The Royal Mint need my Link

[Chris Perkins 228]

The Royal Mint, one of the worlds most established minter of coins seems to need links from private coin dealers such as www.predecimal.com. I assume this is so that that they might be able to sell more of those wonderful modern commemorative items that they produce for Sunday paper 'collectors' and not to mention those lovely re-packaged and overpriced older items that they sometimes source. The disclaimer on the email states that the message is for the addressee only, so at the risk of getting into trouble by copying and pasting it, I will summarise the contents of said email:

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We feel the content of our website may appeal to the visitors of your website. We would be willing to provide you with information that may be of further interest to your visitors (I assume that probably means info about new issues, or quite possibly even adverts for the RM disguised as info). We have provided a copy of the code to place on your website to provide a link to us. Please contact XXXXXX if you need any further information, bla bla (no mention if them providing a reciprocal link in return).

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So I asked if a reciprocal link would be provided in return, which is generally the rule for cross linking websites in order to improve search engine ranking, otherwise it's like asking someone to give you something for nothing:

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Dear XXXXXX,

Would the link be returned from the RM in my direction?

Chris Perkins

www.predecimal.com

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To which the reply was along the lines of: Unfortunately the Royal Mint cannot offer reciprocal links at the moment. Right.

To which I replied:

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Dear XXXXXX,

In that case, I won't bother if you don't mind. Nothing personal, but it's only fair that websites linking to each other to improve search engine rankings both play their part.

I must say though that it does look a little 'Mickey Mouse' that the RM, one of the worlds oldest minter of coins and a relatively well respected institution is punting around sniffing out private websites or coin dealers (with good search engine rankings) just to try and get them to link to them, without offering a return link! In recent years it has become quite clear that the Royal Mint need to create coins for 'collectors' as well as doing their original job of making coins to spend. I appreciate you are a business but you have the very important 'Royal' in your title, so was the Queen asked about this new marketing strategy??

Chris Perkins

www.predecimal.com

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What just happened there!!?? Did the ROYAL MINT just ask me to link to them in order to improve their exposure online?? For me this raises a few questions: Is it right that the nation's Royal Mint should need to ask private businesses to link to them? Does that not lower them to the level of a schoolboy's blog? Can you imagine any other official or semi official body doing the same? Is the RM not funded by the taxpayer?

[Peter 615]

Obviously the Sunday supplement adverts are proving expensive!!!!

Whilst it is good that they try and attract collectors if they gave you a link their trade would realise what a rip off they are.

[Hussulo 6]

They seem to be sliding down the commercial path. As long as they don't start making something like this :

http://www.corvettedollar.com/

[Chris Perkins 228]

The lights light up when you push the Corvette logo and the affect is 'breath-taking'. Those Americans always have to go one better don't they! We normally take a little while to catch and I can't wait for the Triumph TR7 £2 coin with tiny pop up headlamps that pop out when you rub the Queens nose!

Hang on, this year is the 33rd Anniversary of the Introduction of the TR7, I think I'll suggest it as a 2008 design.

[scottishmoney 34]

Well CP, I suggest you give them the link they desire, on one condition:

They pay the hosting fees etc. for Predecimal.com, or at least give you a per click return.

If they contact me, I will give them a link, for the above condition that is.

[Chris Perkins 228]

Even under those circumstances I wouldn't link to them.

I'd only link to them if they stop behaving like 'Westminster Collection' and start behaving like the Royal Mint again.

[Gary D 76]

The lights light up when you push the Corvette logo and the affect is 'breath-taking'. Those Americans always have to go one better don't they! We normally take a little while to catch and I can't wait for the Triumph TR7 £2 coin with tiny pop up headlamps that pop out when you rub the Queens nose!

Hang on, this year is the 33rd Anniversary of the Introduction of the TR7, I think I'll suggest it as a 2008 design.

For added realism they could make it from steel dipped in oil so that it could go rusty after a couple of week and leave oil stains wherever its left.

[scottishmoney 34]

Or have it disintegrate in a million pieces lets say, if you throw it at a wall, much like the real car does.