The "Baby Cas", a 25 BTC physical coin issued by Casascius in 2011 realized $1,698,750 at GreatCollections on Sunday, after over 100 bids were received. Total sales for the single day of auctions exceeded $5.25 million.
The physical Bitcoin, graded MS-67 by PCGS attracted the attention of over 200 bidders who were actively tracking the auction, with over 10,000 page views. The final price represented a $49,700 premium over the price of Bitcoin at the time that bidding ended.
The 25 Bitcoin "Baby Cas" was graded by PCGS alongside the holy grail of crypto physical coins – the "Gold Cas", a 1 Oz. Gold Casascius coin with 1000 Bitcoin or BTC. The current value of the "Gold Cas" exceeds $60 million and is by far the most valuable coin in the world, despite being issued only 10 years ago by a private company.
Casascius, the company created by Mike Caldwell issued physical bitcoins from 2011 to 2013 in various denominations from 0.1 BTC to 1000 BTC (the "Gold Cas"). Over 800 of the 25 BTC denomination coins were produced, and less than half of that remain unredeemed.
Ian Russell, president of GreatCollections said "as expected, there was a significant amount of bidder interest for the most important physical Bitcoin ever to appear in auction. We had new bidders register from 14 countries specifically for the Bitcoin auction, not to mention the interest from the traditional numismatic community."
It was the second most valuable coin GreatCollections auctioned this year. The finest 1893-S Morgan Silver Dollar realized $2,024,024 in August – an all-time world record for a Morgan dollar. Also in August, GreatCollections reported being the winning bidder for three of the most valuable U.S. coins to ever appear in auction for over $21 million – the finest 1804 Silver Dollar, the tied-for-finest 1794 Silver Dollar, and finest of two known 1861 Paquet Gold Double Eagles.
Total sales for the evening of auctions on Sunday exceeded $5.25 million with over 3,000 certified coins and paper money sold. Other important realizations include:
From the Monet Collection of Carson City Double Eagles
1885-CC Liberty Gold Double Eagle PCGS MS-61 sold for $59,063 (36 Bids)
1889-CC Liberty Gold Double Eagle PCGS MS-63 sold for $73,749 (36 Bids)
From the Semper Fi Collection of Walking Liberty Half Dollars
1921-D Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS-65+ CAC sold for $64,812 (28 Bids)
1921-S Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS-65 CAC (The Dakota Collection) sold for $165,938 (33 Bids)
1939 Walking Liberty Half Dollar PCGS MS-68+ CAC (Toned) sold for $47,250 (32 Bids)
Other Highlights from GreatCollections November 14, 2021 Auctions
1937-D Buffalo Nickel 3 Legged PCGS MS-66 (Toned) sold for $43,862 (43 Bids)
1917 Standing Liberty Quarter Type 1 PCGS MS-67+ FH sold for $23,176 (91 Bids)
1959 Franklin Half Dollar NGC Proof-68 UC sold for $23,737 (42 Bids)
1880 Morgan Silver Dollar VAM-7 8/7 Crossbar Top 100 PCGS MS-63 sold for $21,676 (16 Bids)
1885 Morgan Silver Dollar PCGS MS-68 CAC sold for $35,443 (57 Bids)
1895 Morgan Silver Dollar PCGS Proof-64 sold for $77,625 (23 Bids)
1889 Three-Dollar Gold Piece NGC MS-66 CAC sold for $25,891 (42 Bids)
1907 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle MCMVII. High Relief, Wire Edge PCGS MS-65 sold for $42,474 (24 Bids)
1995-W $1 Silver Eagle NGC Proof-70 UC sold for $16,031 (24 Bids)
About GreatCollections
GreatCollections is an auction house for certified coins and banknotes, handling transactions from start to finish. Since its founding in 2010, GreatCollections has successfully auctioned over 950,000 certified coins, making it one of the leading certified coin companies in the United States. Ian Russell, owner/president of GreatCollections, is a member of the prestigious Professional Numismatists Guild and member of the National Auctioneers Association. For more information about GreatCollections, visit www.greatcollections.com or call 800-442-6467.
Hell ye! That’s what I was hinging last time. If the US Mint adopts crypto into to their coins it would rejuvenate coin collecting hobby. This is the next step in coins saga/coin collecting.
I think you would agree with me if say the hobby as it is, is not popular with young people. At the moment, everything is going digital. So why not spice it up?
Sure no problem. I like precious metals and all but I think we are headed in the direction of business coins and paper money being discontinued in favour of digital/crypto. Lincoln cent is first. The day will come when no one will buy collectors money because they just wouldn’t know it exists. If people at the US Mint had 2 brain cells left they would advocate for incorporating crypto, otherwise they will see reduced sales and vaults full of alloy metal 1 dollar type coins seating there collecting dust.
Kaiser. Who are you leaving your collection to? I’m 43 with 10, 8, and 5 year olds. One of them will probably take good care of my small fortune.