AnimalCoin
Santa Rosa, California ·
AnimalCoin
Coin Jewelry - Hand PaintedSanta Rosa, California 436 Sales On Etsy since 2009
Announcement I search for interesting coins from all over the world. I blend my own paints, and then paint each coin. You can learn more on my website at www.AnimalCoin.com.
Announcement
I search for interesting coins from all over the world. I blend my own paints, and then paint each coin. You can learn more on my website at www.AnimalCoin.com.
Reviews
abrahamabi on Feb 2, 2018
I've bought from her repeatedly -- and the coins are always simply stunning.
abrahamabi on Feb 2, 2018
I've bought from her repeatedly -- and the coins are always simply stunning.
abrahamabi on Feb 2, 2018
I've bought from her repeatedly -- and the coins are always simply stunning.
vimarjo on Dec 27, 2017
I would give this beautiful coin ten stars if that was an option! The colors are really gorgeous! Ann is so talented and customer service is excellent! I receive so many compliments when I wear one of these coins. I have given some of these coins as gifts. Everyone loves them! Thank you so much!
Updates
Love, Peace, Joy...join your tribe at AnimalCoin.com
I found my true love when I started raising tiny kittens until they are old enough to be adopted. Feels good to help the local Animal Shelter.
Ann @ AnimalCoin
About
Why hand painted animal coins?
I often am asked how in the world I decided to hand paint coins. Good question since this is pretty unusual. I have been told there are only 6 or so of us doing this in the world. Obviously there was no one to teach me, so this became quite an obsession to stick with it long enough to figure out out.
Like many people, I have always loved animals & had lots of pets. In addition, I volunteer for my local Humane Society & foster bottle fed baby kittens, sometimes starting with them as young as 2 days old.
Having a living relationship with poor animal friends brings so much love to our lives, it certainly is worth celebrating.
My art adventure started when I was visiting a local artists studio and mentioned to my husband that it would be wonderful if I could find something I loved and had a studio when I retired. The wise man that he is, he asked me "why wait?"
I started with classes in hand painting silk, and sold silk scarves for a few years. I loved the vivid colors and textures I could create. Even still, I kept coming back to my desire to find a use for the animal coins in my coin collection. That seemed like the perfect art for me.
The challenge was how to find translucent paint so that the metal could shine through. After a few months of playing "mad scientist" and visiting art stores for different brands and types of paint, I finally developed my own blend of paints and a recipe for each color. The rest was lots of practice until I could color inside the lines :)
I live in Santa Rosa in the beautiful Northern California wine region with my husband, Chris, and my little army of small dogs, large cats, and a parade of little foster kittens.
I also publish interesting articles on my website about my foster kittens, as well as other warm & loving animal stories. Check it out at www.AnimalCoin.com.
Shop members
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Ann Nolen
Owner, Artist
I hand paint each coin, with some coins a one-of-a-kind, and others limited production. I love what I do, from shopping for coins with interesting designs, to finding the right color combination that makes them "pop."
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1) Start with a Nice Coin
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I search for coins with nice designs and themes I am interested in, usually finding them at coin shows. The coin dealers sell them in uncirculated or "mint" condition, making the best quality for painting. PS: Shopping is very fun!
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2) Hand Paint
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I blend my own paints. Each color has its own recipe using different brands and types of paint to get the translucent look while still adhering to the coin. I let each color dry 24 hours so the colors don't bleed together.
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3) Add Clear Coat
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I top off the paint with a thick clear coat of epoxy to protect the paint and give the surface a glossy glass appearance. The surface is very durable once cured, and gives the appearance of enamel.
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4) Finish the Back
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The final step is to finish the back of the coin. If it is to be a pendant, I attach a bail and clear coat the back. For Collectibles, I paint and add a clear coat similar to the front. All of my items are individual and limited.
Shop policies
I am often asked how I learned to paint these coins. The answer is very simple... I spent 3-4 months experimenting with different brands and types of paints until I got the results I wanted. The rest was practice, practice, and practice. This is a skill that is not easily learned and takes time to aquire.
Each coin is covered in a thick clear coat, a clear epoxy, that gives the appearance of glass. I take the best photo I can to see the detail, but showing the beauty of the glossy surface is hard to get in photos.
I occasionally sell at local arts or craft shows in Sonoma County, California. If you live in my area, see my website for show dates at www.AnimalCoin.com
Accepted payment methods
- Accepts Etsy Gift Cards and Etsy Credits
- Money Order
Returns and exchanges
My warranty policy is "customer satisfaction" and no reasonable request will ever be ignored. I do my best to make each pendant "perfect" but I am human also, and sometimes things unexpected happen. So if you have concerns, please ask me.
If the customer damages the pendant, I offer repair at a very reasonable cost. Scratches to the surface can be sanded down and refinished. Bails can be reinstalled. Any other repairs, please contact seller with details or photos for a quote and discussion on options.
Payment
I charge 8.75% sales tax on all purchases shipped to California. Sorry, it is not only required by law (so not my rule) but "Jerry" needs the money ;)
Shipping
If customer prefers another shipping method, please contact this seller for quotes and to work out the details.
You can expect shipping from California to take 2-5 days USA, and approximately 2 weeks everywhere else. Some countries may experience delays due to Customs processing.
Additional policies and FAQs
The colors of the coins here are what is available at these price ranges. If a customer would like to request a coin I normally paint in other colors, the color choices are limited to what you see on this online store. I blend my own paints and each color has it's own recipe, so color choices are limited to the palette that I have developed.
I do accept coins that you provide for custom painting if the customer gives a general idea of the color ranges they prefer only as a guideline to the artist. For example "blues" or if you point out a color combination you like on a coin in my store. I blend my own paints and each color has it's own recipe, so color choices are limited to the palette that I have developed. Keep in mind that I usually can't paint the raised areas of the coins with good results. Gravity always wins.
To request the painting of a coin you own, please send me a photo and the dimensions of the coin for a quote on the cost of painting. Minimum charge for painting your coin will be $50 plus shipping. Depending on other orders I already have, custom orders can take 2-4 weeks to complete.
Custom orders require a minimum 50% booking fee, which is non refundable. The final payment is due before the item will be shipped to you. A photo is sent prior to shipment for the customer's review.
If you have a particular theme or type of coin you are seeking, I am very knowledgeable about the values & availability of coins. Please contact me by Etsy Convo or email at Ann [!at] AnimalCoin.com if you have specific questions. Of course, I am limited to what is available on the market at the time.
More information
Frequently asked questions
Care instructions
The coins and the surface are very durable. I don't recommend wearing them in water or swimming, even though they would probably be ok, because of the water manages to get behind the paint, it could possibly lift off the paint.
Repairs are usually simple to make, so if unexpected damage occurs, contact me for a quote for the repair needed, or if it is covered by my warranty policy.