Physical Cryptocurrency Sells Big at Auction

$621,590 in physical Bitcoin and cryptocurrency coins was sold by Stack’s Bowers Galleries in the Physical Cryptocurrency Session of its 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 percent of face value, bidders continue to embrace cryptocurrency coins as desirable numismatic collectibles. This result also reflects a 25 percent year-over-year increase in total prices realized compared to the firm’s June 2022 offering.

Silver coinage from the 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. The counterpart from the Lealana series, a 2013 gold B 1 Bitcoin, also drew a strong price of $66,000. A fractional 2013 Casascius 0.1 Bitcoin in silver sold for an result of $10,200.

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. A 2015 Denarium 1 Bitcoin earned $33,600 in the first such offering of the variety by Stack’s Bowers.

The Litecoin currency boasted similarly strong results, led by a 2013 Lealana 25 Litecoin that sold for $4,320 and a 2013 Lealana 10 Litecoin that brought $2,280. A 2013 Lealana 1 Litecoin also sold for an impressive result of $384.

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 bank note by Stack’s Bowers, and bidders recognized this opportunity with a robust result of $720.