At the June Showcase Auction organized by Stack’s Bowers Galleries, a rare Bitcoin token set a world record by selling for $117,000, nearly 1,000 times its starting price of $120.
In a dazzling turn of events, a physical 1 Bitcoin token from the famed Casascius series sold for a staggering $117,000 during Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ June 2025 Showcase Auction. This remarkable sale sets a new world record, making this iconic brass piece the most valuable of its kind ever sold.
What Is the Casascius 1 Bitcoin Token?
- Origin: The Casascius coins were first introduced in 2011 by Mike Caldwell. These were among the first physical representations of digital Bitcoin, essentially a tangible bridge between old-world numismatics and modern cryptocurrency.
- How They Worked: Each coin came sealed and loaded with actual Bitcoin. Owners could redeem the digital currency by breaking the coin’s holographic seal, a process that often destroyed the collectible value of the physical piece.
An Astonishing Return: From $120 to $117,000
- Initial Load: This particular 1 BTC Casascius token was originally loaded on June 5, 2013, when the price of Bitcoin hovered around $120.
- Final Sale: Over a decade later, with Bitcoin valued near $107,000, the coin sold for a jaw-dropping $117,000, reflecting nearly 1,000 × its original token value.
- Collector Premium: Curiously, this figure includes approximately a $10,000 bonus beyond Bitcoin’s face value, indicating strong collector interest.
Graded for Rarity and Condition
- Grading: The coin is graded MS-62 by PCGS, a designation used by professional numismatists that signifies a well-preserved mint state coin with minor imperfections.
- Final Issue: This specific token comes from the 2013 issue, the last year Casascius produced these physical coins before ceasing operations, adding to its rarity and historical value.
Why It Commanded a Premium
Director James McCartney, of numismatics and head of the firm’s physical cryptocurrency program, said, “As more and more of these coins are destroyed to inc the Bitcoin, surviving pieces like this one become ever more valuable and rare. This record-breaking outcome shows our pride in being a leading resource for excellent collectors in this area. Collectors lose another complete, pristine specimen of an increasing number that drives prices steadily higher every time one of these coins is opened.
Coin Value Checker vs. Coin Appraisal: What’s the Difference?
Other Highlights from the Stack’s Bowers June Sale
- 2016 BTCC “Poker Chip” 0.1 BTC (MS‑69 PCGS): Sold for $19,200, nearly 100% above its Bitcoin value.
- 2017 BlueBits 0.01 BTC0.01 BTC “Poker Chip” (MS‑69 PCGS): Sold for $2,040, a new series high and a follow-up if you will to their Spring 2025 record sale.
The sale overall tallied well over a quarter-million dollars, firmly establishing physical cryptocurrency collectibles as serious assets.
What’s Next for Stack’s Bowers?
- Consignments Open: The firm is now accepting consignments for its upcoming August and November auctions.
- Upcoming Appearances: Look for Stack’s Bowers at:
- F.U.N. Coin Show in Orlando, FL from July 10–12
- A.N.A. World’s Fair of Money in Oklahoma City, OK from August 19–23
Final Thoughts
This record-breaking sale underscores more than just the dollar value of Bitcoin—it highlights the growing significance of physical tokens in numismatic and crypto-collecting communities. These coins are not just digital placeholders; they’re historic artifacts, proof of a unique era when the physical and the digital collided.
If you own one of these rare coins—or plan to—this auction is proof that the collector market is alive, thriving, and valuing these tokens at levels far beyond their face value.
Let me know if you’d like more detail on specific tokens, grading standards, or how to participate in upcoming auctions!