I thought this was a nice idea ...

[CAframer]

What a great idea from a Grandad! ...

He had me frame a silver dollar for each child and grandchild ... the date on each dollar denotes the relevant year of birth.

For the technically inclined, an Optium Museum overlay retains each dollar in a tight fit sink reverse beveled in black suede, this is followed with a white top mat, then Museum glass. The frame is a Tribeca stack with a Gramercy silver fillet on the inside moulding.

P.S. The exact size of silver dollars varies by the year!!!!

 

[rhop]

NICE

 

[RParrish]

Very sharp I am sure you will get an "emotional out-pouring" from your client

 

[rodmurrow]

That is one sharp Grandpa!! What a great idea! (And beautifully framed, BTW)

 

[Rick Granick]

Very tasteful combination, Andrew.
(Even if it IS a black frame and white mat.)
Rick

 

[Finest Fabric]

Awesome - just wondering though - I see Morgan Dollars and Peace Dollars here - how old are these kids???????

 

[CAframer]

The last two digits were significant (e.g. 80, 89)

 

[Kirstie]

When you design something like this with your clients, Andrew, do you get carte blanche or is the customer with you agreeing to fillets, stacked frames, Optium, MG?

Since the recession our average ticket has seriously declined. We are seeing more people these days, so the numbers are coming back slowly and we have a decent amount of work, but the average ticket is still down. Better sales are usually larger items or sometimes fabric mats or liners, but the add-ons are still generally seen as unnecessary. When you have a client base with these preferences it is easy for the staff to fall in line with the general trend and not offer the extras that make interesting designs like the one you just showed us the norm.

 

[Jim Miller]

Nice work, Andrew. The tight-fit sink mounting is not unusual, but you had the wisdom to hold them in with an acrylic Direct Contact Overlay.

The elevated perimeter mat shows some depth, and that adds visual interest to the design. Projects like this inspire ceativity, and it seems there's always another way to do it. For example, you could also reverse the order of the mats, having the black mount-mat floating above the white background, use the same sinkmat/DCO mounting, and forget the glass. The acrylic would be a good-enough insulator to avoid condensation in normal environmental conditions. Inlaying the perimeter mat could make it a flat assembly.

I'm sure your customer was impressed with your non-invasive, non-adhesive mounting and attractive display.

 

[CAframer]

The last two digits were significant (e.g. 80, 89)

That is to say for his children he used coins that were 100 years old in their year of birth; for his grandchildren he used coins that were new in their year of birth. Why the difference I do not know.

 

[CAframer]

... and it seems there's always another way to do it. For example, you could also ....

Yes there are many variations possible ... I have done several pieces for this client all with a similar theme but all subtly different ... here is one of the companion pieces ...

Using the same Tribeca stacked frame & Gramercy fillet, this time the Museum glass is between the stack. The objects are mounted on black linen mat, and a 3/16" 'Evening Slipper' reveal is added for the photos. Non-invasive reversible framing techniques are obviously used for each object & photo. Openings for the photos are cut in a fan arrangement to add interest, and to help focus attention on the medal.

 

[CAframer]

When you design something like this with your clients, Andrew, do you get carte blanche or is the customer with you agreeing to fillets, stacked frames, Optium, MG?

Since the recession our average ticket has seriously declined. ...

I have several clients who just leave me items and expect me to use my imagination. This is one of them. Cost is not an issue, protective framing techniques are.

My average ticket has continued to increase in the last couple of years, largely because of this type of client.

 

[greg@larsonjuhl.com]

These look great. What a wonderful gift for his family. Very unique and thoughtful.

Kirstie, you mentioned your average ticket being down. I attended a seminar that says a lot of consumers were forced to reduce their spending due to the poor economy, but interestingly many are choosing not to return to their old buying habits. Some have learned that the lower priced exceptions are perfectly fine so there is no need (in their mind) to spend more to get more. However, in the same seminar I learned that other people are back to spending and it is simply up to the sales person to explain that spending a bit more gets them a far better overall value and they go for it. They just want help to justify the added expense.

 

[Ylva]

Beautiful Andrew! I've done a few coins, using that same sink mount and it looks really really nice. I also did one for one of my sons, who made a kind of plaster round tile. (biggest problem was that it wasn't exactly round...took a little time to get that one to stay in place)


As for average ticket; I am still around the same as I was when I started. I've seen quite a few customers coming in (new and existing) who are willing to spend a little more to get a lot more.

Hope it will continue....

 

[ArmyFramer]

Great looking piece Andrew. I am getting ready to do something similar with 45 Silver Dollars spread out around a picture. It is going to be done for an outgoing Officer Canidate Commander. His last class is giving them thier "Commission Coin" as a going away gift. Thanks for the idea

 

[preservator]

With all that silver in the frame, it is critical to ensure that no sulfur can get to it.
ArtCare board can help, as can Corrosion Interecpt and enclosing the mat package with a vapor barrier material such as MarvelSeal or Metallized Polyester, to keep SO2 and its kin away.



Hugh

 

[danny boy]

Very cool idea. What a resourceful and fun client.

 

[GUMBY GCF]

Nice job. I like the Black classical look.

Dug this out of the archives.
Here is one done for a client's two grandchildren.
1972 & 1978 Eisenhower Dollars.
Blue mat shows the bevel on the outside of the mat.
The coin openings are reverse bevel that holds the coins in.
C-16 ivy moulding
This was done approx. 1980
pre-cmc(LOL)
What a difference 30 years will make.

We used to do a lot of coinage but in the last 10 years it has really dropped off.