<p><a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Casascius_physical_bitcoins" rel="nofollow">Casascius</a> made physical coins with a private key attached (hidden with similar technology to scratch lottery cards). They were <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/13/5207256/casascius-maker-of-shiny-physical-bitcoins-shut-down-by-treasury" rel="nofollow">shut down</a> in 2013 by the USA Treasury. </p>

<p>There are other companies who make <a href="https://www.google.com.au/search?q=physical%20bitcoins&amp;rlz=1C9BKJA_enAU590AU590&amp;oq=physical%20bitcoins&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57j0l3&amp;sourceid=chrome-mobile&amp;espv=1&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;hl=en-US" rel="nofollow">physical Bitcoins</a> but I cannot vouch for the services personally. </p>

<p>If it's memorabilia then a "used" coin is no problem. However it was possible to use non-polar solvent through an insulin syringe to peel back the Casascius safety seal to see the private keys <em>without showing signs of tampering</em>. This means it may be an issue to pay for ฿1 and find later your coins were stolen since your private key is known. If you buy a coin with ฿ associated with a Casascius coin private key I'd immediately transfer it to a "safe" address.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-18T12:01:15.063Z
Also, to further this answer, those original Casascius coins fetch a pretty penny on eBay.  Don't expect to get any of those "props" for cheap because they aren't fake.
RLH
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-17T11:38:44.567Z
2014-09-18T22:00:21.323Z
2014-09-18T22:00:21.323Z
Wizard Of Ozzie
<p>Is it possible to buy a prop of one of the "bitcoins" you often see in pictures? Does anyone actually make physical "bitcoins?" I collect weird iconic things.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-17T12:03:53.510Z
What do you mean by "licensed"?
Nate Eldredge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-02T15:28:33.443Z
This shouldn't be closed as "Unclear what is being asked". There was just the misconception that Physical Coins would have to be licensed. I edited for clarity and voted to reopen.
Murch
<physical-coins>
Is it possible to buy a prop of one of the "bitcoins" you often see in the pictures?
JCN3
# Is it possible to buy a prop of one of the "bitcoins" you often see in the pictures?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-17)

Is it possible to buy a prop of one of the "bitcoins" you often see in pictures? Does anyone actually make physical "bitcoins?" I collect weird iconic things.

**Tags:** physical-coins

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What do you mean by "licensed"?  
> **username_2**: This shouldn't be closed as "Unclear what is being asked". There was just the misconception that Physical Coins would have to be licensed. I edited for clarity and voted to reopen.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-09-17. Score: 3

[Casascius](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Casascius_physical_bitcoins) made physical coins with a private key attached (hidden with similar technology to scratch lottery cards). They were [shut down](http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/13/5207256/casascius-maker-of-shiny-physical-bitcoins-shut-down-by-treasury) in 2013 by the USA Treasury.

There are other companies who make [physical Bitcoins](https://www.google.com.au/search?q=physical%20bitcoins&rlz=1C9BKJA_enAU590AU590&oq=physical%20bitcoins&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l3&sourceid=chrome-mobile&espv=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en-US) but I cannot vouch for the services personally.

If it's memorabilia then a "used" coin is no problem. However it was possible to use non-polar solvent through an insulin syringe to peel back the Casascius safety seal to see the private keys *without showing signs of tampering*. This means it may be an issue to pay for ฿1 and find later your coins were stolen since your private key is known. If you buy a coin with ฿ associated with a Casascius coin private key I'd immediately transfer it to a "safe" address.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Also, to further this answer, those original Casascius coins fetch a pretty penny on eBay.  Don't expect to get any of those "props" for cheap because they aren't fake.  

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