Bitcoin Forum

7/20/14 UPDATE: 2 hours left in Bitcoin Painting Auction. Price: up from .0024 btc to 4.64 btc. Can't wait to put it in the hands of whoever the right person is. Remember, this is transaction #9 for Project Bitcoin (all information is below), and the artist gets half of whatever the final price is.

Additionally, Coindesk, recently called Last (Bitcoin) Supper the #1 piece of bitcoin art!

7/10/14 UPDATE: It's up for auction starting now: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=231280050208. Excited for it to find the right now. Never seen a more beautiful painting imbued with deeper meaning. Big thank you to the artist Youl!

7/11/14 UPDATE: I want to clarify two points: 1. the winner of the auction will obviously pay in bitcoin, as per the terms of Project Bitcoin and described in the auction, 2. Shipping is INTERNATIONAL. eBay defaulted to US shipping option and is not allowing me to change it. Again, you can see info about international shipping in the auction text.  

7/13/14 UPDATE: After 3 days, the bitcoin painting has 27 bids and is up to 1.7btc! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Last-Bitc0in-Supper-Huge-Original-Masterpiece-French-Artist-Youl-/231280050208

https://i.imgur.com/UJd3fMe.jpg

3/10/14 UPDATE: It was a disastrous eighth transaction in which I learned that the statue I had bought for one bitcoin wasn't what I believed it was. Luckily, lots of integrity from the seller. You can read the update here: http://www.projectbitcoin.com/1/post/2014/03/the-statue-blew-up-oh-well.html

2/19/14 UPDATE: My seventh transaction is complete. I have purchased an authentic solid bronze statue owned by Paul Revere from Michael S. out of Amsterdam. In the process, hopefully I've had the opportunity to ground Project Bitcoin in a little bit of history. While the blockchain and Bitcoin Protocol may be new, the ideals that strengthen it are far from new - people have been fighting for them for a long time. I will post the blog as an update as usual, but you can also see it here: http://www.projectbitcoin.com/1/post/2014/02/bitcoin-meets-paul-revere.html (http://www.projectbitcoin.com/1/post/2014/02/bitcoin-meets-paul-revere.html). If you are interested in buying the statue, just PM me or reply to this thread

2/3/14 UPDATE: My sixth transaction is complete. I have sold to .1 btc. 2012 silver round Casascius coins to BitcoinTalk user Domob for 1 bitcoin. This is a huge milestone in for the project. It took 23 days and 6 transactions to turn a $0.35 Peruvian coin into a bitcoin. In the process, I've had the opportunity to get to know and transact with amazing members of the bitcoin community from Peru, Brazil, the US (twice), England, and now Austria. The blog entry about transaction #6 is available here: http://www.projectbitcoin.com/1/post/2014/02/one-bitcoin-one-house-one-dream.html (http://www.projectbitcoin.com/1/post/2014/02/one-bitcoin-one-house-one-dream.html)

1/29/14 UPDATE: My fifth transaction is complete! I have purchased from Bitcointalk user Casascius two .1 btc 2013 silver round Casascius coins with the funds earned from selling the four wallets to Eduardo. The blog entry about transaction #5 is available here: http://www.projectbitcoin.com/1/post/2014/01/sandcastles-and-casascius-coins.html (http://www.projectbitcoin.com/1/post/2014/01/sandcastles-and-casascius-coins.html). I will also copy and paste the blog post as a reply to this post. If you are interested in purchasing the coins from me, feel free to PM me with an offer! Onwards... toward more and more stories about our amazing international bitcoin community and, hopefully, that house!

1/22/14 UPDATE: Our third transaction is complete. If you'd like to read about it, you can visit our blog at http://www.projectbitcoin.com or just scroll down to see the blog entry in a reply post. Eduardo from Brazil bought Phinnaeus Gage's four handtooled customized bitcoin wallets for .33 btc - shipping included. After shipping, that means I have .2726 bitcoin to spend on my next purchase. If you have anything or any experience you'd like to sell me, just reply with the idea or connect with me via PM. Warmest, Bitcoincito!]

1/15/14 UPDATE: Project Bitcoin's second transaction is complete. I have purchased 4 custom leather tooled bitcoin wallets from Phinaeus Gage. The wallets are created by his internationally recognized brother, and can be customized to the preferences of the buyer. If you are interested in buying the wallets, please offer me a price in bitcoin. I will post the latest blog entry from projectbitcoin.com (http://projectbitcoin.com) as a reply. Please excuse any grammar errors... it's late here :)

1/15/14 UPDATE #2: Just in general, a big thank you to the community. You guys are bringing this to life and, already, teaching me so much about what's so special about... us

Today I am launching Project Bitcoin (http://www.projectbitcoin.com) with this BitcoinTalk post. I dreamed about this project a few weeks ago, and now it's becoming real.

The vision of Project Bitcoin is simple: In partnership with the bitcoin community, I want to turn a special central bank issued coin into a house by making at least 20 international transactions using only bitcoin. To do it, I must sell that coin for more than its value [Update: already accomplished!], and then make buy/sell bitcoin transactions that continuously increase in value until, hopefully.... the house.

There are three reasons I created this project:
1. I want to find out if it is possible to make mutually beneficially transactions using bitcoin with anyone in the world.
2. I want to tell the story of the bitcoin community through a series of global transactions and the people they touch.
3. I want to turn a coin into a house. That doesn’t happen everyday. Also, I’ve always wanted a house.

Like any meaningful project, this one has rules:
* No alchemy. I must sell the coin to someone for bitcoin, buy something with the bitcoin, sell that thing for bitcoin, and so on until the... house.
* No losers. Every transaction must have both parties feeling we got a great deal. Every transaction must be valuable for both sides.
* No borders. I must transact with people from at least a dozen countries around the world, including some that may not be so friendly to bitcoin.
* No confusion. Transactions must always be in bitcoin. No fiat currency, no credit card fees, and no bank fees may be a part of any transaction.

The coin that I am selling for bitcoin to kick off the project is unique [Update: already sold]. It's a Peruvian Central Bank issued 1 SOL (~$0.35). There's a long story about it here (http://www.projectbitcoin.com/blog), but the summary is that I found a metalworker in Peru who was able to shave down one side of the coin and etch the bitcoin logo into it. You can see various views of the coin at the bottom of the blog page. If you want to buy it, just send me an email or PM with an offer in bitcoin.

Seeking the support of the BitcoinTalk community would mean the world to me. Also, if you have any questions at all... please ask. Happy to clarify or expound upon any part of this project at all in comments. - Bitcoincito

I love your idea.  I used your contact form!

PS The significantly longer update - and story behind Day 1 - is available on the blog here: http://www.projectbitcoin.com/blog (http://www.projectbitcoin.com/blog)

If you have a U.S. shipping address check out my stuff at http://fs.thebutterzone.com and make sure to click More results at the bottom, until it disappears. Or see the virtual stuff if I'm selling on the bottom line of my sig (I'll discount the sound to .15 BTC).

TheButterZone, thanks for your offer. I've just checked out your store - it redirects to bitcoinclassifieds. Is it supposed to do that?

Re: stuff, I'm really looking for something special for this project: It could be a thing or experience, and hopefully it represents you, your culture, or the bitcoin community in someway. It's something that someone else would be buying from me in bitcoin soon, and that person would be able to share in the special value too. If you have ideas (or if anyone else has ideas), respond to this thread or PM me. 

I'm excited!

Warmest,
Bitcoincito

Yes. All items at that search URL are mine.

awesome concept, hope you get the house, if a paperclip can trade for one Im sure btc can :)

Thanks BitcoinSteve. Will take all the love we can get. Still working on that special .15 btc purchase. Had someone offer me a camel ride in Egypt, but they didn't come through. Hoping for something of significance to someone, their culture, and/or bitcoin. We'll see!

All I can offer is  5 ounces of silver, I just obtained through apmex but it would only + you about $5.. I paid about $120 with shipping...

Best of luck with your endeavour, unfortunately I have nothing available to sell.

Will be fascinating to watch your progress with this  :)

good luck! you can do it!

Illpoet and jonanan, thanks for your support. Means more than I can communicate. This will be a community effort!

BitcoinSteve, thanks so much for your offer man. The only problem with the silver is that I need to find something whose value is flexible... so that I can buy it for .15 making you or someone else happy, and then find someone else in the bitcoin community who values it at even more so that the value of the transactions can keep growing. Silver has a pretty stable market price, so the odds of being able to increase value on the transaction - especially after shipping - would be quite low. Regardless.. the intention is HUGE for me, and means a ton!

If you have any other ideas, let me know!

Warmest,
Bitcoincito

I believe I can help. How about a hand-tooled leather Bitcoin-themed wallet or some other ware?

Of course, there is no way to get this into your hands within 24 hours, but I have an idea nonetheless--via a pre-order (read order/credit). The item valued upwards to ~$300 (maybe more) would be sold by you, whereupon the buyer commissions by brother-in-law, Martin Basurto, to produce the yet-to-be-determined hand-tooled leather ware.

No need to worry about the end user not getting exactly what they desire via me, given https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=37094.

If the Bitcoiner is a biker, so much more the better, for Martin's been features in over a dozen magazines, including http://www.hotbikeweb.com/hand-tooled-leather-seats-seat-manufacturers-showcase

http://www.hotbikeweb.com/sites/hotbikeweb.com/files/styles/600_wide_upscale/public/import/page_element_images/0813_hbkp_01_z%2Bseat_manufacturers_showcase%2Bfour_seats.jpg?itok=6d3s636i
Upon reading the article, you learn that only the seat on the far right was tooled by Martin, but he's capable of matching or exceeding the quality of any other hand-tooled leather worker in the world.

In essence, I'm offer $300 USD credit toward the purchase of any hand-tooled leather ware desired that Martin Basurto can produce.

You would only have to sell the credit for whatever, giving me the proceeds, whereupon I'll convert the BTC to fiat and give to Martin. I can even go slightly better with this offer. I'll double whatever you sell the 0.15 BTC for, thus if you get $200 USD, a $400 USD credit is made available, up to $500 USD for a $1,000 USD credit.

~Bruno Kucinskas

PS: Will work out any particulars to make this as much as an attractive offer as possible to help in your venerable endeavor.

Phinnaeus Gage (Bruno), this is awesome. I'm going to message you for details. The leatherwork looks beautiful, and the offer is extremely interesting. Thanks for being interested in this project, and for making such a meaningful contribution. Let's talk and see if we can do it!

i would love it if the only currency used was bitcoin. none of this buy something for bitcoin convert to fiat then buy something else.. a pure product->bitcoin->product->bitcoin->product->bitcoin. and so on.

i have nothing against one product swapped for another product direct, but keeping it with the bitcoin theme where fiat is not involved even up to the point of finding the estate agent that will accept bitcoin to buy the house, now that would be the true bitcoin challenge. non of this converting to fiat stuff, or else it just turns into that fiat story of the paperclip into a house.. a pure bitcoin challenge would show, what already has been done in fiat, it can be done in bitcoin too.

the no alchemy part sounds great which is why i hope this quote

translates to offering 0.3BTC credit toward the purchase of any hand-tooled leather ware desired that Martin Basurto can produce.
and then sell the product for a higher BTC price, so if he sells it for upto 0.5btc he will get 1btc

franky1, this reply was HUGE for me because it meant that someone gets the importance of this project being about transacting in only bitcoin. In fact, in the Project Rules (www.projectbitcoin.com/details), Rule #4 makes crystal clear the point you are underscoring. I'll quote:

No confusion. Transactions must always be in bitcoin. No fiat currency, no credit card fees, and no bank fees may be a part of any transaction.

There is no way around this point. For this project to be legit, there simply can't be any funny work. It's got to be as straightforward as possible - transactions in bitcoin... that hopefully grow increasingly larger with each transaction.

As such, when I messaged Phinnaeus Gage more 3 hours ago, I clarified that exact point!! He still hasn't gotten back to me, but I can't imagine he - or anyone else who wants to see the full possibility of bitcoin be realized - would be opposed to these rules.

Again, frankly thanks for the comment and for elucidating publicly a really important value of the project. Really appreciated!

I, too, appreciate Frank's concern.

To be clear, if Martin Basurto's hand-tooled leather wares is considered for this venerable endeavor, the transaction will be via bitcoins but, just as BitPay is used as a payment provider to convert bitcoins to fiat for their customer base, I will be converting any bitcoin payment(s) to Martin for his services into fiat. In fact, I could even use my barn wood website that has a special section allocated for leather wares that uses BitPay as the payment provided, thus allowing them to earn their fee for said service, of which has been used once prior for a gentleman in Belgium for the purchase of a Bitcoin-themed wallet.

~Bruno Kucinskas

Perhaps I can finally offload my coffee table...

Project Bitcoin Update: First a Coin. Now Four Wallets (http://www.projectbitcoin.com/1/post/2014/01/first-a-coin-now-four-wallets.html)

[For info about the first transaction, go here: http://www.projectbitcoin.com/1/post/2014/01/first-transaction-complete.html, and for additional details on the project, go here: http://www.projectbitcoin.com/details.html]

Four days ago, I was the proud owner of the world's only Peruvian Central Bank Issued (bit)coin. It cost me ~$0.35 for the coin + .017 bitcoin that I paid a Peruvian metalworker to design it.

I sold the (bit)coin to Jonathan from England for .15 bitcoin. Then I began looking for something to buy. I made another post on Reddit that, unlike the first post I'd made, received some warm responses!

"I will write a song and sell you the rights.."
"I will take you snowboarding..."
"I will sell you a snowboard..."
"A bottle of French champage..."
"A drawing of the bitcoin magic Internet Money Wizard..."
"I will sell you an old graphics card..."
"I will sell you an old laptop..."
"I will take you on a camel journey in Egypt..."

While each of the offers had their own unique charm, the camel journey struck me because.... wow... would that be cool! One of my favorite books was "The Alchemist," by Paulo Coelho, and I've always dreamed of knowing Egypt. So even though I'd be selling the camel journey to someone else, it'd be fun to vicariously live that journey through them.

But as life would have it, this person had to check with her mother about the camel journey (as it was her mother's camel)... and she never got back to me. As far as I know, even, the camel never existed. So... I continued forward. While I was grateful for the other offers, I wanted something that excited me like the camel journey in Egypt.  

I returned to BitcoinTalk - the forum where I met Jonathan, and I wondered in an update about whether anyone might have something interesting to sell me. A few hours later, Phinnaeus Gage responded...

Phinnaeus is a very, very interesting man. In addition to being dubbed "the most interesting bitcoiner" by Let's Talk Bitcoin, Phinnaeus also helped create Bitcoin 100, an organization that exists to convince charities to accept bitcoin donations. But there's much, much more to him...

In his spare time, Phinnaeus also sells the custom leatherwork of his brother Martin to the bitcoin community. Martin is internationally recognized as one of the world's best in his craft - having sold custom leather bike seats to Jay Leno and Steven Tyler, in addition to many other celebrities. He's also been creating customized bitcoin wallets for the Bitcoin community, which he sells for $125 to $200, depending on the needs of the client.

Phinnaeus Gage - in real life Bruno Kucinskas - offered to sell me a credit for four customized bitcoin wallets for just .15 bitcoins. It was an amazing deal from someone who believes in Project Bitcoin, felt its value, and wanted to be a part of it. I jumped at the offer.

It wasn't just that I fell in love with the wallets and with Martin's unparalleled leatherwork that led me to accept the offer so quickly. It was also the absolutely nutty symbolism behind this second transaction:

Project Bitcoin began with my offering a (bit)coin.... and with the funds I received for that coin, I have now been able to buy four customized bitcoin wallets. And while bitcoins and bitcoin wallets are generally considered virtual, the first two transactions have, in fact, shown them to exist in tangible form too. It is that gap between the virtual in bitcoin - the seemingly untouchable - and the tangible, that I am hoping to close with this project (if only a little bit).

So there it is. Two transactions are complete, and we have an untold number of additional transactions if I am going to stumble upon that house. But life happens one moment at a time. And in this moment, I have four customized bitcoin wallets to sell (the buyer will determine how he or she wants them customized). I'm excited to sell them to someone who wants those wallets... and also, to someone who believes in the power of an international bitcoin community to, together, make a kind of magic the world has never seen before.

Just received my coin and as a collector of unusual currencies and coins I can say I'm very pleased with it; beautifully made and crafted. The maker was very skilled.

Am I right in reading your blog that you paid the metal worker in Peru in Bitcoin too?

no_2 (Jonathan),

I'm so glad you received the coin! I was seriously worried as it turns out "money" is not allowed to be sent through international mail. I had a kind of neat "certification" doc I had slipped into the envelope... but the shrewd post office clerk had me completely change my plans. He explained that if there's any reference to it being a coin or currency of any kind, it would be turned away by customs and I likely wouldn't get it returned. *But* if it was a token...

So out went your certification or any communication about the project, and in went a reference to a "souvenir token", which apparently was good enough for customs officials. I imagine when they opened the package, we got lucky and they saw the side with the bitcoin logo first! If you're wondering why the package was so bare... that's the story behind it :) Would love it if you can take a picture of the coin or you/with coin to post here or send to me. Would be awesome to see it in your hands!

Warmest,
Bitcoincito

This is an interesting idea because it has the potential to bring awareness to both bitcoin and the small businesses, artists, etc. you trade with along the way.  My mom is an abstract painter who exhibits/sells her work in a few galleries in Ontario and Nova Scotia, Canada.  She is incredibly talented.  I've asked her to consider allowing me to try to sell some of her work for bitcoin.  She is researching it and will get back to me soon.  This would be a great way to start.  I'll post some of the pieces she has available once you get into the 2-5 bitcoin range, if you are interested.  I don't want to link to anything before I know if she is into the idea, though as I'm not sure how her arrangement with the galleries works.  The paintings (or drawings) I would list are unsold works from past exhibitions.  I was lucky to receive a few such pieces as a housewarming gift a few years ago and they are my most treasured possessions.

O.o

xxeyes, yes.... really hoping we can bring awareness to bitcoin in addition to the people who are using bitcoin as a means for exchange for their life's work. Both of the first two transactions fit that purpose. No_2 is the CTO of MetaLair, a crypto exchange, and Phinnaeus Gage is selling his brother's (amazing) leather tooling in bitcoin. Their stories, alone, have been such a pleasure to hear...

Also, I love the idea about your Mom's abstract paintings. Look forward to talking with you about the paintings a little later on in the project!

Yeah, you're right, it's worth way more than a house.

I have shared the videos of me opening the parcel here for when you make the Hollywood blockbuster :) :

http://madmacs.datashell.co.uk/item/d1b44eba28b244bd84626deee3e05511 (http://madmacs.datashell.co.uk/item/d1b44eba28b244bd84626deee3e05511)

Can I also check did you pay the metal worker in Peru in BTC?

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5537/11995619526_19bffb6aeb_o.jpg

Love the videos no_2! I filmed a video as well of the coin going out, which I'll post when I can get ahold of my camera.

Re: paying the metal worker, I was not able to pay him in bitcoin. I tried - valiantly - but this was an extremely old world small town Peruvian man who'd spent his whole life in a tiny metalworking shop. He had never used the Internet, let alone was willing to entertain the idea of paying via bitcoin. Given that I had no other options - dozens of other shop owners had turned down the project as impossible - I wasn't about to walk away from him.

In hindsight, I feel quite sure that this was the perfect beginning - as the coin represents the transformation from fiat to crypto (it is a little of both), and paying for the coin in fiat represented the last fiat payment I would make before the coin and the project went crypto!  

Again, really glad you enjoy the coin!

Warmest,
Bitcoincito

UPDATE: Also, the handtooled, customized (to your taste) bitcoin wallets are still available. If you're interested in them, just PM me with an offer. The value of these wallets - according to the prices that Bruno's been selling them for on BitcoinTalk - is .5 btc+. But if you're into them, just make an offer!

Curious: can these wallets have any image carved onto them, and would the artist mind carving on something that is copyrighted?

Rassah, yes the wallets can have any images tooled into them... and Martin, the artist, has numerous renditions of bitcoin wallets that others have created in the forum. Bruno, I think can elucidate on some of the specifics... but it was really important for him that this be a special kind of deal for whoever picks it up! Some of the images of previous wallets are reposted below.

If you have any questions, I'll do the best I can to answer them. Like the (bit)coin, the bitcoin wallet is pretty special. It also represents making the intangible (a bitcoin wallet) tangible within the context of this project, and in the process showing off some of the internationally renowned leather work of people in our bitcoin community. If anyone wants to make an offer for the four hand-tool, customized wallets, you can make it here or just PM me! -Bitcoincito

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6198/6041814115_fa3813b9f5.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6061/6041784001_b1dff3a65e.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Htx2Hc5EwG4/UVXPHh4Sc1I/AAAAAAAAAMQ/P4g0Pe3W8tI/s1600/wallet.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6088/6057678328_9441a9a705.jpg
 

Love this; bookmarked your blog and following it with enthusiasm!

Good luck.

Thanks Cygnify. It's going to be quite a journey. Right now I'm excited about finding the right buyer for the wallets - they are beautiful, handtooled, and created by the guy who does the leatherwork for Jay Leno and Steven Tyler. Phinnaeus Gage has sold many of these wallets for what would now be about ~.2 btc each on bitcointalk. And I get to sell FOUR of his bitcoin wallets, customized however the buyer desires.

If you or anyone else desires the wallets, just make me an offer here or via PM. Excited for these wallets to fall into the right hands!

Warmest,
Bitcoincito

Very cool idea. As a hand to mouth father of seven and a biology teacher (I believe I should practice what I preach  :D) I have been struggling for ideas of how to get btc.  I do have 9 uncirculated 1878 Morgan Silver dollars (no mint mark) that may help you with your project. I also just realized (duh) that my property might have value to someone for a vacation. Here is a copy of the post I just made on the bitcoin vacation thread:
-------------
I have a very rustic 24 acre goat farm in the mountains of Costa Rica, 45 min. from the Surf mecca of Dominical. Located at 1100 meters, 24 degrees C, year round. Great views, toucans, howler monkeys, and primary forest, hiking to incredible waterfalls. Micro-hydro, off grid 120VAC, all the goatmilk and feta you can drink/eat. Will rent for bitcoin. PM me if interested. :-)
-------------
If I understand your project correctly you will be needing more and more expensive items to leverage up to your house.  My place in CR could be rented for days, weeks, or up to a couple of months.  I need to emphasize that it is rustic. :-) Pics available on request. The coins are in the US with me, but I can accept the btc in CR to increase the national diversity of your project.

Whether I am of service or not, I wish you well on the project.

gortonc,

Thanks for the offer of the goat farm in CR. I understand what it means to choose a life's work that makes contributions for the world, but doesn't result in a huge payoff. You're a good man for the work you do. Re: the farm, send me a PM, I'm happy to see if we can figure something interesting out with you, and regardless would love to know another good person in the world!

The blog entry about the latest transaction posted below. You can read about it here: http://www.projectbitcoin.com/1/post/2014/01/goodbye-wallets.html

If you have anything special you'd like to sell for .2726 btc, let's talk!

Goodbye Wallets

If I could have decided how Project Bitcoin would begin, it would have launched to worldwide fanfare and media attention, and I would be transacting each day with people from across the world.  

Of course that's not how things have gone!

When I launched the project, the first public comment I received was, in short, "This is bullshit". We've had a grand total of... zero... media outlets report on the project. And buying and selling the first two special items hasn't been as easy as snapping my fingers (which is also hard for me!)

But here's the crazy thing: Project Bitcoin is moving.

What the project has lacked in mass appeal so far (we still have time for it to build), it seems to have made up for in appeal to the more and more of the right people. To explain what I mean, I want to tell you the story of my last transaction:

As you may know from previous posts, for the project's third transaction, I was honored to sell Bruno and Martin's four hand-tooled, bitcoin themed wallets. I needed more than the 150 mBTC I paid for them (which was an amazing deal)! But fo 3 days, I received.... zero offers on the wallets.

Then something strange happened: Someone shared Project Bitcoin in a post on Reddit, and the post made it to the front page of the 90,000 person Bitcoin "subreddit", with a number of people offering their compliments and support.

What was strange about the post's popularity was that I'd shared that same link with the same audience twelve days before, and I'd left with my tail between my legs and people calling me names. How had support so quickly developed in a place where there was once rancor?

I don't know (and I'd prefer to be grateful than analyze!)...

What I do know is that more than 1,000 new people were introduced to Project Bitcoin, and five of them made offers on the wallets!

There was only one problem: Every offer came from from the United States.

While our rules don't prohibit multiple transactions from the same country, my hope has been to have every transaction occur across borders (e.g. If I buy something from someone in the US, I must sell it to someone in another country).

So I waited...

14 or so hours after I received my first offer, Eduardo wrote to me from Brazil, inquiring about purchasing the wallets.

Like Jonathan and Bruno, Eduardo has devoted a big part of the last few years to sharing bitcoin with the world. He is a computer scientist by trade, but felt called to create and run a podcast in Portuguese called Papo Bitcoin that talks about the latest in bitcoin news and trends.

Eduardo made an extremely generous offer of 330 mBTC (including the almost 60 mBTC cost of shipping). I felt really grateful for the deal - after shipping. Shipping excluded, that's 272 mBTC remaining, or an 80% increase in value since I sold the coin to Jonathan!

The only problem: two people in the US were offering more than double that, and a big intention of Project Bitcoin is getting to that house fast. That was now rubbing up against the other intention of making only international transactions. I didn't know what to do?

I took a walk with my wife and asked for her thoughts. She told me a story from just before she was born: She lived in a one room house without warm water and with just one lightbulb. Her father had been saving for years to make a huge upgrade to their living situation. On the day he went to the bank to take out his savings... the bank defaulted. He lost everything. He went back to N.'s mother utterly defeated. Her father is a miner and farmer in Peru. He'd... slaved... for years for that money. N.'s mom's responded with firmness: "It's just money. It means nothing. What matters is that we have our dignity. There's nothing to think about."

Now my 24 year old wife repeated those same words to me. I smiled, reminded about the dignity of this project. Yes... a house would be an amazing end to this project. But that house only has a chance if this project keeps its dignity; if it succeeds in telling an international story of bitcoin transactions... if it promotes the wonderful work of the people I come into contact with. Every transaction must satisfy those requirements, otherwise it's a transaction that simply can't be done.  
I accepted the super-generous offer from Eduardo. I hope he enjoys the four custom hand-tooled leather bitcoin wallets - he deserves them! He's the only person in the whole world outside the US who made an offer on those wallets, and I appreciate his huge contribution to this project and to our unfolding story. I also hope you take the time to visit his podcast on bitcoin. If you're like me, it'll be a good practice tool for learning portuguese!

So now we have completed three transactions with three people who all happened to be serious contributors to the bitcoin community. Already, Project Bitcoin has made transactions that have seen their way through Peru, England, the United States, and Brazil. Now I am the owner of .2726 bitcoin (what was left after paying for shipping) that I can use to make my next purchase. The only question is: what will that next purchase be?

Two houses, considering the story behind it: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=418941  ;D

Yes (just about), and no, albeit it should be yes, and you shouldn't be asking such.  ::)

Damn, I'm behind on this thread, but have been working behind the scenes pertaining to this endeavor and the Super Bowl Project. And barn wood and working on my truck and healing from the fall and the Jehovah Witnesses stopping by (when they say "See you in Two Weeks!", they mean it).

About to read the blog posts, but wanted to comment on this first.

My dad was a miner, coal in Belgium from early- to mid-teens. Eight of us (five siblings) lived in a one room house sans running water or heat, save an inefficient fireplace, in Northwest Indiana. Each Christmas, we all received clothes--no toys. Nobody complained, and we all turned out just fine, seldom concerning ourselves throughout life about lack-of-money issues.

I can still recall absorbing myself in Zane Grey novels and Calculus books, sometimes simultaneously. Sadly, I've forgotten most of the Calculus since it was seldom used, but sought other functions to embrace life.

Just a tad more about me, apologizing for taking away from your lovely post, bitcoincito.

~TMIBTCITW (The Most Interesting Bitcoiner in the World)

And ride off with God into the sunset? (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=271711.0)  ;D

http://chinezu.eu/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/gizeh_pyramids-620x775.jpg

<when you been around as long as I have, you learnt where are the nuggets can be found on this forum>

It may have been prudent to bring the following to your attention via PM, but that wouldn't have increased my post count.  ::) Besides, we're friends.

Started to read your site/blog and was immediately greeted with your spellings of Bitcoin.

Bitcoin, when discussed as the protocol is almost always capitalized, whereas when it's pertaining to the monetary aspect it's not unless, that is, it's at the beginning of a sentence. Also, it's not two words, and parentheses are never used, unles (bit)coin is somehow warranted. If mentioning a specific amount, i.e. 15 bitcoins, use 15 BTC.

This post is not meant as a dis, simply an FYI. Perhaps some other may offer up the link to that thread that spells it out more clearly than I, for it's eluding me.

Back to reading your site, bud.

~Bruno Kucinskas

Phinnaeus, first... I was really touched by the story of your childhood and your father. The power of love and personal/familial/community intention is amazing! Totally not surprised you turned out such a good guy... values and focus is what we need. If we have those two things, the rest is pretty exciting.

Second, thanks for the tips on the bitcoin spellings. Not to be a nerd, but... I knew that :) Where you see Bitcoin capitalized, those are titles. So Project Bitcoin can still be capitalized even though it doesn't have to do with the protocol. If you see the word bitcoin and then the title Project Bitcoin next to it, I can see how it can be confusing. Where you see (bit)coin, that's my own made up word. It was my way of describing what the coin that started out the project is all about. It's a Peruvian Sol that now has a bitcoin logo etched into one side. Thus that original coin is a (bit)coin.... not to be confused with bitcoin or Bitcoin. :)

With all that said, I'm sure you'll catch some grammar mistakes, and even some with the word bitcoin. Like a lot of people, I'm not perfect :)

Awesome getting to know you in the process of buying and selling your/Martin's wallets. They are truly beautiful, and your contributions to the community should be commended. Thanks. And it's a gift to call you a friend now. -B.  

Just FYI, I was going to inquire about ording 4 of them with Sonic characters on them, but got too distracted and lost track of this thread. Oh well. Still thinking what I could possibly sell later. Alas, coming from a family situation similar to the OP's and Phinn's (family came to this county when I was 10, with only $300 to our name), I don't have a lot of valuables or heirlooms in my posession. If you don't count my Sonic the Hedgehog collection, likely worth tens of thousands of dollars... :P

Sorry for my late update here.

I'm very honored to be part of this project and very happy to be the FIRST in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD (besides US)!! _o/


More then double! I feel very lucky!

Now it sounds like an even better deal!!

I can wait to see the wallets with my customizations!

Thank you! May the house come to you soon!!

Rassah, crazy how much so many here have in common :) I don't have a Sonic the Hedgehog collection, but I do have a giraffe collection. It is unquestionably not worth tens of thousands of dollars - although if someone made the offer I wouldn't sell it. Most of them came from a collection my grandfather started years ago.

Re: the wallets, thanks for thinking of us. Let me know if you think of something to sell. I've still got the .2726 btc, and I'm looking for the right next transaction!!

Happy weekend,
Bitcoincito

Maybe somebody owns a giraffe petting zoo and can offer rides.  ;D

http://www.iol.co.za/polopoly_fs/st-p3main-giraffe-01186468-jpg-1.1381956!/image/2226248190.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_300/2226248190.jpg

Eduarda, seriously a pleasure to meet you, and I hope the wallets are amazing. I can't wait to get a picture or video of you with them if you don't mind. And hopefully you got an awesome deal. We'll see how much you love the wallets. But I have faith in Phinnaeus Gage and company to deliver. They've been doing it for the bitcoin community for quite a while! Let's stay in touch.

Now about that .2726 btc I have to spend....? If anyone has any ideas, let me know!

 

It would be a terrible idea for someone to offer giraffe rides... because then I'd use the 272mBTC to buy a giraffe ride for myself, wouldn't sell anything, and then what of the project. Alligator rides on the other hand...

I did read a thread where there's a coonass who has his Caddy snowed in Louisiana that may be interested in alligator rides.  ;D

This is the updated blog about transaction #5 with Casascius. You can also find it here: http://www.projectbitcoin.com/1/post/2014/01/sandcastles-and-casascius-coins.html (http://www.projectbitcoin.com/1/post/2014/01/sandcastles-and-casascius-coins.html)

When I was about five years old, I believed I could build a sandcastle that was structurally sound enough to live in. So every weekend I would beg my parents to take me to the beach, which was just a few minutes from our house.

One day, as my mother read a magazine nearby, I built a castle that not only withstood the onslaught of the waves, but that also had enough room for me to sit, lay down, and even squat inside it. I was so proud of myself, and I imagined it was the best sandcastle ever built. Then, with me still inside, the castle caved in....

It's difficult to describe what it's like to have a huge castle of sand fall on me. It's part disorienting, part suffocating, and part really heavy. I could wiggle my arms and legs just barely, and my mouth, nose, and eyes were filled with sand.  

It's also difficult to explain the moment three people who didn't know me - and who would never know me - extracted me from that pile, I was staring at three faces... each responsible for me being able to take even one more breath... and then they were gone.

What I learned that day - the day all the sand fell in - is that for as long as we are alive, the right people come into our lives at the right time. It's just our job to recognize those people, and to honor them as best we can.
I made the sale for the custom leather bitcoin wallets more than a week ago. Yet it took until today for me to buy something with the .2726 bitcoins I'd earned. The reason for the delay: I'd received offers for random electronics, household item, and sporting equipment - but none of it felt.... right.

Project Bitcoin can't just be about trading whatever I find, and making as much money as possible off each transaction. That would be a waste of all of our time. For this project to work, each transaction must show off something about the bitcoin community and about the people who make it real. That is the only possible road to the house.

So on Monday, I closed my eyes and asked myself a simple question: If I could make a purchase from anyone in the world, who would it be? This doesn't happen often, but I actually heard the response: Casascius.

For those who don't know, Casascius (otherwise known as Mike Caldwell) has been a prolific contributor to the bitcoin community since 2010. In 2011, he began selling Casascius coins - metal real-world coins that contain within them an embedded slip of paper with digital Bitcoin value. His coins quickly became the "official" unofficial bitcoin collectible, and have become even more prized since sales of the 2013 coins were suspended in November.

Perhaps there are two principal reasons people seem to value Mike's coins so much. The first is that they are intricate and stunning coins made of precious metals that seem to reflect the beauty and possibility of bitcoin. Then second is that people have trusted Mike to handle many thousands of their bitcoins... he is a pillar in the bitcoin community who has earned that trust.  

In my email to Mike, I asked if he'd be interested in selling me anything for the .2726 bitcoins I'd earned in the first four transactions. I didn't expect a response. I've been more or less anonymous in the bitcoin community - just a guy wanting to make a contribution in the only way he knows how (adventure!).

Mike got back to me in ten minutes...

He said he'd love to be a part of the project, and offered two silver .1 btc 2013 Casascius rounds for the .2726 bitcoins. The coins are made of 7.5 ounces of finally crafted silver and hold .1 btc on them. I accepted the offer without hesitation!

I knew it was an amazing value. But much more importantly, the coins seem to be part of an evolving story about this project. It's a story about currency changing shape...

A central bank issued (bit)coin was the center of the first two transactions. It was an important start to the project, for me, because it represented the transition from fiat currency (dollars, euros, soles, etc.) to bitcoin. The next two transactions centered around 4 custom-made bitcoin wallets that, for me, extended the metaphor. Now, our fifth transaction moves into the soul of bitcoin, two Casascius coins that are a part of a print that has only ever been purchased with bitcoin (Mike requires it), and that have bitcoin embedded within them!

So that's it! I am now the owner of the two Casascius coins... and I wish I could keep them. I've been looking at these beautiful coins online for more than a year, but I've never possessed one. But I am also excited to pass them along - to find a buyer for these coins and see if - as more transactions happen - we can't tell more stories about the people all over the world who make the bitcoin community tick, and in the process get to that house.

In the meantime, I want to extend my gratitude to Casascius for making the fifth transaction with me in Project Bitcoin. The right people always come into our lives at the right times. I've believed that for a long time now... and again it's proven to be true!

http://www.projectbitcoin.com/uploads/1/2/5/6/12568653/1391031379.jpg

Just stopping by to bump this thread. Here's to hoping that Bees Brothers could somehow enter into the mix, perhaps.

~TMIBTCITW

Just wanted to express another thanks to the BitcoinTalk community for all the love and support I've gotten via PM and email. Also, Phinnaeus, yes I'm in touch with the Bees Brothers. Excited to figure out a future transaction with them. The Casascius coins must go to someone international, as they were purchased from Casascius in Utah - the same state as the Bees Brothers!

Casascius, really an honor and a pleasure to have you participate in this project. I just got the .1 btc silver Casascius rounds! So excited that I almost ripped the envelope in half. Pictures of the envelope in shreds to come (I even caught that part on video, I think)!

http://www.projectbitcoin.com/uploads/1/2/5/6/12568653/5413428.jpg - the coins!

Transaction #5 is now officially complete. Excited to soon send these to a buyer for our sixth transaction!

Hello every1, nor sure if this is the right spot to ask and feel free to redirect me, but is anyone selling Casascius items? ^^

Cheers~

I am pasting below the blog entry about transaction #6 with BitcoinTalk user domob. You can also view it here: http://www.projectbitcoin.com/1/post/2014/02/one-bitcoin-one-house-one-dream.html (http://www.projectbitcoin.com/1/post/2014/02/one-bitcoin-one-house-one-dream.html). Hope you enjoy it. Thank you for living and creating this bitcoin dream with me!

One Bitcoin, One House, One Dream

I don't remember ever really being a kid. I remember building sandcastles at the beach, rough housing with friends, and playing baseball with my brother... but those memories are more an aberration than the norm.

What I remember most was being focused. Like a lot of people, I saw some scary stuff early on, but I learned quickly that it was possible to close my eyes, imagine a different world, and do things to help create the world I preferred to live in.

There are many good things about being a dreamer. I've been lucky enough to take some amazing adventures in my life, and hopefully I've been of service to some people in the process. But perhaps one of the hardest lessons for me to learn has been that I can't just live for the moments that don't yet exist...

I must also live for the moments that are here, now. It is those moments that comprise our lives. It is those moments that create the dream. So in the past few years, moments that I once took for granted like dancing like it's 1999 or toasts to little accomplishments have become important.

That's why I'm excited to reflect today on an achievement for Project Bitcoin that is beyond amazing to me: Today - just 23 days after the project began - we have turned a $0.35 Peruvian coin into 1 bitcoin worth 2400 times as much. How strange is that!

These first 23 days of Project Bitcoin have been... a dream. I've had the opportunity to get to know and transact with a metal worker, a leather worker, three computer scientists, and Casascius. Our transactions have spanned three continents, moving from Peru to England to the US to Brazil to the US again and, as of today, to Austria!

These first six transactions have also happened without a single article written about Project Bitcoin (that I'm aware of). They have happened because people in the bitcoin community have become interested in the story we are telling, and shared it with others in the bitcoin community.

My hope for this project, before it began, was that within each transaction, stories and potential of the bitcoin community would emerge. Six transactions later, I humbly submit that I am beginning to learn about the heart of our community.

Daniel Kraft is a part of that heart. He's the guy with whom I had the opportunity to do lucky transaction #5. He's now the owner of two 2013 silver Casascius coins that he purchased for one meaningful bitcoin. His transaction with Project Bitcoin is just another of many contributions he's made to the bitcoin and crypto-currency communities.  

Daniel, like three of the five others I've transacted with, is a computer scientist devoting his time to the crypto-currency dream (so far it's been all computer scientists and artisans I've transacted with. A trend?). He's been involved with bitcoin since 2011, and is now the developer and operator of NameID, working on issues of online identity in cryptocoins.

It turns out that Daniel and I have a lot in common - there's the obvious: bitcoin, technology, community. But it also turns out that we're both newlyweds hoping that our good work in the world might turn into a nice house sometime soon. The dream...

No... the dream is each moment, each inspiring conversation, each transaction that honors us... that honors bitcoin. I can't believe I'm living the dream!

JeoTheSworn, I already sold the Casascius coins for 1 btc as part of transaction #6. If you're interested in selling something extraordinary and meaningful for 1 bitcoin, let me know. I'm excited about transaction #7!

The violin I played professionally - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=240326.0 - should be 1 BTC http://btcticker.appspot.com/mtgox/825usd.png including USPS Priority, insurance and signature confirmation, restricted delivery.

ETA: Ticker added because every single time I quote a floated price, all the markets crash like a NASCAR race.

It seems there is a typo.
I believe, the first line should be 2/3/14 instead..  :)

Sonny, thanks for catching that typo. **fixed**!

This is interesting. While I don't play violin, I play several other instruments. A new one would be fun. And I was wondering if there might be a way for me to join in this project. I don't know nuttin 'bout valuing violins, but I guess I can trust a fellow bitcoiner on their assesment (famous last words :)

If ButterZone would be willing to charge you a bit less than 1.0, I'd be willing to buy it from you for a bit more than 1.0.

Butter realizes most of what s/he wants, my wife chastises me for getting yet another musical instrument, and your project increases slightly in value in the process. Something to ponder...

Sorry, the market crashed yet again to invalidate my quoted float price.

No problem. :)

jbreher, Thanks for the offer! Would love for you to be a part of the project, and you offered an innovative win-win-win solution! It looks like TheButterZone is no longer making that offer due to the decline in bitcoin, so it's not going to work.

I would be interested in doing another transaction with you in the future, though, and learning about what got you into the bitcoin community, as well as what you think the promise of bitcoin is :) Also, where are you from?

Warmest,
Bitcoincito

724/825=currently ~12% decline relative to time of float quote.

Who are those questions for?

TheButterZone, thanks for the correction. Looks like the drop got a little worse today too. Perhaps the Mt. Gox debacle?

As for my general questions about BTC - learning about what got you into the bitcoin community, as well as what you think the promise of bitcoin is. Also, where are you from? - they were a reply to jbreher, but it also applies to you or anyone else in the bitcoin community. This project, at its essence, is about learning from, interacting, and transacting with community members around the world.

I appreciate your earlier offer :) The general problem with offers of items with a relatively fixed value is that unless we have a buyer like jbreher, it's difficult to figure out how to support the project in increasing in value. In a sense, the project needs to have items, experiences, etc. with flexible value so as to allow me to buy at one price and find a buyer who values it at a different price OR it needs to be something (like the first coin) that I can do something to add a lot of value to it. In the case of the coin, I brought it to a metal worker and he etched the bitcoin logo into it, increasing its perceived value significantly.

Hope your Friday has been wonderful!

I understand TheButterZone would like to receive $800 for the violin. No prob. Maybe tomorrow, bitcoin will shoot back up to $1200. TheButterZone could sell to you for 0.67, I could buy for 1.33, and we all score. (well, I'd be paying twice as much for an $800 violin, but it would be associated with this project). If not, c'est la vie. Maybe there will come another chance for me in this project.

I got into bitcoin because I have loathed the central banking system since I started learning the way the world really works - back in '95 or so. As soon as a co-worker gave me a three-sentence introduction, I was all over it. Starting from 'there's no way this can really work', to 'gotta get me some' in about a week of sleepless nonstop study.

I'm in the USA.

Wow, this is too cool. I really hope you make it all the way to the house!

jbreher, if TheButterZone was down for your offer, I'd happy to it... but it looks like we have another problem. One of the rules of the project is that all transactions must be international. This is especially important, because hopefully we're showing off the capacity of bitcoin to be transacted across borders without the need for fiat. I believe TheButterZone is from the US, as are you.... so two transactions back to back from the same country won't work.

The last transaction was with BitcoinTalk user Domob who is from Austria. So if I can make a purchase from someone internationally, I'd be happy to sell to you in the US! I love your story about learning about bitcoin. While most people seem to have been slow to come to it... it took you a week of sleepless study to make the move. I wish I'd been so fast!!

Look forward to doing a transaction a some point if it's in the cards!!

Warmest,
Bitcoincito

cdog, thanks for the love. I really appreciate your support.

One of the things I love about this project is that I get the house only if the project honors and serves the community. Value must be created for the bitcoin community and those who transact with me first. I hope that's what we're doing. Still looking for the right 7th transaction though!

Fair enough. Watching.

Later on, I have a MeshDynamics MD4350-AAIx WiFi mesh access point (400-500m range) for sale. I wonder if anyone would want such a thing, and for how much (and if I can't sell if from US, I'm willing to drive up to and ship it from Canada)

Rassah, Thanks for the offer for later. How did you ever get your hands on one of those things?

Uh... I'm into mesh networking?... >.>

Then I guess it all makes sense  ;D

This is the blog entry description of transaction #7 for Project Bitcoin. A picture of the Paul Revere-owned statue is below. If you're interested in buying it, PM me or reply to the thread. Also, huge thanks and appreciate to the support of the bitcoin community with this project!

Bitcoin Meets Paul Revere

In 1775, a Massachusetts silversmith named Paul Revere was given notice of the British Army's decision to disarm American colonist rebels and imprison their leaders.

What happened next is an oft-told American tale: Paul Revere risked his life and took a "Midnight Ride" through enemy patrols to warn families and militiamen of the British Army's advance.

The result: his actions arguably saved the militia leaders' lives and allowed them to beat back the advancement of the British troops.

Why am I telling this story? Well, now, after completing Project Bitcoin's seventh transaction, I am the proud - albeit temporary - owner of a statue once owned by Paul Revere himself (certificate of authenticity included).

The statue is solid bronze, about two feet tall, and weighs about 40 pounds. It is an exquisite, original, handmade piece depicting a man thrusting a woman into the air, while standing atop another man. The metaphors for the statue are numerous... but I'll leave them up to you to decipher.

Michael S. - an American entrepreneur and collector currently living in Amsterdam - made the transaction with me. The cost: the one bitcoin that I earned on the sale of the Casascius coins to Daniel from Austria (transaction #6).  

When I asked Michael why he wanted to sell the Paul Revere statue to me, he answered "For years I've looked at that statue and wondered what its purpose was - more than being a historical art piece. When I read about your project, I finally understood...."

He paused, somewhat dramatically. I scooted to the edge of my chair and waited.

"Two hundred and thirty-five years ago, Paul Revere risked his life to take a ride. He rode for democracy, freedom, separation of powers, and even the right to have a currency unregulated by ruling England [see the Currency Act, 1765]...

"The promise of bitcoin isn't so different from the promise of that revolution. It's about a currency unattached to political and economic powers that sometimes use and sometimes misuse currency. It's about a currency of the people - one that simplifies our transactions and removes unnecessary middlemen.

"For me, with this transaction, I get to earn my first bitcoin after months of sitting on the fence, thrust a piece of Paul Revere's magic into the bitcoin revolution, and help move forward a project that - I believe - is helping to tell the real story of bitcoin... the story of the people involved."

I paused for a minute after Michael finished. I let his words seep in, and I understood that this is an important transaction for Project Bitcoin. Until now, all six transactions have been items created for bitcoin - they've told the story of the future promise of bitcoin. But they haven't told the story of the historical roots of that promise.  

Michael reminded me that value of bitcoin may be revolutionary, but it isn't new. Whether the American revolution or so many other revolutions large and small, people have sought to disentangle currency from political and economic systems before. People have sought to tear down the barriers of trade and ownership before. There is precedent for bitcoin. And with this seventh transaction, I have the opportunity to honor that precedent!

Now, of course, I have new questions: Who will be the next owner of this amazing, beautiful, original, and historic new piece of the bitcoin story? What will his or her story be? And how close will that transaction move me to the ultimate destination of that house....?

https://i.imgur.com/USehFqR.jpg

http://kieranhealy.org/blog/archives/2013/06/09/using-metadata-to-find-paul-revere/

http://kieranhealy.org/files/misc/revere-closeup.png

Hmmm... maybe the fact that I stumbled onto Paul Revere's solid bronze statue as part of transaction #7 with Project Bitcoin isn't so surprising after all!

maybe not a house but a shack with the btc prices plummeting?

 ;D I'm actually fine with the decline in BTC value relative to most fiat since the beginning of this Project Bitcoin. One of my own commitments was to make these transactions in BTC, regardless of where BTC stood relative to fiat markets. I understood that there was a good chance - especially after the steep rise in value relative to fiat October through December - that there was a good chance of a market correction.

While I couldn't have forecasted the projects of Mt. Gox, transaction malleability, Silk Road 2, and Charlie, I understood that any decline in value - while not desired - might serve to strengthen the integrity of the project. After all, my purpose wasn't to sit on bitcoin and get a house. It was to get a house as the result of dozens of international transactions that tell the story of the bitcoin community.

I am okay with the prospect of Project Bitcoin lengthening - if need be - as a result of currency fluctuations. I have a commitment to see it through... and to make transactions with amazing people in the bitcoin community who believe in the long-term integrity of bitcoin.

Also, it should be noted that the downturn hasn't really affected me much so far. I have an authentic, solid bronze, 40 lb. Paul Revere-owned statue is a crazy-amazing collectible as well as a wonderful commentary on bitcoin. Hopefully I'll make a deal for it to keep Project Bitcoin headed in the right direction - major market corrections or not.

https://i.imgur.com/USehFqR.jpg

After some delay at the customs, I finally got my Casascius coins!  They are really cool, and also my wife (who is a little sceptical every time I mention Bitcoin) finds them beautiful. ;)  Here they are:

http://extra.domob.eu/casascius.jpg

I'm glad I can be a part of your Project Bitcoin, thanks!

domob/Daniel, it's been awesome getting to know you and your story, and I'm excited the coins finally got through customs. I was worried for a bit there!

Also, as a general thought: I know that there are a lot of things more important on people's minds right now - with the Gox debacle and all, but my hope is that Project Bitcoin can continue to show off the positive side of bitcoin. Karpeles has gotten enough attention. There are so many amazing people that make up the bitcoin community whose stories are a. a lot more interesting, and b. deserve to be shown.

Bitcoin is much bigger than all the negative press its gotten recently, and it's important that our community, together, continue to strive to tell the bigger, more inspiring, and ultimately more true story of bitcoin. Hope Project Bitcoin is doing it's small part in that.

We've had some amazing offers on the Paul Revere statue, but perhaps due to the Mt. Gox debacle, none of closed yet. If you're interested in being a part of Project Bitcoin with Transaction #7, Perhaps you might be interested in owning an authentic Paul Revere owned statue.  It is solid bronze, about two feet tall, and sits below in a picture. I have been told by collectors that it has a very high value, but what's most important to me is to sell it to the right person for an amount that supports this project in continuing to advance and tell an amazing story about the people with whom I transact in the bitcoin community. Let me know!

Warmest,
Bitcoincito/Daniel

https://i.imgur.com/USehFqR.jpg

I just wanted to say how amazing this project is- I'm fascinated to see how things turn out, and at what point you'll get that house....and you WILL get that house!

Thanks Oztwinpeaks. It means a lot to me that you're following and you believe in this project's direction!

Really hoping this project can continue to bring attention to all the amazing and wonderful people who are a part of the bitcoin community, and hopefully divert some attention from the Karpeles and Co. who, I believe, are increasingly becoming the exception rather than the norm. As of now still haven't sold the authentic Paul Revere-owned statue. So if you know anyone who wants it...

Does the statue have any information about the name or a sculptor? It looks familiar, though a smaller reproduction maybe.

I'm now selling the original Last (Bitcoin) painting by French painter Youl as part of transaction #9 with Project Bitcoin. It's 140 centimeters by 70 centimeters. The story behind the painting is below!

https://i.imgur.com/UJd3fMe.jpg

Our opportunity in life, when we get knocked down, is to brush ourselves off and get back up.

The knockdowns are inevitable. No matter how much we prepare or how good our intentions are, life has a way of making things interesting...  as it did with Project Bitcoin's 8th transaction --> the case of the misidentified statue: http://www.projectbitcoin.com/1/post/2014/03/the-statue-blew-up-oh-well.html (http://www.projectbitcoin.com/1/post/2014/03/the-statue-blew-up-oh-well.html)

Today, I get back up... and not with my head down. I am in awe of what I get to share with you for my 9th transaction. You see it above: a huge 140x70 centimeter interpretation of Da Vinci's Last Supper painting! Here's the story of how it came to be...

About a month ago, I received an email from a French painter named Youl. A friend had introduced him to Project Bitcoin, and he felt called to be a part of it. I checked out his work, and I was floored. His work is a rare combination of heart, edge, and technical brilliance. Even his quick water colors filled me with emotion.

As I was figuring out the transaction with Michael for the statue-of-doom, Youl and I began planning out his painting for what would be the next transaction.

I've never worked with a painter before, so I don't know how a creative process is supposed to look. What I know is that with Youl, there was magic. The guy has so much heart, and - like me - he was interested in getting to the core of the bitcoin story.  

When we started throwing around ideas for the painting, I was struck that we both had stumbled upon the same basic thought: bitcoin as Jesus. We saw Jesus as a messianic figure who fundamentally changed the world... and for that change he was both worshipped and despised. We felt that bitcoin has taken a similar role: thoroughly world-changing, but also worshipped and despised.

After days of discussion, we decided Youl would paint a huge 140x70 centimeter canvas interpretation of Da Vinci's Last Supper. We believed that Youl's painting could tell the story of bitcoin with a profundity few words could even approach.

Most painters, I imagine, might approach a project of this size with either delusional ego or paralyzing fear. Youl embraced it with plodding steps, with deference to the history, and with total humility. [I've attached a making of the painting below]

Youl and I spent a number of nights until past 4, 5, 6, and 7am in France learning about and understanding the history of Da Vinci's Last Supper, and the stories of each of the disciples, and the depth and profundity of how the stories of Bitcoin and Jesus intertwine.  

Then with the plodding steps of a true master, Youl began to put together the pieces. Each disciple mapped to a person or archetype in the bitcoin community. Each piece of clothing, each body part, each stroke of the brush had a purpose.

And of course, the QR code on the painting: You'd think perhaps it might link to Youl's personal wallet or mine. No, no. It links to a wallet we set up that will donate 100% of any funds received in it to nonprofits specifically doing work to support bitcoin.

There's one other piece of this story that needs mentioning. Youl believed when we agreed on doing this transaction, that he'd receive somewhere between 4 and 30 bitcoin - as we both erroneously believed in the exorbitant value of that Paul Revere statue.

When that transaction blew up, he told me he didn't care. One bitcoin was payment enough for the painting... riches weren't his motivation anyway. But one glance at the painting would have anyone agree: that's not cool!

So instead, we agreed to this: he and I would split them profits after 2 bitcoin. If this painting sells for 10 more bitcoin, he'll get 5. If it sells for 30 more bitcoin, he'll get 15. He deserves it!  

I guess the last thing I want to say is this: If you buy this painting, please let me visit you and the painting sometime. Its the coolest piece of art I've ever seen, its meaning goes deep, and I feel such crazy gratitude for having the opportunity to play a small role in its creation!

The making of the Last (Bitcoin) Supper Painting 140x70

http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2014/073/0/f/last_supper___making_of_by_youldesign-d79zj6l.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/UJd3fMe.jpg

fits perfect  ;D

Thanks !
It took me a lot of time to do this big painting for this great project, but it was only fun and pleasure !
If anyone has any questions about the painting, I'm happy to answer them.

It's a masterpiece built atop a masterpiece with meaning that goes so deep. Wish it could be mine, but I'm excited to sell it to the right buyer and keep Project Bitcoin moving along!!

DOH! That's why the statue looked so familiar. I saw the original in Florence just 1.5 years ago. Embarased that I didn't recognize it. Sorry that happened though.

Regarding the painting, can you explain the various achetypes a bit? I get the gambler (is that Micon?), and the anonymous guy, but the rest I'm not entirely sure about.

Hey Rassah... yeah, that statue experience was crazy! re: the archetypes... here's what I know:

In the same way that Jesus had twelve disciples, so blockchain Jesus has twelve disciples. blockchain Jesus' 12 disciples include: a gambler, a banker, a blue collar worker, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, a scientist, a bee keeper, etc... people who are a part of this global experience that we call the bitcoin community. Some of the people may in fact be specific people you know or have heard of (e.g. BeesBros!) and others are simply the architypes that represent that segment of the bitcoin community. There was purposely a little bit of vagueness to allow for the mystery to be a bit more mysterious.

And on a side note, I still hold that painting, and am looking for the right special buyer!

Well, I noticed that someone bought a print of the bitcoin logo printed 200 times for $125,000. So you'd think it'd have been easy for me to find the right buyer for Last (Bitcoin) Supper - which is a huge, original piece whose depth in story as well as artistic genius seems off the charts.

I did finally get a hard, nice offer for Last (Bitcoin) Supper, but the buyer prefers to remain completely anonymous, which means I can't tell their story. I would much prefer to find a buyer who is a part of the community, and whose story I can share with the world. If you are interested in the piece, please PM me. I have about 24 hours or so until I made the sale!

Warmest, Bitcoincito

https://i.imgur.com/UJd3fMe.jpg

*BUMP!* It's been a month+. Still no activity?

I would consider buying the painting if I understood who the characters are. Is there a description of the characters depicted?
Many might find that picture to be offensive, which is one reason it's interesting.

Glad to hear this, I'm Youl, the painter !

The people at the table are all archetypes in the bitcoin community. Some are real people, others are representations of a group of people.
From left to right:
 
- Scientist
- Bees Brothers: http://www.beesbros.com/store-for-bitcoins.html
- grandmother, shocked by Bitcoin development
- Mark Karpelès, the banker, alias Judas
- Dorian Satoshi
- Bitcoincito (the initiator of this project)
- Blockchain Jesus
- with black hat, the typical Bitcoin scammer
- blue collar
- Anonymous
- Beggar
- Artist
- Gambler (Erik Voorhees)

We tried at best to match current Bitcoin community characters to the original painting roles. Hopefully we did not fail too much...

Thanks!

Last (Bitcoin) Supper Painting has now officially been placed on auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=231280050208

It deserves a good home. I've never seen or touched a painting more beautiful, and more imbued with deep meaning. I am deeply appreciative of the painter Youl for the work he did, I am excited for it to find the right home, and just as excited for it to be an important next-step transaction for Project Bitcoin!

First bid!  I'm certain I wont be able to afford what it'll eventually end at but I would totally buy a poster if Youl decides to do reprints of this fantastic painting.  :)

I would like to get a poster as well if it were available. I have added this to my watch list, it will be interesting to see how much it fetches for. Good luck

It's really cool
I may bid but see you wouldn't ship/post to UK, which counts me out, unless you included a price to double bubblewrap and post securely, buyer pays postage
thanks

Naypalm, thanks for being the first! And Naypalm and JsohRaban76, if you guys are really interested, I can figure out how to do lithograph/poster before I send the original out, provided the buyer is cool with that. I would like that too for my own posterity!

Guido, YES on shipping internationally. I will ship however you desire - and the price will be at-cost. No markup. The painting travelled internationally to get to me, so it already has the right extremely durable shipping canister.

Any other questions, just ask. I'm here!

Warmest,
Bitcoincito

cool, thanks for getting back  :) and best of luck with auction whomever buys

in january i rplied about the project of th OP going from nothing to a house using only bitcoin. i quotd that he failed to use only fiat. and this recent update of a painting that is sold on ebay for dollars is again not a bitcoin project at all, its just a get a free house project..

so who will be first to get this topic sent to the trashcan as its not promoting bitcoin as first envisioned..

i dis-like failed bitcoin projects, especially when those involved dont even put the effort in, to actually try to stick with bitcoins. it seems his eye is more on the house then the bitcoin concept... utter fail in my book

franky1, your comment is emblematic of a sub-culture in the bitcoin community that limits innovation, brings the community down, and turns newcomers away. The lack of ANY coherence or logic in your comment is troubling. I will address your reply, not for your sake but for the sake of others in the community who deserve clarity in the face of your nonsense. Please don't de facto edit it:

"in january i rplied about the project of th OP going from nothing to a house using only bitcoin. i quotd that he failed to use only fiat."
--> You are correct in that I failed to use fiat. Every transaction has and will be in bitcoin.

"and this recent update of a painting that is sold on eBay for dollars is again not a bitcoin project at all, its just a get a free house project.."
--> You didn't read the terms of the auction. I can help you, as it's spelled out in the description of the auction: "Any bids will be in dollars [because eBay doesn't allow bids in bitcoin], but the winner must pay in the equivalent amount in bitc0in as per the terms of the project." http://www.ebay.com/itm/Last-Bitc0in-Supper-Huge-Original-Masterpiece-French-Artist-Youl-/231280050208

"so who will be first to get this topic sent to the trashcan as its not promoting bitcoin as first envisioned.."
--> There's really nothing to say here. You make two false statements and call for the pitchforks. [insert rolling eyes]

"i dis-like failed bitcoin projects,"
--> If this is true, franky1, it means you also dislike innovation. Things fail, people fail. But we pick ourselves up and keep trying. Many of the people who history reflects as the greatest successes only got to those points because of massive failures.

"especially when those involved dont even put the effort in, to actually try to stick with bitcoins."
--> Again, your words are not founded in fact or reality.

"it seems his eye is more on the house then the bitcoin concept... utter fail in my book"
--> For the record, a house would be nice... I wouldn't have created this project if that wasn't true. But it will only happen if I am able to make contributions to the community with each transaction in this project. My deepest intention is to be of service to a bitcoin community that I love in a small way. If I am rewarded and others are rewarded in the process, that is AWESOME. That won't happen if each and every transaction doesn't highlight the possibility, excitement, and creativity of MANY members of the bitcoin community. Not all members, as you've demonstrated, but many!

Thanks Guido! Really appreciate your support. It's been an exciting first day of the auction.

What I know is that whoever buys is a lucky person. I got to see the creation of the painting over 2 months. I know the thought, care, love, long nights, and sheer expertise that went into its creation. Also... it's meaning and significance goes deep, at least for me as I've gotten to know a bitcoin community that in its totality reflects the whole of humanity!

Warmest,
Bitcoincito

im sorry that im ruining your chances of getting your house by mentioning that you are doing FIAT trades, yet under pretense that your doing a bitcoin project. (purely for PR reasons to get people to hand you FIAT, not to get bitcoin recognized)

next time stick to bitcoin auction sites such as https://cryptothrift.com and i would not have any problems with your 'plan'

Franky1, It's clear you are a troll. I feel a bit special because a troll cares enough to troll :)

If you insist, feel free to continue making strange accusations that have literally nothing to do with reality because, in a sense, they add to the story. Each time you tell me I'm doing "fiat trades" when in fact ALL transactions including this one have and will be transacted in bitcoin, it's as absurd as someone saying, "you live in Tokyo" when the reality is your life and house is in New York. People can say whatever they want... it doesn't have to make sense.

When I began Project Bitcoin, I wondered who would come out of the woodwork, and what their agendas would be. What amazed me is that I've had the opportunity to meet and talk with the most amazing people - from Casascius in Utah (transaction #3) to Daniel in Austria, one of Namecoin's archtects (#6) to Phinnaeus Gage who created a bitcoin charity (#2, the wallet maker) to Eduardo in Brazil, who runs a bitcoin oriented podcast. (#3, purchaser of the wallets). Those are just a few of the amazing people with important contributions to bitcoin that I've felt humbled to meet and know. Anyway... the point is, it makes sense I'd find a troll somewhere down the line!

The point is, welcome to the family. I'm not afraid of people who spout crazy shit out of jealously, mental-emotional problems, or hunger for social interaction. I have compassion for you, and I hope you're fulfilled in life.

As you know, in the interim I have a beautiful painting on auction for Project Bitcoin's 9th transaction. It isn't just any bitcoin painting, it's the Last (Bitcoin) Supper - which already has 18 bids, and will be selling in... you got it... bitcoin. Almost anything I say about it won't do it justice, but what's particularly interesting is that it goes through pains to include archetypes that represent most of the people in the bitcoin world at that take. If you look closely enough, you might see yourself in one of the people sitting around the table!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231280050208

Warmest,
Bitcoincito

https://i.imgur.com/UJd3fMe.jpg

UPDATE: After 2.5 days, Last Supper bitcoin painting has gone from .0015 btc to 1 btc in 2 days!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Last-Bitc0in-Supper-Huge-Original-Masterpiece-French-Artist-Youl-/231280050208

i guess this was alot of work so i hope he gets a good price.  :)

Great idea , wanna contact u soon

Wow - that painting really is impressive! Interesting idea and great accomplishment.

It definitely has the potential to gain in value. Could become a true classic....

I can identify some of the archetypes and the blog cleared up what the artist was attempting to do with the blockchain, but not many of the others. So roll call time.... From left to right, who are they all supposed to be from the Bitcoin world?

--> just wanted to say thank you to those above for your kind words!

This has been a really crazy and meaningful day. Thousands of people - literally thousands - have visited that auction page, and there have been 37 bidders. More importantly, so many people see the brilliance of the work of the artist, Youl, and the deeper metaphor of a painting that is both spectacular and reflective of the bitcoin community that continues to grow into itself.  

I'm really excited to see where this auction goes, to make this next transaction with an amazing person in our bitcoin community, and to continue on the trek of Project Bitcoin... what a story, and what a community!

Quick update: 37 Hours left in the auction, 42 bids, up to 2.19 btc!

This is really awesome!

I love seeing something in the bitcoin economy flourish.

Man this paiting is awesome, i wish i had some spare btc

First, just wanted to thank you guys and about 100 other people for your kind words. This is a truly one of a kind painting and opportunity, and I feel so grateful to have been a part of it and to get to tell it's story!

Second, here's the big last or second to last update on the painting: There are 14 hours left in the auction, and the price is up from .0024 btc to 4.56 btc. I will be so excited to get it in the hands of whoever the right person is. Remember, this is transaction #9 for Project Bitcoin (all information is below), and the artist gets half of whatever the final price is!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231280050208

Warmest,
Bitcoincito

https://i.imgur.com/UJd3fMe.jpg

great painting ill buy it for half a bitcoin if it isn't sold

I like it. Will probably not stay on $1.75!

does that mean im about to win the auction  :)

Last ten minutes of the auction!

CoinDesk has already called it the #1 piece of bitcoin art out of many amazing pieces.

Currently at 4.64 btc and worth so much more. So excited to see what person will own this timeless and amazing piece of bitcoin art, and also join me for the 9th transaction of Project Bitcoin!

Whatever the final price, it's perfect, and so excited to be close to having a very successful 9th transaction as part of Project Bitcoin.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231280050208

https://i.imgur.com/UJd3fMe.jpg

awesome museum art piece :)

So happy to see all those comments !
I really have to thank you for all these compliments.
It was more than 60 hours of work so i'm glad you like it !

As requested sometimes i'll perhaps sell prints of it at low price and signed, but probably a bit smaller.
Be sure i'll do another painting about Bitcoin (but never the same painting) if i get a good and fun idea !
Don't hesitate to contact me, i'm open for commissions to.

Thanks again and again for your support, it really means a lot for me !

Long life to Bitcoin !

Youl

http://youldesign.fr