Coming soon from Casascius: free high-density physical bitcoin key generator

[casascius]

I am in the process of releasing a free generator that prints an unlimited supply of key circles in the format pictured below.  It prints 96 to a page.

I plan on also lowering my price on quantity 500+ of my token blanks, of course these don't come with key circles anymore, because you'll print them yourself.

All you need is your own holograms, and a 3/8" holepunch to knock the circles out of the paper in perfectly cut fashion.

[1713589847]

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[1713589847]

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[1713589847]

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[Yuhfhrh]

Cool!

[Trader Steve]

Hmmm...

If you're selling the blanks then I foresee the following:

People will be less likely to accept them because they will no longer know the issuer unless new issuers create their own "private label" coins and develop a reputation behind them and a way to distinguish them from yours.

I believe people accept yours because you have developed an excellent reputation and have been open about your identity, etc. Now, the origin of the coins will be questionable. I recognize that this is inevitable because someone would have attempted to counterfeit your coins once the value became high enough anyway.

I, for one, will no longer leave Cascacius coins that I receive "uncashed" and am actually unlikely to accept them in trade at all - even if it is from a trusted friend because I don't know where he got them from. It's easier for someone to just send me a payment versus having to break open the coin and retrieve the funds.

I suppose the best use case for these is if you wanted to create some and give them out as gifts/novelties. In a zombie apocalypse they might come in handy for trading but I would likely be using my gold, silver, and cigarettes for barter instead. Maybe I'm missing something?

At any rate, Casascius Coins have been a cool chapter in the ongoing saga of bitcoin.

[casascius]

I am not offering the holograms of course.  That is clear, right?  I have offered blank coins as roll your owns for months now, and before then, someone could get a blank by buying one of my coins, redeeming it, and cleaning it off.  Nothing has changed in that regard.  A blank is just the metal token.

All that is changed is I don't have to print the key anymore.

[Trader Steve]

I am not offering the holograms of course.  That is clear, right?  I have offered blank coins as roll your owns for months now, and before then, someone could get a blank by buying one of my coins, redeeming it, and cleaning it off.  Nothing has changed in that regard.  A blank is just the metal token.

All that is changed is I don't have to print the key anymore.

Of course, I see it now. My mistake.

[Raize]

Mike,
Where can we buy the holograms? Or, well, where would you recommend? Alibaba?

[casascius]

Mike,
Where can we buy the holograms? Or, well, where would you recommend? Alibaba?

I can't say I have a recommendation, because there are lots of different holograms available depending on your use case.

Generic holograms?  Custom holograms?  Generic holography with custom overprint?  It all depends on what you're doing and what you want to spend.  The more exotic and unique the source, the better.

By the way, I have submitted my generator code to github (but not to any of my download links).

[goodbc]

(Von NotHaus) ... was also convicted of violating 18 USC § 486 - Uttering coins of gold, silver or other metal:

Whoever ... makes ... any coins of gold or silver or other metal, ... intended for use as current money, whether in the resemblance of coins of the United States or of foreign countries, or of original design, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

This could definitely be applied to Casascius coins. The prosecutor just has to convince the jury that they are intended to be used as currency.

Mike, I understand that law is stupid, but I would like to know that you are aware of this and to hear your opinion. Thank you.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

(Von NotHaus) ... was also convicted of violating 18 USC § 486 - Uttering coins of gold, silver or other metal:

Whoever ... makes ... any coins of gold or silver or other metal, ... intended for use as current money, whether in the resemblance of coins of the United States or of foreign countries, or of original design, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

This could definitely be applied to Casascius coins. The prosecutor just has to convince the jury that they are intended to be used as currency.

Mike, I understand that law is stupid, but I would like to know that you are aware of this and to hear your opinion. Thank you.

Is metal the key word here?

[casascius]

I don't think that Bitcoins are "current money" as defined by the law, otherwise, every casino in Las Vegas that mints its own silver dollar tokens would be breaking the law, and the companies that make custom car wash and arcade tokens would probably have tight restrictions as to what you can print on a token.  I intend for trading with the coins to be functionally possible, but they're priced in such a way where doing so is highly impractical.  It seemed that a critical element in Bernard von Nothaus was his creation of coins that resembled real circulating USD coins.  Casascius Coins are essentially car wash tokens with a sticker on them, meant to have properties that make it functional as a means of trade as a proof of concept, but mostly as a collector's and promotional item.  If there was one day a ruling that defined Bitcoins as money in the eyes of US law, or if someone from the government told me to cease and desist, I expect I'd do so, at least long enough to consult with legal counsel.

[tolan77]

Sorry for reviving a dead thread. But I got the 500 blank aluminum btc and I'd really like to use these key circles for them if they are available. Did you ever get around to releasing this generator?

[BittBurger]

Sorry for reviving a dead thread again, but doesn't this destroy the collect-ability of these coins, which I believe will no doubt be worth something to collectors in 10, 20, 30 years?

I suppose it would give more value to the ones actually created by the original Casascius....

-Burger-

[casascius]

Sorry for reviving a dead thread. But I got the 500 blank aluminum btc and I'd really like to use these key circles for them if they are available. Did you ever get around to releasing this generator?

The subject of this thread is a generator for very small key circles that fit in my coins.  The generator you want for the aluminum coins is in this thread:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=232875.0

[tolan77]

Sorry for reviving a dead thread. But I got the 500 blank aluminum btc and I'd really like to use these key circles for them if they are available. Did you ever get around to releasing this generator?

The subject of this thread is a generator for very small key circles that fit in my coins.  The generator you want for the aluminum coins is in this thread:

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=232875.0

Interestingly enough you had already answered this for me in an email. I still haven't printed some so thanks for reminding me!

[Bobabouey]

Curious to see what the impact is of this: @stits reports from DefCon 21 that the tamper-proof holographic seal on Casascius physical #Bitcoins has been defeated.

[casascius]

Curious to see what the impact is of this: @stits reports from DefCon 21 that the tamper-proof holographic seal on Casascius physical #Bitcoins has been defeated.

Spoke to him today - am going to try some things to toughen up the coin, e.g. The laser process I am currently doing to the silver 1's.

[Bobabouey]

Curious to see what the impact is of this: @stits reports from DefCon 21 that the tamper-proof holographic seal on Casascius physical #Bitcoins has been defeated.

Spoke to him today - am going to try some things to toughen up the coin, e.g. The laser process I am currently doing to the silver 1's.

Thanks for the reply.  I saw on his twitter that he talks about injecting / soaking the adhesive.  Does that process really not leave signs of it having been performed?  Perhaps there are holograms that also have one of those moisture triggered sensors they use on phones, etc., for warranty purposes...

[BittBurger]

Hey Cas -

Sent you a PM a few days ago.  Sorry to bug you.  Hope to hear back.

-Burger-

[casascius]

Hey Cas -

Sent you a PM a few days ago.  Sorry to bug you.  Hope to hear back.

-Burger-

Thanks for the note, you had asked the following:

Hi Casascius -

Thanks for the service you're providing.  I wanted to ask if I might be able to get my hands on one of your more "original" or collectible-worthy coins?  Maybe something as close to the first coins created as possible?  I know everyone probably asks for that, but I just wanted to ask either way.  

One other question:   Do you have any coins that are in mint condition?  Never touched by finger oils?  I notice a lot of these coins seem to have finger prints, scratches, etc....

Is the silver .999 10 bitcoin coin still available?   I am seeing pictures online and it seems to be the only one that comes in a case with protective plastic.

Thanks for your interest,

The best place to obtain my original (discontinued) items is probably an auction site.  The only original I am selling at the moment is the 25 BTC coin, and I'm almost out of it.

All of the coins I sell are arguably in mint condition by definition.  Sometimes (especially the brass ones) there will be scratches as part of the production process (they are made on a process that ordinarily makes car wash tokens).  The silver coins are far less likely to have scratches as they're produced in an environment that has collectibility as a primary objective.  Keep in mind that the original purpose of the Casascius Coin was to help people learn about bitcoin - the notion that they'd be valued at multiples of their original purchase price at the time of their original introduction in 2011 was envisioned by very few.

The silver .999 10 bitcoin coin is only available on the secondary market.

[BittBurger]

Thanks, I didnt want to hijack your thread with my PM content, but if you're ok talking here..

Super bummed the .999 silver ones with the gold "B" are no more.  Those were just beautiful.  And the case was a really nice touch.

-Burger-