Bitcoin was created in 2008 by Satoshi Nakamoto (the name used by the presumed pseudonymous person or persons who developed bitcoin)
Mike Caldwell created the Casascius coin in 2011. It was the very first instance of “tangible bitcoins”. This means that BTC is kept in a physical form, such as a coin or a bar. Caldwell continued to make these coins until 2013 after being shutdown by the Federal Bureau.
According to researcher Elias Ahonen, only 4,089 2012 1 BTC were issued, which was less than half of the 8,352 that would be issued for the 2013 1 BTC. Around 28,000 coins/ bars were produced by Caldwell.
The reverse of the coin features a tamper-resistant holographic sticker with the firstbits address printed at the center. Beneath the holographic sticker is the private key that, once revealed, allows the owner to sign a transaction, thus “spending” the bitcoin.
The coins status can be checked on www.casasciustracker.com.
This is a highly collectible piece of BTC history.
