Can someone explain to me the deal with gold coins?

I was linked this website from a reddit thread asking where to find free crochet patterns and Ive found some patterns Id like to download, but instead of being free they require gold coins. Is this some sort of website currency? How does it work, and why is it necessary rather than just letting people download patterns right off the bat?

Silvarea

Gold coins are earned for activity and completing tasks.

Puppy

BingleMcDingle, welcome to thiswonderful forum! There are many interesting things

New Upload proccess!!

Newcomers (Please Read) (multilingual)

Shortcut Links for important posts

Searching, smart searching

How to upload patterns on the crochetforum (Updated)

and for information:
You can answer in the thread and get some Gold Coins:

Your 2019 results - my Reward

Happy New Year To all Pindiy Family!!!!

greenteas

explanations are in Forum Bulletin,
just read and reply to every thread

http://www.pindiy.com/forum-2-1.html


look here
How to Level Up and How to Keep Track
http://www.pindiy.com/thread-262101-1-1.html

My Center (above)  do the hourly task
reply to other members thread#
log in daily
post charts
Diary section: post pictures of your own work

some patterns have reading permission,
be a bit busy to lift up your level

Katrina44

I think reading and replying to threads and posts is what helped me.
Just not too fast (allow once per minute) adds 5 coin and adds points.
most interesting forum for me was the diary posts where members post their work :)

kaden

You earn gold coins by logging in, making thread, posting in threads, and selling patterns. Coins add up fast and encourage participation instead of just coming in and grabbing all the patterns you want.

You can search and if a pattern you want isnt here, you can create a bounty for it. Which will require more gold coins, but, honestly, youll have a lot in no time. Just hang out, chat, post pics of what youve made, and before long youre rolling in them!

DMCrafter

greenteas - great advice

BingleMcDingle

Also, another question, is there a system for requesting specific patterns?

BingleMcDingle

Okay, good to know. Ive already wracked up a bit of coins since I joined, but now Ive ran into my second problem, which is not being high enough level to download this pattern. http://www.pindiy.com/forum.php? ... ht=sensum%2Bsweater

Do you also gain levels by getting gold coins?

BingleMcDingle

Thanks greenteas! Foreign navigation has been a bit counter intuitive. I dont know if its me being out of practice with forums for the past 10 years, the translation, or the layout, but Im having a hard time finding some important info Im looking for. I appreciate you helping me out!