Coming Soon: 5 BTC Casascius Coin

[casascius]

Just thought I would announce I'm going to offer a 5 BTC Casascius Coin.

This will be identical to the 1 BTC coin in every respect, except it will have nickel plating so it's a different color.  (and of course, it will say 5 BITCOINS, and 2012 instead of 2011).  The premium will be pretty much the same.  The weight and diameter will be the same (it's still brass inside).

This product will be offered mainly as a way to acquire low-value Casascius Coins at a low price.  (The price is the same per coin, but as a premium percentage of the Bitcoin value, it's far less).

This also means, in a way, that I've made definite plans to stop producing the original series 1 BTC with the original sticker.  I don't have a series 2 "5 BTC" hologram yet, so I need to save the remainder of that run of holograms for the first 5 BTC coins.  I have about 600 original-series 1 BTC coins left, and when those are sold, I will remove them as an option from my website.

ALSO: I have dropped the price on the "scrap" coin since I have lots of them.  This is the opened coin with no BTC value.

[btc_artist]

Well done. I guess I'll have to buy some of these too.

Any pictures?

[casascius]

Well done. I guess I'll have to buy some of these too.

Any pictures?

Sorry, none until I have the coin in hand.  It's probably about a month out.

[btc_artist]

Oh okay, that's fine. Thanks!

It would have been nice if they could have been a slightly different size than the 1 BTC coin, just for the fun of it. Maybe slightly smaller? Anyway that's probably not an option at this point.

[casascius]

Oh okay, that's fine. Thanks!

It would have been nice if they could have been a slightly different size than the 1 BTC coin, just for the fun of it. Maybe slightly smaller? Anyway that's probably not an option at this point.

I actually could do it slightly smaller... it would probably cost me an extra die charge though for the back side.  And I was hoping for bigger, but that's as big as I can get for the same price point.

[btc_artist]

I originally thought bigger when I thought a size difference would be nice, but smaller works too, just like the US dime is smaller than lower denomination coins.

[casascius]

I have the option of a 1.073 inch coin (the other one is 1.125) and this would be a slightly thicker and heavier coin, about 30% thicker.  But it would bring the price up a wee bit since I'd have to have new dies made for both sides, not just one.  Anyone else want to weigh in?

[dayfall]

I would prefer the fatter 5btc coin. 

[coblee]

I have the option of a 1.073 inch coin (the other one is 1.125) and this would be a slightly thicker and heavier coin, about 30% thicker.  But it would bring the price up a wee bit since I'd have to have new dies made for both sides, not just one.  Anyone else want to weigh in?

I'd vote for a different size coin also.

[julz]

I vote for keeping the cost down.
It's not like you need to make them distinguishable by feel for visually impaired people - as they've got no way of directly evaluating hologram validity anyway.

[gnar1ta$]

Lowest cost for me.  I like the expanding selection though.

[btc_artist]

Low cost is good, but if the cost difference is minimal, I'd definitely spring for the different size/thickness/weight for the 5 BTC coin.

[casascius]

Good news, I was able to request an increased thickness (and corresponding weight) at no extra charge.  Increase is modest - about 15% - but enough to notice a difference in a stack of them.

[btc_artist]

Good news, I was able to request an increased thickness (and corresponding weight) at no extra charge.  Increase is modest - about 15% - but enough to notice a difference in a stack of them.

Good deal.  They will still be the same diameter as the 1 BTC coins, right?

[Pistachio]

Sounds nice. I like the thicker coin model. How about a combo option with a few 1 BTC coins and one or two 5 BTC coins ?

Any plans to change how they are being sold on ebay? I am fine buying them in BTC but others would likely prefer to use services like ebay. I noticed only one 1BTC coin sold recently on ebay and it was second hand (see http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-BITCOIN-real-physical-Brass-Hologram-CASASCIUS-vires-numeris-2011-aocs-norfed-/220914887123?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336f8da9d3#ht_926wt_905). It sold for $20, more than double what memorydealers are trying to get for them.

[mc_lovin]

Sounds nice. I like the thicker coin model. How about a combo option with a few 1 BTC coins and one or two 5 BTC coins ?

Any plans to change how they are being sold on ebay? I am fine buying them in BTC but others would likely prefer to use services like ebay. I noticed only one 1BTC coin sold recently on ebay and it was second hand (see http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-BITCOIN-real-physical-Brass-Hologram-CASASCIUS-vires-numeris-2011-aocs-norfed-/220914887123?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336f8da9d3#ht_926wt_905). It sold for $20, more than double what memorydealers are trying to get for them.

Hmm..  Casascius: the gateway to Bitcoin selling on eBay?

[Vandroiy]

Oh, it seems I missed out on something. That's cool! A good container coin to buy as physical but stay close to market price, it's exactly what was missing! I'll probably order some when they're out.

[Stephen Gornick]

This now shows on the order form.  Are there any photos of this?

[Vandroiy]

Yea, the website really lacks photos... of this one, I can't find any photos at all.

[GlooBoy]

Here's a pic. I bought a couple of these weeks ago. Very nice job Casascius.





they are definitely silver in color (doesn't show well in pic, or any pic I have) as they are Nickel Plated Brass. Priced Right too..