There's a lot of information about this if you google "Casascius coins" or read a bit more about how Bitcoin works.

Here's one resource for you -> http://www.spotcoins.com/bitcoin/casascius

I'll join, thanks!

Address: 1Exx48BUTb57hPND67Mt5WwPXiTA9CjoEs
Post#: 82

I'd ask a price that's on par with what the 2011 error coins are being sold for. There are 5000 2011 error coins, and certainly many have been destroyed, lost, or worn to poor value conditions. If there are 20% of these coins remaining in collector condition and they're commanding BTC4-7 each, the 2011 S2 should be getting the same price. Melbustus is still confirming his estimates (~480) of the 2011 S2 counts, but even being generous (based on Mike's uberbills text file) if there were double the number Melbustus estimates these coins should still be commanding that price.

Obviously the S2's are not the FIRST issued coin and that first issue is historic, however an equal percentage of S2's may have been destroyed, lost, or worn to poor value, which could make the population of collector condition coins even more scarce.

Both are great coins to own and I think both should be selling for greater than BTC2.5...

You (err Yellen) very slowly closes the faucet that of quantitative easing, slowly buying fewer and fewer treasuries.

What's your best way of getting referrals?

The Buffett Indicator, nice add!

Quick summary for those that don't know, Warren Buffett uses a metric of the percentage of total stock market capitalization to quarterly US GDP as a measure of stock market valuation. I.e., Stock Market Cap / Quarterly GDP = The Buffett Indicator %

Currently the Buffett Indicator hovers at around 125%, prior to the crash in 2000 it was just above 150%.

The only problem I have with this chart is that over the very long term the trend is up...higher highs and higher lows. Put another way, in 1996 the Buffett Indicator surpassed the previous high mark (in 1966). This would indicate a looming crash, however the crash didn't come for another 4 years. Buffett is a smart guy however it's still hard to base future results on past performance, the market isn't that predictive (as much as people try to do so over and over again.)

This is a great reason to keep an eye on the economy and the markets though...

Well it's certainly true that what goes up must come down (at least some).

But what this chart doesn't do is really give us a fool proof answer or prediction of the future. Look at the charted level in 1996, where it meets the previous high point (from 1966). At that point people could have said "the crash is coming!" Yet it took another 4 years for that decline to come.

Buffett is a smart guy. I'm not saying this chart is wrong. I'm saying that decisions made using this chart only need to consider the context of one's investing time horizon.

There's a ton of background information about these coins available on this forum, on the web, or at Melbustus' site (shared above) -> http://www.spotcoins.com/bitcoin/casascius. Elianite has more of a history/story PDF about them but I don't have that link.

The quick answer to your question is that they're sought after because they are the first physical representation of a bitcoin, most come with a bitcoin (or multiple or fraction of) "embedded" on the coin via the hologram sticker on the one side. They've become collectible because they were the first physical bitcoin and the creator no longer makes them due to some issues the Federal government took with him minting money (it's debatable but the Fed tends to win these sort of debates.)

I'm rather new to the the forum as well, welcome!

You should probably stop fucking scammers then!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

BTW, I was the one that has had coins like these for 20 years. The earliest is dated 1882.

In 2008 I was buying into the market as fast and as much as I could. I was also too early in my investing/disposable income life to feel as though I was losing much with the decline.

The people posting so far (and thanks for doing so) seem to only be referring to market declines. Paper losses I can handle, I'll buy into it.

Does anyone feel the next "crisis" may leave larger cracks to the foundation of the financial markets? If so, what preparations are you doing for that potential worst case?

In 2008 I was buying into the market as fast and as much as I could. I was also too early in my investing/disposable income life to feel as though I was losing much with the decline.

The people posting so far (and thanks for doing so) seem to only be referring to market declines. Paper losses I can handle, I'll buy into it.

Does anyone feel the next "crisis" may leave larger cracks to the foundation of the financial markets? If so, what prepare you doing for that potential worst case?

It's not graded but I'll share some pics once I have it in hand.

The good news is that it's First Funded (funded on the 2nd day) in Nov. 2011.

Another thread shared a link to a Huffington Post article which shared predictions that a 2nd Financial Crisis, one that may be more serious and longer lasting than 2008, may be looming.

Certainly many supporters of Bitcoin may feel the same way.

If another financial crisis does appear on the horizon, how is everyone preparing?

It full disclosure, I'm not doing anything different than my typical saving and investing in the domestic and international securities markets. I'm not preparing for a crisis. In fact, I think the taper is what's keeping the crisis from happening...it's the methadone that's weening the US financial system off the addiction manipulating rates. Without the taper we'd be in crisis mode, with the taper the risk of crisis is controlled.

I'd love to get the education on preparation that I know the smart people of this community can provide.

Ah, thanks for the offer! But mine is already on its way to me, I should have it by Friday!

That said, maybe it will be one of a handful in the future but I need to save some more coin before I can make that a reality.

The World Bank is changing the definition of "ponzi scheme". They saying that Bitcoin is in a bubble, caused by people buying and holding with the prospect of making a return on an investment rather than using Bitcoin as an exchange of value, currency.

The interesting thing is that Bitcoin can only be defined as a bubble when its conversion into fiat (USD, Euro, etc) is brought into context. If Bitcoin is used as an exchange of value it loses some of its "bubble valuation".

I think the real question is whether Bitcoin can be a currency in itself, can people only or mostly transact only in Bitcoin? If so, its conversion to fiat is less meaningful and therefore the bubble context starts to fade.

Great photos!

If Mike sends you the confirmation you should work with Elianite and Melbustus to get their respective Casascius coin inventories to archive this version as the Golden Heart error...

Haha, good call on the "Word Crimes" -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gv0H-vPoDc

But you shouldn't be posting on threads while driving...

I'm surprised you're willing to part with your 2011 S2 for such a low price - BTC2.50 for a coin with fewer than 500 active!?!

Someone's going to end up with a great deal!

"AU" means Almost Uncirculated.

Can you tell it's a replica by looking at it or are you assuming based on the condition? I have a few similar coins with equal amount of wear (very little) but more patina.

I acquired mine 20 years ago.