Physical Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Strong in Stack’s Bowers Auction
Stack’s Bowers Galleries
June 2023 Auction
Coins
13-16 June 2023
USA-Costa Mesa
$621,590 in Physical Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency coins was sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries in the Physical Cryptocurrency Session of their June 2023 Showcase Auction. Presented was a combined face-value of 12.79 Bitcoin (among other minor currencies) equal to approximately $320,000 at the time of the auction. With average premiums approaching 200% of face-value, bidders continue to embrace cryptocurrency coins as desirable numismatic collectibles. This outstanding result also reflects a 25% year-over-year increase in total prices realized compared to the firm’s June 2022 offering.
Lot 4004: 2013 Casascius “Gold Rim” 1 Bitcoin. Loaded. Firstbits 1Ag6Y2Pw. Series 3. Silver. Proof-69 Deep Cameo (PCGS). Result: $78,000.
Silver coinage from the classic pre-2014 era drew the strongest prices of the session, topped by a silver 2013 Casascius Gold Rim 1 Bitcoin that sold for $78,000 (over 3x face). The counterpart from the Lealana series, a 2013 Gold B 1 Bitcoin, also drew a strong price of $66,000 (over 2.5x face). A fractional 2013 Casascius 0.1 Bitcoin in silver sold for an impressive $10,200 (over 4x face).
Lot 4036
Lot 4036: 2015 Denarium “Custom Series” 1 Bitcoin. Loaded. Pre-Funded. Firstbits 165fykza. Serial No. L06546. Brass. MS-62 (PCGS). Result: $33,600.
Lot 4091
Lot 4091: 2013 Lealana 25 Litecoin. Loaded. Firstbits LTCXEaiM. Black Address, Non-Serialized. Silver. MS-67 (ANACS). Result: $4,320.)
The ever-popular brass Casascius 1 Bitcoin continued to draw strong premiums from bidders, with examples from 2011, 2012, and 2013 each selling for $40,800 (over 1.6x face). A 2015 Denarium 1 Bitcoin earned $33,600 (over 1.3x face) in the first such offering of the variety by Stack’s Bowers Galleries. The Litecoin currency boasted similarly strong results, led by a 2013 Lealana 25 Litecoin that sold for $4,320 (over 2x face) and a 2013 Lealana 10 Litecoin that brought $2,280 (nearly 3x face). A 2013 Lealana 1 Litecoin sold for an impressive of $384 (nearly 5x face)
Lot 4109: Redeemed 2011 Casascius “Bearer” Bitcoin Storage Bar. Series 2. Gold-Plated Alloy. Genuine (PCGS). Result: $4,320.
The Non-Loaded category was similarly replete with rarities, including a Redeemed 2011 Casascius “Bearer” Bitcoin Storage Bar that sold for $4,320, Unfunded 2013 Lealana 0.5 Bitcoin and 25 Litecoin pieces that each brought $2,280, and a Redeemed 2012 Casascius “Bitnickel” 5 Bitcoin that sold for $1,440. The sale also marked the first offering of a Polymerbit banknote by Stack’s Bowers Galleries, and bidders recognized this opportunity with a robust result of $720.
With significant premiums and $621,590 in prices realized in the June sale, Stack’s Bowers Galleries is now looking ahead to their August 2023 Global Showcase offering of physical cryptocurrency, which will be headlined by a magnificent 2013 Casascius 10 Bitcoin – one of the most formidable rarities in the entire Physical Bitcoin category.
