The world's most valuable numismatic artifact is a one-ounce gold coin worth 1,000 Bitcoins (BTC), not seen in a decade. Monday morning, Oct. 4, 2021, the BTC value of it is $48 million, up from $4,905 in December 2011.
GreatCollections Coin Auctions of Irvine, California sent Professional Coin Grading Service the gold 1,000 Bitcoin physical coin under armed security for certification on behalf of its unidentified owner. Certified PCGS Proof-70 DCAM. This is the highest return on investment for a numismatic item, 9,786 times the buying price in ten years. Ian Russell, president of GreatCollections, said it may be the world's biggest investment at that time.
He stated its worth exceeds famous coins like the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle auctioned for $18,872,250 and the Sultan of Muscat 1804 Draped Bust dollar purchased at auction for $7,680,000 for a client.
Russell reported that GreatCollections will auction a gold-plated 25 BTC coin, currently PCGS MS-67, without reserve on Nov. 14. The gold 1,000 BTC is not for sale. Russell stated, “Bidding will start at $1, although I anticipate this 25 BTC will sell for more than $1 million.”
The bitcoin community calls 1,000 BTC “the Gold Cas.” “Casascius” BTC coins were created from 2011 to 2013. Mike Caldwell founded the company to make actual “Casascius coins” in 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 25, 100, and 1,000 BTC denominations. Caldwell also made BTC ingots.
Stephanie Sabin, Interim President of PCGS: "PCGS grades and authenticates rare coins, tokens, medals, and paper currency. We encapsulate most auction-topping things year after year. This coin combines cryptocurrencies and numismatics, making it culturally significant. This, combined with its astounding Bitcoin value, creates a new Goliath."
Four of the six 1,000 gold BTC Casascius coins, including Russell's client's, have not been redeemed. This gold coin is dated “2012 CASASCIUS.” The obverse legend reads “1 TROY OZ.999 FINE GOLD” and “VIRES IN NUMERIS,” Latin meaning STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. The back has a multi-color, tamper-resistant hologram. The first Casascius production.
Russell claimed the owner of these 1,000 gold BTC is not Satoshi Nakamoto, the Bitcoin founder. The Bitcoin founder may own the “Gold Cas” and other iconic Bitcoin objects. "It's the ultimate 21st-century collectible, merging gold with crypto-currency; a cultural phenomenon considering the vast number of people under 30 who invest in cryptocurrency," he said.
The $48 million coin is in an international bank vault and unlikely to be redeemed or spent like Bitcoin, but you may see it eventually. GreatCollections is negotiating with the owner to display it at a coin convention, Russell said.
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