As the national excitement built for America’s 250th anniversary, premier rare coin auction firm Stack’s Bowers Galleries offered a crossover artifact that bridges the early American ideals of self-sovereignty and economic freedom with the cutting edge of modern commerce and collectability. Presented at auction wase a Casascius 0.5 Bitcoin token, which was created on July 4, 2013; the exact 237th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

 Produced by Utah-based software engineer Mike Caldwell during Bitcoin's infancy beginning in 2011, the Casascius coin series is widely considered the “holy grail” of crypto collectibles, and each physical token is backed by real digital bitcoin funded on the blockchain.

 Because production was halted after only a few years due to shifting regulations, relatively few coins are available for today’s collectors, and many are periodically destroyed by owners who are unaware of their historic significance. As a result, pristine and funded coins like this “Independence Day” example become scarcer by the day. In addition to the historic July 4th funding, the coin in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries sale ranks near the top of surviving examples and boasts a PCGS population of just 15 in the MS-66 grade and only 11 coins graded finer (all MS-67).

 Now, hitting the auction block during America’s Semiquincentennial celebration and one of Bitcoin's most active eras, this rare 0.5 Bitcoin token offers an unprecedented opportunity for traditional numismatists, Bitcoin enthusiasts, history buffs, and Americana collectors alike. It is a literal token of freedom, minted onto the blockchain on America's birthday and preserved in perpetuity.

 “American coinage and commerce have always been a mirror to the nation’s journey toward liberty and success, from early copper coins produced by the original 13 colonies to the pioneer gold coins that fueled the California gold rush and the American wild west,” said James McCartney, Director of Numismatics at Stack’s Bowers Galleries. “With extensive national celebrations underway for America's 250th anniversary this year, there is no greater context in which to offer this historic Fourth of July funded 0.5 Bitcoin, which is a modern incarnation of this same pioneering spirit.”

 This historic “Fourth of July” Casascius 0.5 Bitcoin will cross the block this week on Thursday, June 18 as part of Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ June 2026 Showcase Auction. In addition to this historic 0.5 Bitcoin, the sale features more than 120 crypto collectibles boasting a current total intrinsic value well over a half-million dollars. This landmark auction is anchored by classic crypto coins from the iconic Casascius, BTCC, and Lealana series, as well as low-mintage modern issues from MyBits, Satori, Polymerbit, 1HoDLCLUB, VIP Bitcoins, Denarium, Finite By Design, Freedom Bitcoin, Ballet, Crypto Imperator, and others.

 Beyond the crypto coins and notes, the auction features a selection of important early crypto memorabilia including the debut Issue #1 of Bitcoin Magazine alongside a consecutive run of Issues #9-15. The sale also marks the firm’s first-ever offering of crypto trading cards by Topps / Allen & Ginter, a crossover category expected to generate strong interest from traditional baseball and sports card collectors.

 For questions about the Stack’s Bowers Galleries June 2026 auction or to consign to a future sale, please contact the firm at 800-458-4646 or email Info@StacksBowers.com. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is currently accepting physical cryptocurrency consignments for their Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction, featuring in-person previews held alongside the ANA’s World’s Fair of Money® in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.