So I know that I am something of a purist. I think all collector's in general have some OCD qualities about them and that is a good thing to keep improving the hobby. I was reading the Gameroom mag and there was an article about coin boxes which got me thinking. Plastic, metal, foil container, pot, etc...  I always want a complete game - which even includes a coin box, original of course. If it is not there, that is when the hunt begins to "complete the pin" followed by the satisfaction that it is finally complete provided that everything else is there. I have pretty much what I need (only need 2 coin boxes for wedgeheads - not yet urgent) but just thought I would share those thoughts with everyone.

I realize that we all pretty much set our games to free play in our homes and coin boxes are not essential, but then the game is missing something. So my question for you is do you have a coin box for each of your machines? How important is it to you?

http://tinyurl.com/dnbyu9

I have coin boxes for some of my machines, but not all. I have one or two with the bucket, but not the lid for it. I would love to have the bucket and lid for everything, but it's not a huge priority for me, Especially on machines that I don't have a big attachment to.

BTTF - Has original bucket and lid
ToM - Bucket and lid MIA, would like one for this machine though, along with a N/A coin door
Hyperball - Has bucket, no lid. Machine is going up for sale, so the new owner can find a lid if they want one
BabyPac - Has original bucket and lid
Grand Tour - Bucket and lid MIA, no idea what it looks like, so the odds of me finding one are slim
Hot Shots - Has bucket, no lid Will be up for sale soon, so the new owner can find a lit if they want one
Space Shuttle - I have the lid for this one, but no bucket, which is odd
Road Runner - Has proper Atari coin bucket
MAME - Has proper coin bucket
Tempest, has original bucket, missing lid
Asteroids Mini - Missing bucket and lid

That's how my collection stacks up.

Quoted from Ricker

So I know that I am something of a purist. I think all collector's in general have some OCD qualities about them and that is a good thing to keep improving the hobby. I was reading the Gameroom mag and there was an article about coin boxes which got me thinking. Plastic, metal, foil container, pot, etc...  I always want a complete game - which even includes a coin box, original of course. If it is not there, that is when the hunt begins to "complete the pin" followed by the satisfaction that it is finally complete provided that everything else is there. I have pretty much what I need (only need 2 coin boxes for wedgeheads - not yet urgent) but just thought I would share those thoughts with everyone.

I realize that we all pretty much set our games to free play in our homes and coin boxes are not essential, but then the game is missing something. So my question for you is do you have a coin box for each of your machines? How important is it to you?

http://tinyurl.com/dnbyu9

For a collector and enthusiast player, coin box are part of the pin. It is also important for me !  
Also, original manual, flyer and everything related to the pin in question is important. But everything have a limit $$$. When you find item related to the pin for very low $ it's fun to collecting them.

I have a bucket and lid for all of my games.

I also have a huge box of coin boxes for a variety of games, if you're interested.

I don't have the coin boxes. Since my games are for recreational home use now my priority is that they are are fully functional. Unless I was completely covered there the coin boxes would be used as tool/or parts storage.

Mine all have coin boxes, and work on tokens, no free play for me, i feel you need to put a coin or token in to get the real arcade feel

Eric

My getaway was missing the coinbox. I don't ever use it, but for some reason I had to buy one. So count me in for HAVING to have a coinbox....makes it complete I think..

I try to keep them all, and have even amassed a few rare ones that I have kept. I even have a favorite. I have one that is labelled for a Targ videogame. It is shaped, not welded. it has nice round curves on it.

And when I restore a pin, the coinbox gets the treatment too. If it is badly rusted, I actually sandblast and paint it with a paint that looks like galvanized steel.

Not very important to me, unless the game is having a Hal-9000 type of restoration.

I'd rather worry about making the game 100% playable.

I have this "collection" of coin boxes and I go back and forth every once in a while thinking "eBay them all" or "put them back in the machines" that is the question.  I went from a "token" fanatic to a "free play" fanatic, and am currently sittin gon the fence as to which I prefer most.

As expected we have good variety in the MAACA spectrum even when talking about a simple coin box. I agree that we all want our machines 100% functional first and then esthetically pleasing followed by completeness. At some point in this range a few of us get into the mods, that is also a nice touch. I am still working on completeness for some games even though it does not affect gameplay in any way.

Thank you for the offers of coin boxes and I will probably try to pick up 3 Gottlieb wegdehead boxes (had to double check, I was off by one the first time). I have two more that are only the base but missing the lid. in the next short while I will ask a few folks that are nearby if they want to offload a few of these. We can always work out something for them of course  

Ahh, now to enjoy my vacation....

Well, I've got quite a pile of these coin boxes, I've got NO use for them.

I guess if somebody wanted to put a game back on route OR wanted to use coins or tokens at home they could be useful.

Personally I can't imagine why people would want to put coins into these games to start them in a home enviorment.... that gets old real quick! At least it did for me. Different strokes...