Heritage Offers More NGC-graded Bitcoins from the Otoh Collection in August Sale

A collection of numismatic rarities from innovative efforts to put Bitcoin in a physical form is sure to once again turn heads in an upcoming Heritage Auctions sale. Several dozen rarities from the Otoh Collection that are graded by Numismatic Guaranty Company® (NGC®) are part of Heritage’s ANA World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature Auction on August 15-17, 2024.

Bitcoin, the most popular option for cryptocurrency, was created in 2009. Many investors were interested in the digital currency but felt more comfortable owning it in a physical form. Innovator Mike Caldwell saw an opportunity and began striking his Casascius Bitcoins. Each one includes a key: a string of numbers and letters on the back hidden behind a tamper-evident hologram.

NGC-certified rarities from the Otoh Collection were offered by Heritage Auctions in November 2023 and, together, realized more than $7 million. That auction was Heritage's first dedicated to cryptocurrency, and it featured 150 brass coins denominated 1 Bitcoin and 100 brass coins denominated as 0.5 Bitcoin. NGC has pedigreed these Casascius Bitcoins to the Otoh Collection, which acquired them directly from Caldwell, according to Heritage Auctions.

Click images to enlarge.

Among the 40 NGC-graded cryptocurrency items offered in the current auction is a 2013 Casascius Silver Bitcoin pedigreed to the Otoh Collection graded NGC PF 69 Ultra Cameo (lot 32023). It is one of 25 NGC-certified Otoh Collection rarities in this sale that Heritage Auctions describes as loaded (unredeemed).

The Heritage auction also lists five Otoh Collection rarities as having been redeemed, in addition to 10 more that were unfunded, including a 2012 Casascius Gold 10,000 Bitcoin graded NGC PF 68 Ultra Cameo (lot 32017). Had that item actually been loaded with Bitcoin, it would have been valued at more than $50 million in today’s current Bitcoin market.

Other NGC-certified items from the Otoh Collection offered in this auction include:

• a 2011 Casascius 1 Bitcoin with a ‘CASACIUS’ Error graded NGC MS 67 (lot 32002)
• a 2011 Casascius 1 Bitcoin with a ‘CASACIUS’ Error graded NGC MS 66 (lot 32003)
• a 2011 Casascius 1 Bitcoin with a ‘CASACIUS’ Error graded NGC MS 65 (lot 32004)
• a 2011 Casascius 1 Bitcoin with a ‘CASACIUS’ Error graded NGC MS 64 (lot 32005)
• a 2011 Casascius 1 Bitcoin with a ‘CASACIUS’ Error graded NGC MS 63 (lot 32006)
• a 2012 Casascius Brass 1 Bitcoin graded NGC MS 68 (lot 32015)
• a 2013 Casascius Silver 0.5 Bitcoin graded NGC PF 69 Ultra Cameo (lot 32021)
• a 2013 Casascius Silver 1 Bitcoin graded NGC PF 68 Ultra Cameo (lot 32024)
• a 2013 Casascius 1 Bitcoin graded NGC MS 67 (lot 32029)
• a 2013 Casascius 1 Bitcoin graded NGC MS 66 (lot 32030)