PCGS now grading crypto!!! ??

[minerjones]

https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/2012-1000-btc-casascius-bitcoin-1oz-999-fine-gold-dcam/888203

[1715234731]

1715234731

[1715234731]

1715234731

[1715234731]

1715234731

[minerjones]

25 BTC

https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/2011-25-btc-casascius-bitcoin/888204

10 BTC

https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/2012-10-btc-casascius-bitcoin-1oz-999-fine-silver/888205

5 BTC

https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/2012-5-btc-casascius-bitcoin/888206

[2stout]

25 BTC

https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/2011-25-btc-casascius-bitcoin/888204

10 BTC

https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/2012-10-btc-casascius-bitcoin-1oz-999-fine-silver/888205

5 BTC

https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/2012-5-btc-casascius-bitcoin/888206

Were these graded recently or a while ago?

[minerjones]

25 BTC

https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/2011-25-btc-casascius-bitcoin/888204

10 BTC

https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/2012-10-btc-casascius-bitcoin-1oz-999-fine-silver/888205

5 BTC

https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/2012-5-btc-casascius-bitcoin/888206

Were these graded recently or a while ago?

From my research, all pretty new in their database

and the 1000 was loaded with zero fee!!
https://blockchair.com/bitcoin/transaction/0cbe7d6ada866040e81b577c35b46dbea496b2c2826ed56a5b50d1f360872997

[MoparMiningLLC]

Very nice! That coin has some flaws though

[Hellot]

and the 1000 was loaded with zero fee!!
https://blockchair.com/bitcoin/transaction/0cbe7d6ada866040e81b577c35b46dbea496b2c2826ed56a5b50d1f360872997

That was pretty common in 2011 when the 1000 was sent.

[Spokanistan51]

Does anyone here have a pic with one in a slab?

[OgNasty]

and the 1000 was loaded with zero fee!!
https://blockchair.com/bitcoin/transaction/0cbe7d6ada866040e81b577c35b46dbea496b2c2826ed56a5b50d1f360872997

That was pretty common in 2011 when the 1000 was sent.

Indeed.  I remember one of the big selling points of Bitcoin back then was the option to send transactions without a fee.  That led many people to develop businesses that undercut the existing system and really made Bitcoin special for the entire world.  It wasn't until years later when wallet developers stopped allowing users the option of sending with 0 fees and then capped the blocksize that fees went nuts and nearly all of the original businesses that made Bitcoin popular were forced off chain to develop their own solutions or go out of business.  If you were lucky enough to be using Bitcoin in 2011, it was an amazing experience that was certain to change the world and you are probably not reading this because you've moved on to other less restrictive projects where that might still be possible.  As for PCGS, they'll someday learn why grading physical crypto coins is a terrible idea and other grading services have stopped doing it.

[Eclipse33]

and the 1000 was loaded with zero fee!!
https://blockchair.com/bitcoin/transaction/0cbe7d6ada866040e81b577c35b46dbea496b2c2826ed56a5b50d1f360872997

That was pretty common in 2011 when the 1000 was sent.

Indeed.  I remember one of the big selling points of Bitcoin back then was the option to send transactions without a fee.  That led many people to develop businesses that undercut the existing system and really made Bitcoin special for the entire world.  It wasn't until years later when wallet developers stopped allowing users the option of sending with 0 fees and then capped the blocksize that fees went nuts and nearly all of the original businesses that made Bitcoin popular were forced off chain to develop their own solutions or go out of business.  If you were lucky enough to be using Bitcoin in 2011, it was an amazing experience that was certain to change the world and you are probably not reading this because you've moved on to other less restrictive projects where that might still be possible.  As for PCGS, they'll someday learn why grading physical crypto coins is a terrible idea and other grading services have stopped doing it.

Why is grading physical crypto such a bad idea?

[Brlgold777]

I received the following response back today… I will keep everyone informed here.

—————————-

   
Toni Morse (Collectors Universe)
Aug 23, 2021, 14:30 PDT

Hello,
 
I have been informed that we are currently awaiting information to see if we are still grading bitcoins. Apologies for this inconvenience.
 
However, I will email you as soon as possible once I receive more information.
 
Thank you.
ToniPCGS Customer Service

Privileged and Confidential Communication. This electronic transmission, and any documents
attached hereto, (a) are protected by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act
(18 USC §§ 2510-2521), (b) may contain confidential and/or legally privileged
information, and (c) are for the sole use of the intended recipient named
above.

[ChiBitCTy]

As for PCGS, they'll someday learn why grading physical crypto coins is a terrible idea and other grading services have stopped doing it.

Why do you think that it's such a terrible idea? None of these grading companies have said that they guarantee the value of the digital assets "inside" the coins or the legitimacy of the coins all together (whether they are real Casascius coins or not for example).  I don't see how grading these are any different than coins worth just as much and often much more.  Like many coins, for instance Denarius coins, they aren't verifying the legitimacy of the coins themselves, just simply grading/slabbing them.  The coin hobby is going to continue to struggle as the primary portion of the collectors (baby boomers) are rapidly dying off.  If they are smart, they'll grade these coins because..why not? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Hookzup1]

As for PCGS, they'll someday learn why grading physical crypto coins is a terrible idea and other grading services have stopped doing it.

Why do you think that it's such a terrible idea? None of these grading companies have said that they guarantee the value of the digital assets "inside" the coins or the legitimacy of the coins all together (whether they are real Casascius coins or not etc).  I don't see how grading these are any different than coins worth just as much and often much more.  Like many coins, for instance Denarius coins, they aren't verifying the legitimacy of the coins themselves, just simply grading/slabbing them.  The coin hobby is going to continue to struggle as the primary portion of the collectors (baby boomers) are rapidly dying off.  If they are smart, they'll grade these coins because..why not? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I also wonder what you mean by saying that, I personally would not want to hold any physical funded metal crypto coins that are not graded for an extended time. They are too amazing and will continue gaining value forever, why take the chance of them degrading?

[yimfinity]

I received the following response back today… I will keep everyone informed here.

—————————-

   
Toni Morse (Collectors Universe)
Aug 23, 2021, 14:30 PDT

Hello,
 
I have been informed that we are currently awaiting information to see if we are still grading bitcoins. Apologies for this inconvenience.
 
However, I will email you as soon as possible once I receive more information.
 
Thank you.
ToniPCGS Customer Service

Privileged and Confidential Communication. This electronic transmission, and any documents
attached hereto, (a) are protected by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act
(18 USC §§ 2510-2521), (b) may contain confidential and/or legally privileged
information, and (c) are for the sole use of the intended recipient named
above.

Did they ever get back to you on this?

[Brlgold777]

I never heard back… I’ll see if I can reach her Monday. 

[ChiBitCTy]

https://www.pcgs.com/guarantee

[polymerbit]

I'm curious to know if they'll grade banknotes as well 

[minerjones]

I'm curious to know if they'll grade banknotes as well 

Yes!
A fellow forum member got 2x Bitcoin Suisse notes and 1x Polymerbit note graded by them!!

[polymerbit]

I'm curious to know if they'll grade banknotes as well 

Yes!
A fellow forum member got 2x Bitcoin Suisse notes and 1x Polymerbit note graded by them!!

Holy moley! Our work was graded?! 

[Brlgold777]

So far so good…

I spoke to several PCGS team members this week regarding crypto. At first, I was instructed to a local dealer to assist with PCGS submission. Shortly after making appointment, I received callback that PCGS will “ONLY GRADE CASASCIUS COINS whose numbers are already listed in the PCGS catalog (#888203, #888204, #888205, and #888206). However, I received an  email Friday requesting a summary of my Casascius coins NOT listed in catalog!!  My reply included pictures of .1s, .5s, and 1.0s with their photo descriptions from “Encyclopedia of Physical Bitcoins.” Finger crossed… but I think it’s happening. 

[Brlgold777]

Congrats polymerbit! That is great news!