Bitcoin Specie Project sponsored by the makers of New Liberty Dollar

[miffman]

Are there any pics of the upcoming gold coin? Or did I miss-read something?

[NewLiberty]

Are there any pics of the upcoming gold coin? Or did I miss-read something?

There aren't any pictures yet of the gold pieces, as none have yet been minted. With the delays we were suffering with the silver pieces, we have focused on turning those around first as we had gone ahead and accepted BTC for them and don't like to keep folks waiting too long once they have paid.

If demand for the gold stays strong, it will be the next on our list, otherwise it would be the BitDime (2/5 ozt Ag).  I'll take your questions as a vote for the gold next.

[dwdoc]

Gold!

[NewLiberty]

We had some fun working out the possibilities and experimenting with the specular vs diffuse reflective properties of silver at different wavelengths to create enough contrasting difference for a QR code reading with enough reliability to be workable (but you still have to consider your lighting and smartphone focal points a bit when the pieces are new and shiny)
Gold has some slightly different characteristics, but we are pretty sure we can make it work without having to resort to enameling or inlay or such like that.  And the experimenting will be fun.

We like the look, and the feel, of gold on its own.

[NewLiberty]

Now that we have started shipping (pre-paid pre-orders only so far) and are about to formally launch into production mode for phase 1 of this project.  It is time for some feedback from you all on our QR link.

For those of you with smart phones, please provide comments on http://ColdHardCa.sh
The page is going through some rapid changes so it may disappear for short periods of time as things are being updated.

Again, many thanks to Preev, and Mike, and Edgar, and Reichart who have all been lynch-pins on the wheels that are making this phase a success.

The goal is to have it facilitate transactions.  Currency must flow or it has no purpose...
Any comment is welcome, what do you love, what do you hate?  What currencies do you want added?

[dwdoc]

Currently cannot change the number of Troy ounces on the site.

[dwdoc]

The premium amount should be changeable.

[NewLiberty]

Thank you!

Currently cannot change the number of Troy ounces on the site.

Logged this.  It should be editable by entering numerals, but the slider control we were using is not good with all browsers so we are swapping it out for an easier way to switch.

[NewLiberty]

The premium amount should be changeable.

Yes.  That is on the todo list as well.
Great minds think alike.  

These should be done ahead of formal launch at month end.  Maybe by the end of the day.

A little later I am thinking of changing the color of the # of ozt field to RED when the number is close enough to the next higher tier that it would be less expensive to get more...  but we are still doing a few baby steps right now.  No one should be getting 99 pieces...

[NewLiberty]

I won't be bringing any back from http://Http://theconference.eu, those have all been snapped up, but there is plenty waiting yet to ship out in the second set.
It looks like some are up on eBay as well, Looks like they are getting bid up to the prices of the other folks.  By the description, I do not believe that seller is yet on Bitcointalk.org
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Physical-SILVER-2013-MSRP-of-0-25-BITCOIN-1-Troy-999-ONE-ounce-round-bullion-/370908280045

And some others (which are not ours):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Physical-SILVER-2013-MSRP-of-0-25-BITCOIN-1-Troy-999-ONE-ounce-round-bullion-/281176924876?pt=US_Bullion_Bars_Rounds&hash=item41777362cc

[Mitchell]

Your coins seem to be very interesting to bid on and that are just the normal ones.

[s1lverbox]

hi, quick question- who acctually minting that. is there any assurance about silver in each coin?

[NewLiberty]

The premium amount should be changeable.

Yes.  That is on the todo list as well.
Great minds think alike. 

These should be done ahead of formal launch at month end.  Maybe by the end of the day.

A little later I am thinking of changing the color of the # of ozt field to RED when the number is close enough to the next higher tier that it would be less expensive to get more...  but we are still doing a few baby steps right now.  No one should be getting 99 pieces...

Fixed Let me know if you see any problem.  We think we have tested all the mobile browsers that are hitting it, but there is always something unexpected.
You should see the premium change as the quantity changes.

Currently cannot change the number of Troy ounces on the site.

Also fixed.

[NewLiberty]

hi, quick question- who acctually minting that. is there any assurance about silver in each coin?

We use a variety of external contracted minting and sources.  
We have the responsibility for the assurance of silver purity and the weight of each piece directly
There are many simple tests for the purity if you would like to do a little science.
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/silver-test-acid
and some more complicated ones with specific gravity measurements.

We are also very happy to have added a new mint Great American Mint and Refinery, who have gathered some of the best minting and refining engineers in the business.  And since they are so close, we are now able to accept "junk silver" as payment-in-kind which can be refined here to the .999+ purity required for our pieces.  So those old silver .925 candle-holders can become sparkling new Bitcoin specie.

The people involved have also been responsible for making some other very popular silver pieces, including American Silver Eagle, Canadian Maple (which is .9999+ ) and others.  We think that they do a pretty good job.

We have had this question often, but never any complaint about the quality of the silver, or the weight.  It is consistently higher quality than .999 and if the weight is off, it is only because it is over, not under, but within the tolerance of .005 ozt so not too much over.

[NewLiberty]

Your coins seem to be very interesting to bid on and that are just the normal ones.

Yes, I don't know why they are being bid that high, it is surprising.  The title may be misleading (it uses "Physical" which for some people has come to mean that the piece is able to store bitcoin like a wallet)  But the description is clear.  We are hoping (and daring to expect) that these will become the new pocket currency as Bitcoin becomes more broadly accepted.  We think there may be still a need for the perfect anonymity that coins provide, as well as the easy of use for in-person transaction compared to anything needing electronics and networks.  We envision a world where these Bitcoin specie are jingling in pockets most everywhere and hope them to be quite common.

It is often said that the winners in auctioning are the ones that know the most about the item.  The readers of this thread know more than anyone outside our team, and so are not likely bidding at these prices (though maybe could earn some more by selling).

There was another of our pre-order buyers who switched their order from the New Liberty Dollar to the Bitcoin Specie after they had sent payment.   They told us that they put up 10 separate auctions with buyout and all were bought out within 10 hours which was very exciting for them.

[adamas]

Gold!

  Like these:
    https://www.bitmit.net/de/item/62656-stunning-new-physical-bitcoins-limited-edition-casascius

[NewLiberty]

Yes only better :-D
Cringly repeats the criticism of Bitcoin not being backed in this http://www.cringely.com/2013/09/30/doubts-bitcoin/ but we will prove that a decentralized bank can provide more robust backing for our currency.
everyone of us holding at least one specie piece is backing Bitcoin.

[s1lverbox]

How to register with you to get some of them fine coins?

[BitPappa]

Any chance you'll have the silver coins for sale at the 10/10 LA Bitcoin Meetup?

[NewLiberty]

To buy, you can contact me through this forum, or through email, or the website posted in my profile here.  If we have already done business together, you probably also have my phone number.
In the (hopefully not too distant future) this will become even easier.

This is an ongoing project, not a one-time endeavor.
We expect to be minting continuously, and with continuous incremental improvements all around, ease of ordering, ease of use, etc.
There should never be a shortage of the standard Bitcoin Specie pieces.