Souvenir Bitcoin coins. Types of coins, where and at what price can you buy them?

Cryptocurrency was created as a virtual currency, the main feature of which is anonymity.

It is no secret that on the Darknet almost all payments are made using cryptocurrency assets, and the most common currency is Bitcoin.

However, with the growing popularity of the cryptocurrency industry, the demand for various coins has increased significantly.

Thus, various souvenir coins began to appear, which are mainly made with the logo of the coin itself.

For example, if we are talking about bitcoins, then they are depicted in the form of the letter B with two vertical lines. Interestingly, such coins can contain QR codes and a secret key.

Where did physical Bitcoin come from?

The first attempt to create a tangible Bitcoin is the work of entrepreneur Michael Caldwell. It released coins with various denominations in 2011.

Also this year, a credit card called BitBiils was released - it was born with a hologram and a QR code.

Interestingly, users have the opportunity to replenish it independently, and access to coins is only carried out exclusively from the card.

However, this project was closed and the cards are no longer issued.

So, soon after the card was issued, the entrepreneur decided to create his own bitcoins. In fact, the idea was translated into reality, such coins were called Casascius.

Read also: What cryptocurrencies are on the market - the initial framework for thinking about cryptoassets

The first batch contained 3,500 coins, each with a built-in QR code for cashing out, hologram protection and access to 1 BTC.

Interestingly, more coins were released in 2013, with a newer design. However, soon after this, government agencies declared such work illegal, and the release was suspended.

So, at the moment, coins are still being issued, but without real bitcoins in the account.

Bitcoin coins: real value or an original gift?

Money that does not exist and that does not belong to any state, but is valued at several thousand dollars per unit... The Bitcoin phenomenon will excite the minds of both venerable economists and greedy speculators for a long time. Not every commodity-backed asset can jump from a few cents to several tens of thousands of dollars in one decade. But Bitcoin, which is supported only by hopes and expectations, as well as fantastic demand, succeeded. Many people are wondering: is it possible to see Bitcoin with your own eyes, hold it in your hands, and try it for yourself? It turns out that it is possible. But to do this, the cryptocurrency needs to be stored... in a “cold” state!

What is cryptocurrency cold storage?

The term “Cold storage” refers to a method in which private keys are stored on devices or media that are not connected to the Internet. In other words, this is the autonomous content of secret data in offline mode. Most often used as a piggy bank, that is, to accumulate funds. In cold storage, a public address is used to receive funds, and a private key (a set of characters that should not be known to anyone except the owner of the wallet) is used to send funds. It is for more reliable protection from hackers that private keys and any other valuable data are stored in “cold storage” (offline storage). The private key can be compared to the CVV2 code on a bank card. The only difference is that the CVV code contains 3-4 digits, and the private keys of crypto wallets consist of 50 or more numbers and letters. That is, theoretically, they are an order of magnitude better protected. With precautions taken, of course.

It is worth noting that offline media have been used since ancient times and can be made of any material and be of any shape. For example, the cryptex from the movie “The Da Vinci Code”.

Cryptex is a term coined by writer Dan Brown in 2003 by combining the words “cryptography” and “code.” According to legend, Leonardo da Vinci worked on a similar product. However, the first working version of the product was successfully developed and patented only in 2004 by an American named Justin Kirk Nevins.

Paper wallets

The most common method of cold data storage is the “Paper Wallet”. This is a sheet of paper or cardboard on which a public address and a private key are written. Well, or other secret data. Depending on the degree of value of the information, a paper wallet is hidden between the pages of a book or another secluded place, stored in a safe and even in a safe deposit box. To accumulate and long-term storage of funds, experienced users recommend using a separate Bitcoin wallet. Because it is not “exposed” in exchange and purchase and sale transactions, and in general: the cutlets are separate, and the flies are separate.

A homemade version of a wallet can be made in the following way: cut out thick paper of the required size and shape, write down the data on the inside of the piece by hand, then fold it and seal it with tape. It is important that your handwriting is legible. Otherwise, the owner of sloppy handwriting risks losing access to his funds forever.

The wallet must be folded in such a way that the private key is completely covered with the edge of the paper and securely sealed around the perimeter. The public address is usually left open so that it is possible to check the balance or top up it without disturbing the protective layer of the private key. On the outside of the wallet, owners usually write down the value of the wallet. Or if it is a piggy bank wallet, then they add notes about the dates of replenishment and indicate the amounts.

Some users create a wallet, top it up with a round sum, and do no more actions with it. Just store it in a secluded place. If a round sum is accumulated again, another wallet is created for it. It turns out something like bills for the Nth number of bitcoins. Thus, you can easily keep track of your cash cryptocurrency and, if necessary, top up any wallet using it as a recharge scratch card. It can be given as a gift or exchanged for something needed. For example: I will give you a sealed paper wallet, and you will give me a samovar. To avoid errors associated with handwritten text, characters can be typed on a computer and printed on a printer. To do this, you will at least need a computer, a sheet of thick paper and a printer, preferably a laser one. But you can also use inkjet, preferably with waterproof ink.

However, in order to protect valuable data from the effects of possible viruses on the computer’s hard drive with their subsequent leakage, it would be useful to take some precautions.

1. It is recommended that you start working on creating a paper wallet from a Live CD. This is a stand-alone operating system that is loaded from a disk or USB drive and allows you to work on your computer bypassing the computer’s “native” hard drive. Dr.Web LiveDisk (Linux + Mozilla Firefox + file manager) may be suitable.
2. At some point, you will need to disconnect your computer (and printer, if equipped with WiFi) from the Internet.

"Branded" paper wallets

There are many specialized services for the production of “branded” paper wallets. They offer their solutions for wallets of a certain shape and design. You can generate a new Bitcoin wallet (or rather a public address and key), for example, at PaperWallet.Bitcoin.com. There is nothing complicated in the process, you just need to move the mouse until the generation of the address and key is completed. The service warns that payment details are generated directly on the user’s side, in his browser. That is, the address and key data are not transmitted to the service, so there will be no backups and the user should take care of this. Otherwise, “money down the drain” in the literal sense. No one will be able to restore access to this wallet.

After generation, the system will prompt you to select a design and top up your wallet (you can skip it). The paper wallet should be printed immediately. As a result, the user receives a branded paper wallet (Paper Wallet) with a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin Cash (BCH). The area of ​​the wallet with the private key needs to be folded and sealed with tape, leaving the public address open. You can check your balance at Explorer.Bitcoin.com by typing the public wallet address in the search field.

For ease of use, the paper wallet contains a QR code that duplicates the line with the symbols of the wallet's public address (Public Address). The QR code allows you to quickly and accurately receive your payment details. It can be scanned with an application that is installed on a smartphone or other mobile device. The RedLaser application is suitable, as it is adapted for most modern operating systems. Or any other Blockchain application. I recommend scanning the QR code from your wallet and sending it to yourself by e-mail. Since we are talking about a public wallet address, you don’t have to worry too much about security. But the address will always be at hand, and in addition - in a form easy to read. This makes it much easier and faster to check the balance of a paper wallet: open the Explorer.Bitcoin page on your smartphone, scan the code, and get the number.

In a “branded” paper wallet, the address of the private key (Private Key) is also duplicated by a QR code. And it can also be scanned by the application, but to do this you need to open the sealed (private) part of the wallet. There are media that, due to their small size, do not contain a line with private key symbols, but only a QR code. And this is enough to fully use your funds. Small-sized carriers can be made of plastic or metal, in the form of a token, keychain, coin, or even an opener. They will be discussed below.

Before printing your wallet on a printer, you can first download it from the browser in PDF format (Print - Save) and save a backup copy of the wallet directly to a USB drive, bypassing the computer’s hard drive. For more reliable data protection, the USB drive must be either biometric (with a fingerprint scanner) like Apacer AH650 Fingerprint, or encrypted like Kingston IronKey.

Among the alternative services for the production of “branded” paper crypto wallets are:

1. BitAddress.org (Russian interface and optionally you can enable the SHA-256 encryption algorithm).
2. BitcoinPaperWallet.com (optional BIP38 encryption algorithm, as well as generation of wallets for currencies such as Litecoin and Dogecoin).

Paper Wallet Printing Kits

Those who prefer autonomy, and in addition want to use modern solutions, can buy ready-made kits. They consist of a custom Ubuntu Live CD, hologram stickers and Zip Lock bags.

The Linux OS disk also contains a paper Bitcoin wallet generator. Hologram stickers contain unique serial numbers. Well, the bags correspond to the size of paper wallets and serve to protect them from moisture and contamination.

Features of storing paper wallets

Paper media may be damaged by moisture. It may accidentally end up in the washing machine or become damp in the bathroom, basement or other secluded places.

The photo above shows a water-damaged paper wallet. The line with the public address and the QR code have been destroyed and cannot be restored. Probably, the taped-off line with the private key was also destroyed. The money is gone forever.

Based on what we saw, conclusions arise: paper wallets should be printed either on a laser printer or on an inkjet printer, but with waterproof ink. For greater safety, store in a tightly sealed bag.

The photo shows a moisture-resistant paper wallet in a bag with a Zip Lock closure.

Titanium wallets

The possibility of fire should not be discounted. After all, paper media can also be damaged by fire. Apparently a team of enthusiasts from the village of Hazlet, in the state of New Jersey (USA), thought so. They designed and manufactured “indestructible” wallets for their relatives and friends. Titanium plates were used as the material. Due to the properties of the material, wallets are exceptionally durable. Titanium wallets are fire- and water-resistant, resistant to corrosion and to dilute solutions of many alkalis and acids, as well as aqueous solutions of chlorine. And like all types of cold storage wallets, they are immune to software and hardware failures. All the necessary wallet data is applied to the titanium carrier using laser engraving.

As an additional level of protection, titanium wallets use BIP38 technology: password protection of the private key. Thanks to BIP38 (Bitcoin Improvement Proposal #38), a secret phrase can be used to encrypt the key. At the same time, the length of the key increases to 58 characters instead of the “classic” 52. Thus, an ill-wisher who knows the private key will not be able to use other people’s money. After all, simply entering characters is not enough: you will need to type a secret phrase assigned by the owner of the wallet.

Example of BIP38 encryption: Public (open) key: 143RMDYVuScVzDQqF3NcmsMrEoQuLci21X Private (closed) BIP38 key: 6PfLYkm8CzV5ycr6k58AuDQfijRWRcfU8iEdcwWLmjmqxkbQUYX5GkWnyS Secret phrase: “corre ct-1 horse-2 battery-3 staple-4".

Not all types of wallets support BIP38 technology, so they will not be able to accept encrypted private keys. For example Electrum Bitcoin Wallet. To do this, the key must first be decrypted using a password. As a result, the user will receive the decrypted original private key in “base58” format. Afterwards, it can be imported into the Electrum wallet and almost any other wallet.

The titanium wallets were loved by family and friends of the New Jersey team. Thanks to word of mouth, they gained popularity and they began to be made to order for everyone. For this purpose, the company Bitkee LLC was registered, which began to promote solutions of the same name. The main product was the Bitkee Card in the form of a metal rectangle. The company also offers titanium carriers in the form of a keychain (Keychain) and in the form of a soldier’s dog tag (Dogtag). For safe storage, sealed envelopes are offered, which are sealed with a wax seal with the company logo.

Bitkee Card is a titanium wallet in the format of a bank card.

Keychain is a titanium wallet in the form of a keychain.

Dogtag is a titanium wallet in the shape of a soldier's dog tag.

Sealed envelopes with wax seal.

The company can produce media for any altcoins at the client’s request: Ethereum, Ripple, Dogecoin, etc. The type of media and design can also be discussed in advance.

Keeper of the secret phrase

For secure storage of passwords, the Cryptosteel company offers a solution inspired by ancient times, when the Internet and computers were not even a thing. This is a set of characters that consists of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, special characters and spaces. For older readers, this set will resemble a typographic font for manual typing.

Cryptosteel product for offline password storage.

Each symbol is engraved on a tiny stainless steel plate. The plates are double-sided, so the symbol is also engraved on the reverse side. Plates with symbols should be inserted one at a time into a special 3-line block (also made of stainless steel) with guides. Thus, they can be used when composing and storing a secret phrase up to 96 characters long. For additional password security, the manufacturer and experts recommend saving only the first 4 letters of each word. It is assumed that 4 letters will be enough for the author of the secret phrase to remember the words and the entire phrase.

After filling the block with the necessary symbols, the lines are blocked with a side lock, and the lid is pulled over and firmly fixed. It is worth noting that typing a phrase is a long and painstaking job. But this is not a piece of paper or a flash drive. As a result, you get a reliable password keeper. It will not be destroyed by fire or moisture, it is not susceptible to viruses or outside interference from hackers. The Cryptosteel product is manufactured by Sword Ltd from Manchester, UK. The set is recommended for storing passwords in conjunction with Trezor and Ledger hardware wallets.

BitBill - the first physical Bitcoin

The BitBill project is considered to be a pioneer in the production of physical Bitcoin. This is evidenced by the patent application "Creating And Using Digital Currency", filed on December 23, 2011. The application describes a physical device that has value and can be physically delivered to complete a transaction. Patent number 20130166455 was published on June 27, 2013. The patent holder was Douglas Feigelson from Cincinnati, Ohio (USA). The patent includes the term “physical device”; it is quite possible that later the term “physical Bitcoins” began to be used.

Thanks to the project, virtual currency received a physical medium made of plastic. In shape and dimensions, BitBill was comparable to a bank card.

The cards were issued with a face value, that is, they already contained a certain amount of cryptocurrency. The denomination of the card was indicated on its front side. The private key, which was contained in the QR code (cryptographic key), was also placed there. The code is sealed with a hologram, which should only be peeled off when making a payment. After opening the hologram, the card could not be presented again as a means of payment at another point of sale, since the private key had already been read once. The balance in the wallet could be used to top up any wallet or make online payments. Cards were issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 20 BTC. They were only sold for bitcoins.

BitBill cards of different denominations, front side.

BitBill cards of different denominations, back side.

BitBill card with a nominal value of 10 BTC with a torn hologram. Reuse offline is not possible. Only on the Internet.

The back side of the BitBill card contains both a line of the public address and a duplicate QR code. The back of the card is also protected from counterfeiting by a hologram. The sale of BitBill cards started on May 9, 2011, but a year later (May 15, 2012) their production and sale were stopped for unknown reasons. Before the publication of this material, the official website of BitBill LLC displayed the following inscription: “1 BitBill now costs $5,534.92.”

In addition to the official website of the BitBill project, the author discovered several related domains in the COM, EU and NL zones. All of them are somehow related to cryptocurrency: (payment of utility bills for BTC, online wallets). However, it was not possible to discover a relationship between Douglas Feigelson and these projects. So it is not known for certain whether they are a continuation of “the same” BitBill or not.

Bitcoin coins

As mentioned above, the physical equivalents of Bitcoin are made from different materials and shaped into different shapes. I would especially like to mention Bitcoin coins (Physical Bitcoin Coins). Attempts to release them have been made several times. They were issued both with and without face value. Some were distributed around the world in large quantities, and some were produced in limited quantities of a few units. That's why they cost exorbitant amounts of money. Just a few of them are described below.

Coins Casascius Bitcoins

Among the first to issue Bitcoin coins was Casascius LLC (Casasius) from Utah, USA. Since 2011, the company has been producing and offering metal coins (Casascius Physical Bitcoins) to those interested. The author of the project was Mike Caldwell, who had the idea to give virtual currency a beautiful physical shell. The Bitcoin logo and the Latin inscription “Vires in numeris” are cast on the front side: Strength in numbers.

From the very beginning, it was already assumed that every Bitcoin coin from the Casasius company would be collectible. The founder of the company considered them not only a means of payment, but also an original gift. At the same time, owning the physical equivalent of cryptocurrency will help you quickly understand what Bitcoin is and what its capabilities are.

Obverse of the Casascius Bitcoin coin with a face value of 1 BTC. Material: copper plated with nickel.

As in the Bitcoin card project, the main value is the code hidden under the hologram. The code is placed on the reverse (back side) of the coin.

Reverse of the Casascius Bitcoin coin. Under the hologram there is a line with a secret code (minikey).

Please note: on the hologram of the original coin, the Casascius inscription is written without the "S" in the middle, and the 8-character code is the first 8 characters of the address. There are versions with the inscription “VOID” instead of 8 characters.

Casascius coin with torn hologram. On its reverse side there is a line with a secret code (minikey).

Depending on the denomination, coins were made of copper, silver, gilded silver and even pure gold. They were of different diameters, thicknesses and weights. Some coins could be ordered without denomination.

Casascius coins of various denominations. 10 BTC made of silver weighing 31.10 grams, 25 BTC - alloy with gold plated.

St. Petersburg Bitcoin Bowl Coin

A rare copy (no denomination), released in a limited edition. It was announced by Casascius on December 23, 2014 as a commemorative coin. Made of gold-plated silver 999, weight 31.10 g. (1 troy ounce). Timed to coincide with the American football championship “Gasparilla Bowl” in St. Petersburg, Florida (USA). The championship was sponsored by BitPay (a global provider of Bitcoin payment services).

It is worth noting that one of these commemorative coins was tossed during the draw, before the start of the games. During the championship, the coins were put up for sale at a price of $100 apiece. And this is the only type of coin that was released in 2014 by Casascius, after production had to be curtailed almost completely.

The company also issued gold-plated coins in denominations of 100 and 1000 BTC. However, it was also possible to order coins made of pure gold. So, on December 17, 2011, the head of the company, Mike Caldwell, announced that he was accepting orders for Casascius 1000 BTC Fine Gold Coin weighing 1 ounce. The approximate cost of the coin will be $5-5.5 thousand, of which $1850 for 999-carat gold, market value 1000 BTC and delivery with insurance.

The 1000 BTC gold coin was gift-wrapped and housed in a 39mm acrylic capsule.

A little more than 5 units of pure gold coins with a face value of 1000 BTC were issued (the exact number is not disclosed). At various times, the estimated value of one coin ranged from $10 thousand to $1 million. As of March 2015, the reasonable price of 1000 BTC from the Fine Gold Coin series was about $300 thousand. Thus, it is one of the most expensive coins in the world.

For those who thought gold coins were not solid enough, the company offered bars in denominations of 100 and 1000 BTC. Their dimensions were 80x 40x6mm. Both Gold-Plated Savings Bars and pure gold bars were offered. The gold-plated bars weighed 4.2 ounces, and the pure gold bars weighed 12 ounces. Private keys used 2-factor authentication.

It was possible to order “uncharged” bars, that is, without BTC. It was assumed that some clients would replenish them themselves, for greater reliability and secrecy. There have been attempts to sell gold-plated bars (dummies) both with and without the 100 BTC denomination. The set included holograms for the keys.

In the photo from right to left: a gold-plated bar with a denomination of 100 BTC, then 2 bars without it. The reflection appears to be Mike Caldwell himself.

On November 27, 2013, Casascius LLC stopped selling coins and bars that contained BTC. The reason was close attention and pressure from the US Treasury.

Over the course of two years, Casascius Bitcoin coins gained popularity and were in ever-growing demand. According to some data, more than 27 thousand coins with different denominations were issued. It is believed that their total amount exceeded 59 thousand BTC, which at the current Bitcoin rate could be more than $250 million.

Currently, Casascius LLC only offers "Promo Coin" coins with no denomination, meaning they do not contain Bitcoin. Of course, you can replenish them yourself. The cost of one coin is 0.39 BTC plus shipping.

Satori Coin

Raimu Inc. also contributed to the popularization of cryptocurrency using Bitcoin coins. from Japan. The company's main activity was the import and distribution of electronics and patented picnic shelters.

In the spring of 2014, the company brought and installed the first Bitcoin machine to Japan. However, it soon became clear that for most ordinary Japanese, the very idea of ​​​​buying cryptocurrency using a machine is too incomprehensible. And then the company came up with the idea to develop coins that would contain the Nth number of bitcoins. It was decided that the coins would be of small denomination. Thus, more people who are interested in this cryptocurrency will be able to afford them.

On March 10, 2016, the presentation of the Satori Coin took place. Satori is a Buddhist term that means "enlightenment" and "awakening". The coin was issued only with a face value of 0.001 BTC, which in terms of today’s exchange rate is about 500 yen or $4.5.

Externally, “enlightenment” resembles a poker chip. The body is made of orange plastic. Such an object immediately attracts the eye, you won’t accidentally lose it. The obverse of the coin bears the Bitcoin logo, and along the circumference there is the inscription “Value does not exist outside the consciousness of man.” By the way, the quote belongs to the 19th century Austrian economist Carl Menger. On the front side, the date “01/03/2009” is written in Roman numerals, which symbolizes the first launch of the Bitcoin mining program. On that day, block No. 0, later nicknamed “Genesis,” mined the world’s first 50 BTC.

The reverse of the coin has a hologram with the denomination. By peeling off the hologram, the user gains access to a secret QR code. Topping up your wallet is very simple: you just need to scan the code using the mobile Blockchain application, and the money will arrive in your wallet almost instantly.

As is the case with other Bitcoin coins, Satori Coin is valuable until the hologram is opened. But the way it's torn down, it's a piece of plastic that's worthless. You can only check the QR code, make sure it has not been used, and top up your wallet or spend it online.

There is nothing unusual about this. For example, the national bank of one of the former Soviet republics sells to the public small gold bars in vacuum packaging, with protective elements in the form of holograms. The bank will buy the bar back if the packaging is not damaged. And if the packaging has been opened, you still need to prove that it is gold.

Satori Coin coins have taken root in Japan and have become quite popular. Some of the coins have spread throughout the world. At a certain stage, the Raimu company rethought its idea with Bitcoin machines. Soon, a vending machine was developed that dispensed not snacks and drinks, but containers of Satori Coins. A kind of Japanese kinder surprise.

The sale of Satori Coin was suspended on April 23, 2018. The reason is the intervention of the Japan Financial Services Agency (financial supervision). The official website of the project notes that Satori Coin left the market only temporarily. The company is confident that they will continue in the near future. In the meantime, work is underway to improve the Bitcoin machine, and the main business (import of electronics) goes on as usual.

Denarium Bitcoin

Closing our list is the Bitcoin coin Denarium from Finland. The name is inspired by the ancient Roman silver coin Denarius - “consisting of ten”. The project belongs to the company Prasos, which was founded in 2012. This is a fairly strong Bitcoin broker in Europe. Unlike the USA and Japan, in Finland the legislation is more friendly to transactions with cryptocurrency. Therefore, the company owns the largest network of Bitcoin machines in Scandinavia, a Bitcoin exchanger, a cryptocurrency exchange, and a service for paying utility bills with BTC. I note that at one time Prasos Oy was the largest reseller of Casascius Bitcoin coins, which are no longer produced due to stricter legislation in the United States.

Denarium coins are presented in the Gold plated collection and Premium collection. Coins from the Premium collection are made of patinated bronze, pure silver and gold. The company positions inexpensive coins as original souvenirs and stand-alone wallets, and premium coins made from precious metals as an investment vehicle. The plans include the production of gold bars.

The manufacturer offers coins both with and without BTC loaded. But if desired, their owners can replenish them themselves after receiving them. For example, the sale of “pacifiers” is relevant for deliveries to Japan or the USA, since local legislation does not allow otherwise.

Like all Bitcoin coins, Denarium is reliably protected by Canadian-made holograms. The hologram manufacturer guarantees the safety of its product for several decades. In the center of the hologram there are Bitcoin symbols and an 8-character code (the first 8 characters of the address).

The series is indicated to the right and left of the address (starts with L in the photo). You can immediately determine from the first letter of the series whether it was released “empty” or with loaded BTC. Thus, series E coins are issued “loaded”, and series L coins are issued “empty”. But this does not mean that it is empty now. The owner could replenish it himself, after the purchase. There are also series A coins. This is a rare series (about 30 addresses), issued on March 11, 2016. These include both empty and loaded coins.

The reverse side of the hologram of Denarium coins contains the series number, a line with the address and a duplicate QR code. One of the features is the ability to carry out multiple transactions using the same coin. That is, the manufacturer has provided for the possibility that the holder can partially spend the funds stored in the coin.

The gold-plated collection coins, without BTC loaded, are quite affordable. Thus, Denarium Custom 0-2 BTC Gold Plated will cost 9.9 euros (excluding VAT) plus delivery costs. The possibility of delivery to almost any country in the world is declared. When placing an order, you can specify the desired amount of cryptocurrency (from 0.001 to 2 BTC), which will cost an additional amount from 3.97 to 7940.05 euros.

They look especially impressive, and therefore are in great demand for coins in special packaging in the format of a bank card such as CoinCard with security elements. Special packaging, gift frames and boxes can also be ordered additionally when placing an order.

The most expensive coin from the premium collection is Denarium 1 BTC Gold. The coin is made of pure 999-carat gold and weighs 1 troy ounce (31.10 grams).

Denarium 1 BTC Gold coin made of pure gold of the highest standard.

At the time of publication, 136 BTC Gold coins were issued, in 3 separate batches. The cost of a “blank” coin made of gold of the highest standard ranges from 2-2.5 thousand euros. To top up the coin by 1 BTC, you will have to pay an additional 3934.42 euros.

The company is proud to be the only one currently producing and selling Bitcoin coins made from pure gold. The Finnish laboratory Labtium Oy is responsible for the quality of precious metals.

I would like to especially note the very pleasant, thoughtful and informative Denarium Explorer service for checking the status of any issued Denarium coin. You can search both by series and by open public address. By entering the series number in the search bar, you get the year of issue, the total number of coins produced, separately the number of empty and charged coins, and a graph of sales statistics. To check the status of a coin by address, just enter into the search bar those 8 characters that are printed on the front side of the hologram of the coin. A very convenient resource for both simple coin holders and collectors. You can test this functionality at status.denarium.com/coin For example, find out the history of the F0109 series or the transaction history of a specific coin. For example, with the address 1JViriMz To display the history of all transactions for a coin, click on “Browse transaction history at Blocktrail”.

Prasos promotes charity. Organizations that collect donations receive a Denarium Bitcoin coin as a gift. The charitable organization publishes the QR code of the coin on its website and begins collecting donations in bitcoins. When the amount is collected, you can give the coin to someone in need, open the hologram and spend it in parts, replenish the desired wallet, or simply cash it out. Thus, Prasos not only promotes charity, but also promotes the very idea of ​​​​using cryptocurrency for the best deeds. Well, he advertises himself, my dear.

During the existence of the Denarium project, 22 types of coins of various designs and from different materials were developed. Some of them were made in a single copy and did not go into series. A total of 11,877 coins had been issued at the time of publication. The most popular was the gold-plated Denarium Custom 0 - 2 BTC Gold Plated (started in 2016). A total of 3,407 coins were issued, of which 2,232 (66%) were empty, and 1,175 (34%) were initially replenished with bitcoins. The company continues to operate actively to this day. Thus, 47 keys for coins were generated on November 19, 2022, that is, just a few days ago.

The photo shows most of the Denarium coins that were mass produced.

Epilogue

The author of the article did not set out to list and describe all types of currencies, paper wallets, coins and other cold storage systems. There are a great many of them. The task was much more modest. First, the author wanted to convey that physical equivalents of Bitcoin exist in principle. Secondly, tell the background story related to paper wallets. And thirdly, he invited readers to familiarize themselves with some Bitcoin coins produced in different parts of the world. And how to perceive them: as another “soap bubble”, an original souvenir, an autonomous wallet or a means for investment – ​​it’s up to you, dear readers.

What types of Bitcoin coins are there?

Coins can have a wide variety of appearances, can be issued in different denominations and in different metals.

So, they are classified as

• those that are based on built-in QR codes and private keys;
• those that do not have built-in keys.

They also differ in the presence of a hologram. Some with hologram protection, some without.

In terms of metal, such coins are issued in the form

• silver;
• gold;
• plastic;
• platinum;
• gilding;
• brass;
• bronze;
• copper

Exist

• collectibles,
• souvenir types.

Interestingly, collectible coins can easily be souvenirs.

Many of them are made by professional jewelers; often the fineness of the precious metal is of the highest quality, which makes such coins soft and pliable.

Accordingly, it is recommended to store expensive coins in special plastic capsules and not touch them with bare hands, so as not to spoil the appearance of the coin and not leave any marks.

One Bitcoin coin with the image of Titan (Titan Bitcoin)

Price: $3.67 (bought for $3.3) While looking for the next batch of coins for my collection, I came across a gold-colored souvenir coin with a face value of one bitcoin on Aliexpress.
I liked the appearance, the low price was also quite satisfactory, especially since it happened on November 11 and the price of the coin then dropped from $3.67 to $3.3. I decided to order. Knowledgeable people will immediately object. How come? Bitcoin is a virtual currency. How can this kind of coin exist? It turns out they can. We are not talking about this coin, because it is actually just a souvenir.

So, if you Google and read, for example, Wikipedia , it turns out that real (physical) Bitcoin coins were actually once issued. Such a coin has a QR code/alphanumeric code, when read/entered on a special website you can top up your virtual balance with a number of bitcoins equal to the denomination of the coin. Such coins are very difficult to get now and they are not cheap. So, the original Titan Bitcoin costs about $800. The Bitcoin exchange rate is currently $455 per unit, which means that its denomination is approximately half the cost of the coin. The second half is the collection value and the price of the gold contained in the coin (!).

But let's get back to our sheep. I repeat that the Titan Bitcoin coin in question cost me $3.3. So there can be no doubt that this coin is really just a souvenir, albeit a very high-quality one. By the way, the inscription on the packaging - Metal Craft also immediately evokes the idea that this is something made artificially in the catacombs of China.

I was very pleased that the coin comes with a transparent plastic case included. Because it is very large (the diameter of the coin is approximately 4 cm) and does not fit into my coin album. Plus, fingerprints remain on the mirror surface of the coin, and they are so clearly visible that you can do fingerprinting without using any special equipment. Therefore, always either hold the coin by the edge or do not take it out of the case.

On the front side of the coin you can see the denomination of the coin - “ONE BITCOIN”, supposedly the production date - “2014” and the inscription “1B UNUM PECUNIAE”. And, of course, the image of Titan, which gave the name to the coin - Titan Bitcoin.

On the reverse side we see the inscription “TITAN BITCOIN” in large font, as well as the inscriptions “1 TROY OZ” and “.999 FINE COPPER”. In the center there is a drawing that is a symbiosis of a QR code and an imitation microcircuit. It performs only a decorative function, is made for beauty and, of course, cannot be “considered”.

And this, by the way, is what the original Titan Bitcoin should look like. As they say, find the differences.

It is also impossible not to note the presence of stripes on the edge, which give the coin some “convincingness”.

Let's summarize. Here we have an excellent souvenir coin, which is inexpensive, but at the same time so well made that it will go down as a gift with a bang. Unless, of course, you want to break up with her, which I doubt.

Popular Bitcoin coins

Here we decided to present to your attention the types of coins that are currently available.

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We are talking about the most popular Bitcoin souvenir coins, which are produced all over the world.

• Denarium - the manufacturer is a company with Finnish registration. Coins are issued in various metals - gold, silver and other metals.
• AlitinMint are also coins that belong to the executive class.
• Casascius is the first physical Bitcoin, we wrote about it above.
• Titan Bitcoin is a brand that produces silver and gold. The cost of the original is about 1400 and about 3000 dollars.
• Lealana – coins are sold only using BTC and are issued in platinum-colored silver.
• Cryptomint – on average, you can purchase a souvenir coin for up to $100. Real coins have a built-in QR code.

Significant events that influenced the price of Bitcoin in 2013

Bitcoin exchange rate for the first and second half of 2013

Bitcoin in 2013: February-October

Between 2011 and the end of February 2013, the value of virtual currency remained almost unchanged. A clear movement in the BTC rate in 2013 became noticeable on February 22. The price of the cryptocurrency reached 30 USD. The next increase occurred at the end of February - Bitcoin rose in price to $31.921. Over the next three weeks, the bullish trend continued, and by March 22, the rate was at 74.9 USD.

2013 was marked by an increase in the capitalization of BTC, which reached one billion dollars. At the same time, on the first day of April, the exchange rate price increased to one hundred dollars, and over the next nine days it doubled again - to $266. But the growth trend did not last long - already on April 20 there was a collapse. By October, the cost of Bitcoin was 109 USD. One of the reasons for the depreciation was the arrest of the Silk Road site. The media reported the story of the closure of the main “shadow” online drug store and the arrest of its owner. Silk Road operated through the anonymous Tor network and accepted bitcoins for payment - precisely because of the ability to make anonymous transactions.

Bitcoin price in 2013: November-December

Forbes writer Timothy Lee loved to tell the stories of Bitcoin's major crashes. He assumed that the currency would return to record levels for two long years, and perhaps never rise that high again.

Lee was wrong: already at the beginning of November, BTC broke the previous record and by the end of the first week of the month it surpassed the $300 mark. By that time, it seems that everyone who was even slightly interested in the news knew about the currency.

November 2013 was characterized by sharp volatility in the value of cryptocurrency. In the first week, the price jumped to $269, ten days later the rate doubled - to $503, and the next week - to 1.2 thousand USD. The reason for crossing the $1,000 mark was the support of Bitcoin by the creator of the games “Zinga” from the USA. In addition, in November, one of the universities in Cyprus approved payment for tuition in Bitcoins.

In addition, in November, Forbes magazine reported on a website where users collect this digital money to kill politicians, so the image of “BTC is for criminals” was partly ingrained in the minds of the mass consumer. Be that as it may, the media hype gave a good boost to the exchange rate: by the end of November, one Bitcoin was selling for about $1,200.

At the end of November and the first week of December, the cryptocurrency rate gradually fell and dropped to the thousand dollar mark. Two weeks later, the cost of virtual coins fell almost twice - to six hundred USD. The reason for the decline was the ban of the Central Bank of China regarding the country’s financial institutions - they were prohibited from conducting transactions with cryptocurrency. The country's largest search engine, Baidu, and the telecommunications company China Telecom were forced to remove Bitcoin wallet addresses from their websites.

The reason for the restriction was the fact that the People's Bank of the country stated that Bitcoin is not a currency and cannot be used on a par with ordinary money. Such actions by the Chinese Central Bank confirmed that the development and growing popularity of Bitcoin poses a threat to the stability of the classical financial system. Despite this ban, today China is considered one of the main players in the field of Bitcoin trading. Eight out of ten cryptocurrency transactions take place in this country.

By winter, the authorities and power structures finally started talking about the currency. The European Banking Authority also decided to scare careless users, saying that the rate of cryptocurrencies could sharply fall to zero and no one would receive any compensation. However, their horror stories have not yet worked: the cost of bitcoins, even after the fall, was slowly, unstable, but confidently creeping up.

Bitcoin souvenir coin price

The price of a Bitcoin coin can vary greatly depending on various factors.

• the metal from which the coin is made;
• manufacturer country;
• jewelry and fine workmanship;
• availability of built-in access to Bitcoin;
• coin denomination;
• protection in the form of a hologram and other factors.

Below is a table with prices for the most popular brands that produce Bitcoin. Here is the exact answer to the question - how much is the Bitcoin coin worth?

Where to buy Bitcoin coins

Coins can be bought in a variety of places, it all depends on your desire and the thickness of your wallet.

Note that quite often businessmen and top managers buy souvenir bitcoin coins in order to present an original gift to a business partner.

So, you can purchase a physical coin from the following sources

• in antique shops;
• in companies that produce coins;
• in souvenir shops;
• from numismatists;
• from collectors;
• from private individuals;
• at auctions.

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It all depends on what you are going to buy - for example, if it is a Bitcoin gold coin, then you can buy it in antique shops or from manufacturers, or at auctions - however, they are usually in electronic format, and you will make a purchase using a photo.