whose interest went beyond and otherwise from US coin collecting. Alas, but their numerous forum brethren sneered and could see nothing worth collecting besides US coins. Whatever lay Beyond was obviously of little interest and no value. These “Litesiders” had lost their lore of where coins had come from and that money came in many shapes and sizes and material ... and from many, many lands other than their own. Indeed, the Litesiders (as they came to be called) didn't even really like their own coins ... they really lusted and yearned for plastic slabs with high numbers on them – with the coin sealed permanently within, untouchable ... its life history lost within its transparent tomb.
An intrepid duo, BigAlan and Askari, decided to unsettle their fellow collectors’ “Lite-dazed” lives by subtly revealing to them what lay beyond, in the Dark, in terra incognita. They dug a deep, dark Pit, one from which no Lite could escape, and threw a beer party (all non-domestic brew, natürlich, mein Herr). Slowly, but surely, more and more were enticed over from the Liteside to slip gently into the Pit of Darkness. Some went freely, some resisted and swore, some lasted days or weeks, but most were drawn in.
The minions of Lite, of course, became frightened and told wild tales (many true) of what went on during those drum-beating, pagan rituals and built a fortress they called “Registry” in which to live their pale lives, once again, in denial of there really being anything to the Dark.
But then, the Flame-Wars began in the Liteside and many brave and true collectors were scorched and singed and wounded – yea, even to their very souls – from battles waged through legions and factions of legions of trolls. Weary of these tiresome, never-ending conflicts, many left the Liteside, seeking solace beyond the Pale of Lite ... and finding, to their surprise and joy, Endarkenment amongst the hearty, hale-fellow-well-met souls collecting world coins, ancients, and banknotes.
... and here you are.image (And, as you may have suspected, the Darkside has been waiting for you!image )
Taken from this old thread
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/comment/8172525#Comment_8172525
DPOTD-3
'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery'
CU #3245 B.N.A. #428
Don
Oh, I do remember those flame wars. Some mega big names of the time. Lots of banning in those days, too.
Askari had access to Stratfor back in the day, and would keep us informed of the more knowledgeable reflections about the world by the pros. We're all dumber now for his absence.
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...
@ajaan - thats inCREDible - thank you for digging that up 💪
Also known as "ATS", and "Sleepy Hollow".
Pete
"Sleepy Hollow" more specifically refers to the NGC coin chat room.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
man, I hear that - tried to have some discussions over there and it's like
🦗🎶
Back in the day it would be very lively when bannings were common. But there is good info on both boards and it’s been common enough to see posts referring to the opposite boards.
Phil Arnold, long before his PCGS employment and in the days when I think he was still technically considered a YN (under his old @Darkhorse username), created this GIF, which I still use to this day.
That shows how nuts they are calling world coins dark side lol. I can get world low pop much cheaper than their US equivalent and make more money buy / sell on them too. I recall some fellow from this board referring to here as the NFL of coin chat in the NGC “sleepy hollow” chat room one time I was there.
Like griefers in GTAO you have bullies on these message boards. Their call sign usually their petty little quote then trash out the victim. Usually like a mini griefer crew in GTA they have stooges (fellow griefers) to agree with them or some obnoxious “hero” of coin land. Don’t let them bug you.
Underside=coins from down under, Australia
I like it!