Scoring & Ranks
One system for contributors and moderators. Fair, transparent, and gameified.
Contributor Points
How you earn points
Only approved or imported postboxes count. Pending and rejected submissions do not earn points. Each approved postbox earns points based on its royal cypher (reign) and postbox form (and optional design variant): rarer cyphers and forms earn more.
- VariableApproved postbox
Reign points + form bonus (see tables below). When a moderator approves your submission (or the owner approves it).
- +5Approved correction
When a moderator approves your correction to an existing postbox.
Points by royal cypher (reign)
| Reign | Cypher | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Edward VIII | E VIII R | 50 |
| Victoria | VR | 20 |
| Edward VII | E VII R | 15 |
| Charles III | C III R | 15 |
| George VI | G VI R | 12 |
| Elizabeth II | E II R | 10 |
| George V | GR | 10 |
| Unknown | - | 10 |
Bonus by postbox form (added to reign points)
| Form | Bonus |
|---|---|
| Ludlow | +40 |
| Penfold (variant) | +40 |
| Dual aperture (variant) | +12 |
| Coffin-style surround (variant) | +10 |
| Pillar / Wall / Lamp / Parcel / Business | +0 |
Formula: Points = (sum of each approved postbox’s reign points + form bonus) + (approved corrections × 5).
Example calculation
2× Elizabeth II pillar (10 each) + 1× Edward VIII pillar (50) + 3 approved corrections (5 each):
(10 + 10 + 50) + (3 × 5) = 70 + 15 = 85 points
Recalc (owner tool) recomputes everyone’s points from the database using this same rule.
Rank
Your rank is your position when all contributors are sorted by total points (highest first). Rank #1 is the top contributor. Ranks update when you or others earn points. View the Leaderboard to see the top 100.
Contributor Tiers
Your tier is based on total points. Climb from Newcomer to Definitive Reference as you contribute.
| Tier | Points needed |
|---|---|
| Newcomer | 0+ |
| Enthusiast | 75+ |
| Regular | 250+ |
| Established | 600+ |
| Trusted | 1200+ |
| Respected | 3000+ |
| Senior Member | 6000+ |
| Authority | 12000+ |
| Leading Authority | 20000+ |
| National Authority | 35000+ |
| Definitive Reference | 60000+ |
Moderator Points & Levels
Earning moderator points
You earn points for every review you complete: postbox submissions, corrections, and pending photos.
- +1 to +10Approve (postbox, correction, or photo)
Speed bonus: faster reviews earn more points (max 10, min 1).
- +1Correct rejection
Rejecting a submission, correction, or photo that doesn’t meet requirements.
- -1Incorrect rejection
Points deducted when a valid item is rejected.
Moderator levels & required approvals
Your level is assigned by the site. It determines how many approvals are needed before a postbox is published.
- Level 0–2 (Junior): 3 approvals required to publish.
- Level 3–4 (Senior / Lead): 2 approvals required. Level 4+ can merge duplicate postboxes.
- Level 5+ (Lead): 1 approval (solo); your approval alone can publish.
Your moderator rank is your position among all moderators, sorted by moderator points (highest first).
Becoming a Moderator
Requirements
- ✓At least 10 approved postboxes
Submitted and approved by moderators.
- ✓At least 5 approved corrections
Submitted and approved by moderators.
Once you meet these, you can apply from the Moderator application page. The owner reviews applications.
Merging Duplicate Postboxes
When the same postbox (same location) is submitted more than once, Senior and Lead moderators (level 4+) can merge the duplicate into the canonical one from the Moderator panel. The duplicate is hidden; its comments and corrections move to the canonical postbox. Only high-ranking moderators can merge to keep quality.
Rules & Fair Play
Moderator restrictions
- Moderators cannot approve their own submissions
- Moderators cannot approve corrections to their own postboxes
- Each moderator can approve a postbox only once
- Only Senior/Lead (level 4+) can merge duplicates