-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our History, Preface
January 8, 2008
Some of us "old timers" first got to know one another as members of the Coin World Forum. When that forum ceased operation, many of us moved to Coin Talk, and then on to Coin Community Family.
It was there that Knights of the Coin Table was born, and flourished for a while.
As time passed, it became more and more obvious that our castle and its coin table would eventually become unwelcome at CCF.
The problems seemed to start with the questioning of moderator Metalman, suggesting that we needed to be "more" than just an organization operating internally. Then, forum owners Bobby and Susan questioned that we were any different (goals, accomplishments, projects) than anyone else in CCF, and, if not, why did we need our own forum.
Eventually the plug was pulled on the Knights of the Coin Table, but good things often come from adversity. Many of us continue to be members of CCF, and it remains a fine forum. But we no longer need CCF or Coin Talk. We have our own home.
The following are posts which offer tidbits of our brief history. It is my hope that members will add information as we ride forward to accomplish new quests.
CoinCrusader42
Let the record show that our permanent castle came into being in October, 2007
Posted by Rggoodie in August, 2007
It took some research but the Knights look like they were formed in March of 2005
At first some used the name Ambassadors of the Darkside then (Lim no longer active on forums)
Terry, Lim and myself came up with the knights and many avatars and imodicons of knights were shown.
the four post below are the earliest I can find at CCF, oh and by the way all Knights are welcome at CCF it is just that the forum owners felt we were becoming too political and not enough coin based to be encouraging collecting darkside coins etc. So although we can visit and participate we can not do Knight Posting
A little history lesson with dates.
Well my personal opinion, for what that is worth, is that the Knights apparently have become a part of this forum and the intentions, at this time, is to build a SAFE group of people all over the world to trade, buy and sell with and it appears it is working. Perhaps keeping the info available would benefit all involved and give new members something to work towards? One thing is for sure NO other forum has such a group which helps keep us heads above the rest 03/06
I have had many questions as to what is a KNIGHT of the Coin Table.
Requirements for acceptance into this organization are pretty simple You MUST own an Australian coin, you MUST collect foreign coins from another nation other than your own (Darksider), you MUST enjoy sharing the knowledge and histories of the coins and countries collected (Ambassador of the Darkside) and FREQUENT this forum on a regular basis
Once this has occurred and you have expressed an interest in becoming a Knight/ Knightess.
You will be invited.
One of our moderators (Crystalk64) [Terry] (now Twoshadows)has designed and had minted wooden coins for members of the Knights of the Coin Table.
These are paid for out of his own pocket as his desire to involve others in the Darkside specifically AUSTRALIA. 3/06
Congratulations Kyra on becoming the first lady in the unofficial Ambassadors of the Darkside and a sitting member of the Knights of the Coin Table. Guess we will have to get some membership ID's made up and some perks down the road? And, being the friends we are (Gary and I) this will officially keep you from joining Old Dans under the table gang Welcome aboard 12/05
When The forum was started, I was the only one interested in Australian Coins. I like many others came here from other forums.
I came because it was a friendly family place to be.
In my early coin collecting days SUSAN introduced me to the term
DARKSIDER - I thought I was some villain from Star Wars.
I was honored to be known as a darksider.
After a few months, I convinced Susan and Bobby to start a separate thread for Australian Coins.
Being the only Aussie collector active on the forum at the time, that kind of made me the EMPEROR or Pharaoh of the Australian Coin section.
Not having the best knowledge in the world of Australian coins, I invited my mates from the Australian Forum to join this forum- many visited some joined.
NOW we have quite a few forum members interested in DARKSIDE coins or more especially Australian Coins.
First- Thank you.
Second as a moderator on the forum, I do not care if you call yourself a darksider a knight of the coin table or whatever title you desire. 12/05
We have places on the forum for US coins, Canadian Coins, Aussie coins, UK coins and World coins.
If we need any other specialty area,we will create them as the interest is shown.
We will however not tolerate exclusiveness or any activity that will divide the forum.
So you may call yourself a King ht of the Coin Table- which honored our you also bestowed on me - thank you. Or you may call yourself a darksider, but we will always refer to you as forum members and friends.
For those who want to be a knight- it is simple, if you collect Australian Coins and post about it you get invited to be a knight.
If you are not a Knight perhaps you would like a title like Guru.
It does not matter what you put after your name as long as you are courteous, play nice are fair and want to belong to the forum.As for me you may refer to me as rggoodie, Richard or whatever you feel. 12/05
Posted by Gary Burke (CoinCrusader42)
Being a former history teacher it is important to me that certain events don't just fade off into obscurity to be forgotten forever.
I have seen that happen with many topics on a local level.
I thought it might be fun as well as historically important someday to keep track of where the Knights of the Coin Table came from, and the progress the organization has made.
So, I'll start with just a tidbit or two of information, and hope other members with better memories will jump on the bandwagon and add additional information.
In my mind there are two primary heroes regarding KOTCT.
The first is rggoodie. I wish I knew him better, but have communicated with him and find him a kind and very knowledgeable and generous person, and an expert in Australian currency. I don't know if his nationality is Australian or U.S. He describes himself as a displaced Aussie.
Anyway, we probably should give Richard credit for originating KOTCT. It all started as a sort of joke where collectors were urged to have at least one Aussie coin in their collection. Richard was behind the push to get collectors interested in Aussie coinage.
Then along comes Terry who coined the initials A.O.D. The initials stand for Ambassador of the Darkside, and applies to those collectors who helped bolster the Australian economy by purchasing good numbers of their beautiful coins.
A.O.D. evolved into Knights (and Knightesses) of the Coin Table, and I think this title was also the work of Terry.
Terry and I exchanged many e-mails about the possibilities of KOTCT, and somewhere along the way decided to assign him the Number 1, and I jumped in as No. 2. Seems to me that Lim from Australia was next to join, and of course we all still miss Lim and wonder what became of him.
So, I look upon Richard and Terry as the two most responsible for Knights of the Coin Table, and would add myself as someone interested in the organization, and has worked a little to sustain it.
Purposes?
First and most important, just a forum to enjoy. In addition it has become a safe haven for trading, and we are just concluding our first major project -- the 2007 KOTCT medal.
A couple other additions if I may.
I don't want to sound elitist, but when looking at our roster I think it contains the names of some of Coin Community Family's finest.
Okay, that's my two-bits worth. Anyone wish to add some facts?
Post by Metalman
April, 2007
The Knights helped to organize the 2005 Christmas giveaway which if memory serves was won by Superdave .the Items were collected at collection points by Terry (Twoshadows) and Lim respectively.
Terry as well as other members worked on the perpetual coin set which travels the world . Terry hand made the holder that houses the set . and there are coins within the set that were donated by other knights .as well as non knights.
You know I believe history is important and should be kept , but the future is what History is made of
The knights have the potential to really influence and leave a lasting footprint on the world of coins and coin collecting, the talent that has and continues to accumulate here from around the world has untapped potential, it only awaits the rising of a leader with vision and enthusiasm to unleash that potential.
Posted by Muckeye
April, 2007
Hi Rick.
Those last two paragraphs certainly raise more questions than they answer. I'll read them another 20/30 times before I attempt to offer any further comments.
regards,
Posted by Metalman
April, 2007
Muckeye
I'm not sure what questions the paragraphs may have raised for you ?
But the implication is very easy to understand
The Knights have the potential to really make a difference in some aspect of coin collecting history far beyond their own borders
The Knights coin although a great accomplishment ,, and a wonderful keep sake for the involved knights, remains just that an internal accomplishment
to touch the face of collecting it takes a much further reach something that becomes self generating and perpetual in nature that can and does reach into the collectors world
something that will be looked back upon with its roots here with these people that call themselves Knights of the coin table something that continues to uplift and propel collectors far beyond our immediate reach .
The knights have proved through the development of the Knights coin that they can do something that will do just those things ,, if they set there mind to it??
That my friend is what History is made of
Post by Thingee
May, 2007
Thank you for the history lesson Gary. As a new member this is important for me to know, a requisite to any member.
Post by Abyss
May, 2007
Thank You for this post Gary. I was wondering how this group came about.Now I know.
Posted by Gary Burke (CoinCrusader)
May, 2008
Following is a post written by Terry (Twoshadows) on April 4, 2007, which appeared in the Main Forum. (of CCF)
It seems to me it should be included in our history thread.
------------------------------------------------------------
The Knights of the Coin Table also have the Knightesses as well This great bunch of Darksiders actually started quite by accident, or should I say, by a joke and it has flourished ever since. They developed the word coin chivalry and promote STRICT and HONEST trading amongst their membership. And, yes it is one of the SAFEST places in the world to do coin business as banishment from the Kingdom is for ever Quite honestly we/they have become almost a family and do welcome new members quite often. The year 2006 brought our first wooden dollars as a tribute to this fledgling group of coin collectors and then a huge quest was tackled for 2007 This group is now the first online group, in our knowledge, to ever have their own silver, copper and brass medallions struck and it has been an international effort filled with trust and cooperation that is simply unheard of today. The medallions were struck in a satin finish (due this week) and the proofs will follow in the next couple weeks. Designed by U.S. engraver/sculptor Daniel Carr they are truly a sight to see and will become one of the rarest modern day medallions ever struck. Hopefully the designs for our 2007 medallions will be posted here for public display soon. Plans are already underway for the 2008 medallions which will pay tribute to OUR Knightesses who play a major role in this very unique FREE organization.
This group will soon launch its own version of the CoinCommunity's Perpetual Give-A-Way set which is currently traveling the world from collector to collector. Ours will carry the silver medallion and wooden dollar of one of our founding fathers who passed away months ago. While none of us, in the beginning had any dreams of T.K.O.T.C.T actually becoming anything, well, we have had nothing but dreams ever since. Put bluntly we are one of the most successful organizations, that is not an organization, to ever exist that does not exist
Being a very active member of this outstanding group of international collectors has been one of the most rewarding things I have found in my life. We have gone beyond coins in many ways. We have suffered a few growing pains, but always found ways to still share coins, photos, history, culture, respect, honesty, trust and family At this time there is nothing to match this group in the world today
Posted by Rggoodie on May 18, 2007.
When I (yes I) started the Knights it was to interest collectors in Australian Coins.
I was successful because as it still stands the qualifications for a knight is possession of an Australian coin (any date any condition) and for many of you who did not have one others including myself sent you a coin or two to arouse your interest in the coins of Australia.
Since that creation I have sat in the background and we have seen some wonderful things happen with this group.
Posted by Gary Burke (CoinCrusader42)
May, 2007
(The) Knights were doing all kinds of exciting stuff. The 1000 member giveaway was a HUGE success and it was started by the knights, if you want to see how HUGE it actually got just look at this thread http://www.coincommunity.com/forum/...ber, giveaway .
Post by mitburke
June, 2008
Reading all these posts makes one realize that this organization is unique and has come a long way.
Post by toast
July, 2008
An important part of history happened today.
Bobby131313 wrote...
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just curious. Is there a difference between a knight and a regular forum member? I have read the Read about the knights link below someone's signature, but it doesn't mention any differences.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This statement and many others similar to it via email has prompted what will, I'm sure, be a very unpopular decision by Mom and I among the Knights. For every member that speaks up in an email or post, there are probably a dozen that feel this way but don't speak up. Do not blame the rest of the staff for this, they had nothing to do with it, and probably will be as surprised as you are.
As of right now, all Knights references made outside of this forum are not allowed. This includes signatures, posts, and topics. I will take care of previous posts and topics. Please remove references in your signatures. I will be removing them as I see them if it happens to be gone when you go to change it.
I'm tired....
...of having members thinking they are second class citizens to Knights.
...of answering emails from what seem like 10 year olds. (I can't ignore them, wish I could.)
...of people thinking Susan and I are the leaders of the Knights when we have stated probably a dozen times that we are not.
...constantly having to look for personal attacks in here.
It's getting real old, real fast. So now I'm going to start handling it my way.
I'm trying to build the best coin collecting site on the Internet, and this is taking up way too much of my time.
:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Hopefully, KOTCT members will add many comments as weeks and months and years go by, and our organization grows larger in quality membership. Many quests lie ahead, and I have no doubt we will accomplish our goals.
:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)