We are fast approaching our Spring 2024 Showcase Auction, which will mark our first Physical Crypto offering for the new year. As such, I thought it might be interesting to take a quick look back at our Spring crypto sales from the past two years which offer insight into the growth of this market.
Our Spring 2022 sale represented just our second offering in this category, following our debut of a Lealana coin in our November 2021 auction. The Spring 2022 sale included just 16 crypto coins but went on to achieve over $500,000 in total prices—firmly announcing the arrival of the Physical Crypto category as a legitimate numismatic collectible. The crypto highlights in this sale included a 2013 Lealana “Gold B” 1 Bitcoin that sold for $108,000 and a 2011 Casascius “Error” 1 Bitcoin that realized $78,000. The overall auction also performed very well, featuring traditional rarities like a Rolled Edge 1907 Indian $10 from the Zito Collection that sold for $1,140,000 and an 1870-CC $20 from the Fairmont Collection that realized $810,000.
Just a year later, our Spring 2023 sale would set several new records with an offering of over 300 lots and more than $650,000 in total prices realized. A 2012 Casascius 1 Bitcoin earned a strong premium at $60,000, as did a 2013 Casascius 0.5 Bitcoin that sold for $27,600. The sale also saw impressive performance in the BTCC series, where a silver 1 Bitcoin realized $45,600 and a titanium 0.5 Bitcoin earned $19,200. Traditional numismatic rarities also generated excitement among bidders, with a 1792 Silver-Center cent selling for $576,000 and a Proof 1886 Liberty Head $20 realizing $468,000.
Clearly our Spring venue has set a strong precedent for outstanding physical crypto offerings and this upcoming 2024 event is certainly no different. The catalog is currently being finalized, but it will be highlighted by an incredible Casascius 5 Bitcoin graded MS-66 (PCGS). This rarity is supported by an impressive and diverse range of 1 BTC pieces including Silver and Brass Casascius coins, as well as elusive offerings from the Denarium and Bitbills series. These 1 Bitcoin pieces will be joined by a variety of silver denominations from the Lealana series, popular BTCC poker chips, and representatives of virtually all the most popular and desirable types. For questions about the Spring sale or to order a copy of the catalog, please feel free to reach out to me at JMcCartney@StacksBowers.com.
I also wanted to remind collectors that Stack’s Bowers Galleries will officially be attending the 2024 Bitcoin Conference in Nashville in July! We look forward to meeting collectors and spreading further awareness about the physical bitcoin category. Select auction highlights will be available for preview at our booth, as well as copies of our August 2024 Crypto Auction catalog. We will also be accepting pre-approved consignments of all categories. Please be sure to reach out if you plan on attending!
