Coins today aren’t what they used to be. What do you think?

[alandelon]

Hello everyone,
I’d like to know if anyone feels the same way I do.

I’ve been actively involved in coin collecting for about two years now within this group, but my interest actually goes back much further. I started casually around 2013, when I acquired my BHcoin. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to analyze and compare many different designs, and honestly, nothing comes close to the beauty that Casascius released in its time.

For a coin launched in 2011, Casascius achieved something truly exceptional. I genuinely believe I’ve never seen anything as elegant and beautiful, especially when it comes to the hologram. Another line I find stunning is Denarium, with incredible designs and holograms that, in my opinion, are on the same level as Casascius. Lealana is also beautiful.

What I’m getting at with all of this is the following: while browsing the website finitebydesign.net, I came across several attractive designs. However, from my humble point of view, I feel that the clean, subtle essence of what makes a coin truly elegant has been lost.

What I notice, not only with FD but with many designers today, is that modern coins tend to include far too much information on the surface. Honestly, that makes them much less desirable to me as a collector. I’m not questioning the quality of the materials. In fact, FD uses incredible materials. But I strongly feel that simpler designs would make people want to buy and appreciate them more.

That said, I don’t think everything is bad at all. Some coins, like the Limited Edition 1/10th Bitcoin Commemorative Coin or the Ethereum Limited Edition Time, among others I’ve seen, are truly beautiful. Still, I believe that over the years, designers have tried to make coins more eye-catching, yet they don’t quite reach the level achieved by Casascius. When I say Casascius, I mean all of its versions.

I’m not saying designers should copy it exactly. Adding personal style is great. But in my opinion, the excessive amount of information takes away from the visual appeal. Again, I want to be clear that this is not meant to discredit anyone’s work at all. It’s simply an observation.

In fact, thanks to the BHcoin Version 1 that I acquired back in the day and still keep, I truly fell in love with its beautiful, simple design. That simplicity is what I feel has been lost over time.

Thank you very much for reading. I’d really like to hear your opinions. All viewpoints are welcome, and I think it would be great to discuss this, because at the end of the day, that’s what collecting is all about.

[Spokanistan51]

Good point, but I think it's case by case. I tend to enjoy creative and/or complex designs, CI Phoenix for example, but I also am a fan of only releasing new designs maybe only once every 1-2 years. I am not a fan of creators that flood the market with multiple new and complex designs back-to-back-to-back. It makes it more difficult to keep track as a collector, and I also feel it pushes the value and demand down as there are so many new releases and numbers overall. I prefer rare, limited, and hard to obtain. To each their own, I guess.

[alandelon]

Good point, but I think it's case by case. I tend to enjoy creative and/or complex designs, CI Phoenix for example, but I also am a fan of only releasing new designs maybe only once every 1-2 years. I am not a fan of creators that flood the market with multiple new and complex designs back-to-back-to-back. It makes it more difficult to keep track as a collector, and I also feel is pushes the value and demand down as there are so many new releases and numbers overall. I prefer rare, limited, and hard to obtain. To each their own, I guess.

Yes, you’re absolutely right — good point. The same thing happens to me as well.

[Kazkaz27]

I can relate to some of that sentiment. Personally, my favorite for a long time was Lealana—until after creating a dozen series myself, I’ve grown to love my own designs the most. Mine are themed and inspired by various elements; I’d encounter things during my travels and connect them to Bitcoin’s history or future, then symbolize that connection. My latest series featured a Bitcoin Owl, representing wisdom and vigilance. Most of the VIP series played on words—some were commemorative, others collaborations, and a few kept things simplistic. That said, my all-time favorite is the most complex coin I’ve created to date, which isn’t even Bitcoin—it’s Monero.

Many Lealana coins are definitely more intricate than Casascius coins. They’re elegant and flow beautifully. Casascius designs were simple yet powerfully executed, with bold symbolism for Bitcoin that’s unlikely to be replicated by future creators. Simplistic designs can be incredible, but since it’s already been done, it’s tough to mimic them without blending in. It can feel a bit uninspiring when creators don’t innovate. Personally, I want to see all kinds of fresh ideas, as they motivate people to join this hobby. Different themes can resonate with diverse audiences and attract new enthusiasts. For instance, if someone loves cats and encounters a cat-themed physical Bitcoin, they might discover an interest in Bitcoin for the first time.

[timfilthymore]

Todays coin makers are not the same in a bad way... for example sir kasskass above uses A.I for all of his replies and post here. He can't even use his imagination or brain to put together his thoughts in a sentence sooo you already know his coins lack 80% effort.

[MoparMiningLLC]

I do like the cas coins for sure and the Lealana's are nice. I also like the newer makers like squirrelbits and mrmojorising - they have been around for a few years so not really "new" new but newer than cas/lealana for sure.
There are still quite a few old coins I would love to add to my collection though they do get quite expensive and are harder to find each year.

[howardsentell]

Caribbean Treasures is one of the top physical coin makers, and its owner, Brian Sparks https://caribbeantreasures.us/, is a true pioneer in the field. He often includes scripture on his coins and aims to share God's message worldwide. One of his standout coins is the 2025 Caribbean Treasures Trump Kingdom Builders Are Coming 500,000 Satoshi. He has also started making silver certificate notes.







Another maker, Zachery Arabham of Bit-VIP-Coins https://physicalbitcoins.vip/about-our-product, is new to the scene but already making an impact. His latest release, the 2025 Your Wealth Your Power 1/2 Monero coin, is the first physical Monero coin to feature all three keys. You can expect great products and customer service from both makers.

[OgNasty]

I think people have made some cool coins over the years and even had some innovations like using vanity addresses. The problem is always the trust factor and difficulty in incorporating Bitcoin in a way that matters without putting owners at risk.

[howardsentell]

I think people have made some cool coins over the years and even had some innovations like using vanity addresses. The problem is always the trust factor and difficulty in incorporating Bitcoin in a way that matters without putting owners at risk.

OG you have made some outstanding all gold BTC coins.