Stack’s Bowers Galleries is excited to present two impressive sessions of Physical Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency in their November 2023 Showcase Auction, the Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo. This exciting offering marks the two-year anniversary of the firm’s first auction of Physical Cryptocurrency in November 2021. Since then, they have sold over 800 cryptocurrency coins totaling over $4 million in prices realized and set numerous records for the premiums achieved. Clearly collectors have embraced physical crypto coins as legitimate numismatic collectibles, and Stack’s Bowers Galleries has established itself as the leading resource in this new category.
Stack’s Bowers Galleries has curated two distinct cryptocurrency sessions for their November sale, each showcasing a formidable array of rare and exceptional quality pieces. The live bidding for Part 1 (Session 7) will begin on the morning of Friday, November 17 at 10AM PT. Part 2 (Internet-Only Session 10) will be sold the following week on Monday, November 20 at 10AM PT. Both sessions are currently posted for pre-bidding on the firm’s website www.StacksBowers.com.
Physical Cryptocurrency, Part 1 showcases several of the most prized rarities and many issues that have never before been presented in a live auction. In commemoration of a decade since the end of the “classic” physical crypto period in 2013, this sale presents a magnificent trio of 1 Bitcoin pieces released that year. Featured is a 2013 Casascius “Gold Rim” 1 Bitcoin in gilt silver, a 2013 Casascius “Series 3” 1 Bitcoin in silver, and a 2013 Lealana “Gold B” 1 Bitcoin in gilt silver—one of which sold for $108,000 in the firm’s Spring 2022 sale.
These treasures are joined by several notable treasures from the Casascius series including a quartet of 2011 Brass 1 Bitcoins, a Redeemed 25 Bitcoin, and an extremely rare Unfunded 100 Bitcoin bar that is one of only eight produced. This 100 BTC bar is joined in the sale by an Unfunded 2016 Microsoul 0.1 Bitcoin Bar with a similar format. Additional Lealana rarities include an Ultra Gem MS-68 (PCGS) example of the 2013 0.1 BTC in brass, as well as a 2022 “Bitcoin Dime” 0.1 BTC struck in one ounce of silver. An Unfunded Lealana “Gold B” 1 Bitcoin is among the highlights of the Non-Loaded category; a similar example brought $6,600 in the firm’s August 2023 sale.
Rarities are also offered from the Crypto Imperator series, which is quickly becoming a collector’s favorite for its outstanding production quality and fun designs. Most notable is a matched pair of Crypto Imperator “Gearing” 0.05 BTC struck in five ounces of silver, which represent the first Stack’s Bowers Galleries has handled. Also featured is an exciting group from the Rarity Check series which marks the live auction debut for the 2022 “VIBGYOR” 0.01 Bitcoin and the incredibly innovative 2022 “Lost Coin” 0.01 Bitcoin varieties. Another standout treasure in Part 1 is the dazzling 0.021 Bitcoin from the 1HoDLCLUB series struck in 1 oz of gold. This is offered alongside a number of other “poker chip” style coins from 1HoDLCLUB in both the Bitcoin and Litecoin currencies.
Presented from the Polymerbit series is a top-quality set of “Crypto Whale” notes including the 0.002 BTC, 0.003 BTC, and 0.004 BTC notes. There has been a growing demand for the Polymerbit series overall as collectors become more familiar with the quality, accessibility, and variety offered by these “cold wallets.” These remarkable pieces are accompanied by additional selections from the most popular and desirable series like Alpen, CryptoVest, Denarium, Genesis, Moonbits, Satori, Sol Noctis, and several others.
The parade of rarities continues with Part 2 of Physical Cryptocurrency offered in Internet-Only Session 10 the following week on Monday, November 20 at 10 AM PT. Highlighting Part 2 is an MS-67 (PCGS) 2013 Lealana 0.1 BTC in brass as well as an elusive 2014 Ravenbit NODE “Custom” 0.047 BTC in bronze. These are accompanied by a selection of exceptional “poker chips” from the Alpen, 1HoDLCLUB, and Satori series, desirable Redeemed Casascius Bitcoins in brass, Unfunded examples of the new 2021 and 2022 Lealana issues, a suite of Unfunded notes from the Polymerbit series, and many others. In total, over 190 crypto items will be presented to collectors as part of the Stack’s Bowers Galleries November 2023 Showcase Auction, their ninth Showcase offering of Cryptocurrency since 2021.
Select Physical Cryptocurrency highlights will be available for lot viewing at the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo in Baltimore, Maryland from November 7-10. For questions on the Stack’s Bowers Galleries November 2023 sale or to consign your coins to a future sale, contact James McCartney, Director of Consignments and Numismatics, at JMcCartney@StacksBowers.com or call (800) 566-2580.
About Stack’s Bowers Galleries
Stack’s Bowers Galleries conducts live, Internet and specialized auctions of rare U.S. and world coins and currency and ancient coins, as well as direct sales through retail and wholesale channels. The company’s nearly 90-year legacy includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable United States coin and currency collections to ever cross an auction block — The D. Brent Pogue Collection, The John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, The Joel R. Anderson Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection, The Sydney F. Martin Collection and The Battle Born Collection — to name just a few. World coin and currency collections include The Pinnacle Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Salton Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, and The Thos. H. Law Collection.
The company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, with galleries in New York, Boston and Philadelphia. Offices are also located in New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Hong Kong, Paris and Vancouver. Stack’s Bowers Galleries hosts an annual Global Showcase in August featuring United States coins and currency, Ancient coins and World coins and currency in its Costa Mesa auction gallery. They are also the Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic events, including the New York International Numismatic Convention, the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Spring, Summer and Winter Expos, the Spring and Fall Hong Kong shows, and the Maastricht Paper Money Shows.
