FAQs
What is bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the exciting new e-currency that's revolutionizing the world’s marketplace! People everywhere are joining together and celebrating the new bitcoin technology, and businesses around the globe are now accepting bitcoin, from that little pizza parlor on the corner of Main Street to some of the largest online retailers! In a nutshell... bitcoin is the future of money!
(Want to learn more about bitcoin? Watch this short video.)
What are Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coins?
Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coins are fun, inexpensive, collectible coins minted as a tribute to the new bitcoin e-currency! (They’re also geeky-cool fashion accessories for your favorite penny loafers!) Collect them all with new variations minted every year!
Do Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coins have any "spendable" value?
Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coins are for entertainment purposes only. They have no cash value. However, their coolness value is very high.
Where are they minted?
Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coins are minted in the USA.
What do the phrases In Code We Trust™ and E-Currency Unum™ mean?
In Code We Trust™ is our clever twist to the National motto seen on all US coins, and it refers to the open-source computer code used for the new bitcoin digital currency. (Open-source is very important. It means that the computer code is "open" to the general public for inspection to ensure that it's always 100% safe, accurate, and secure.) And as author Elias Ahonen notes in his Encyclopedia of Physical Bitcoins and Crypto-Currencies (2016), "The meaning of this can be taken further, to symbolize how digital currencies operate on real objective mathematic principles (code) as opposed to the control of a 'higher power' such as a government or central bank (God)."
E-Currency Unum™ is another fun twist to an older US motto. The original motto, "E Pluribus Unum," translates to "Out of Many, One," and refers to the merging of many states or colonies to form a single Nation. Our meaning at The Bitcoin Penny Company is very similar to the original motto. "Out of the many different peoples and cultures and nations on Earth, the new bitcoin e-currency has brought us all a little closer together…as one." And we like that.
FUN FACT: Before we launched our Bitcoin Penny™ project in 2014, Google searches would return the following message: "No results found for 'e-currency unum.'" That's right! We were the first to (ahem) bit-coin the phrase, E-Currency Unum™! (Pardon the bad pun; it really couldn't be helped.)
Who is DAVE, and why is his name on the 2016 Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coin?
The DAVE coin. (That still makes us laugh!)
The original 2015 Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coin had the initials "CJB" minted below the date. These were the initials of Christopher Bianco, founder and President of The Bitcoin Penny Company. Traditionally, most US coins have similar initials representing either the mark of the mint where the coin was issued (called the mint mark) or the initials of the artist who designed the coin.
For our 2016 release, we thought it would be fun to auction away the initials space on our standard mint coins. The winner of the auction? DaveF from the BitcoinTalk Forums. Naturally, DaveF chose the initials "DAVE" as his winning choice. And that's the story of why our 2016 standard mint coins have the name "DAVE" minted on the front. Congratulations, DaveF! (Read more about the DAVE coin auction on the BitcoinTalk Forum.)
What does "IRIE" mean, and why is it on the 2017 Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coin?
Basically, for the same reason as the DAVE coin above. The winner of our BitcoinTalk Forums "The NEW 2017 Bitcoin Penny™ has YOUR NAME on it!" auction, who goes by the name greenplastic, chose the word "IRIE" to be minted on our NEW 2017 Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coins. Congratulations, greenplastic! (Read more about the IRIE coin auction on the BitcoinTalk Forum.)
As for the exact meaning of "IRIE"... It's a common Jamaican word, most often used as an adjective to mean "nice, good, happy, or pleasant"—all positive feelings. It's also a warm, friendly greeting.
Who is JULIE, and why is her name on the 2018 Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coin?
Ah, the JULIE coin — the most ROMANTIC crypto collectible the world has ever known!
Remember DAVE from two FAQs up? In his ultimate and heart-warming wisdom, he bid strong and won (for his second time) our 2018 mint mark auction with the sole intent of dedicating this matching 2018 Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coin to his loving wife, JULIE! (Read more about the JULIE coin auction on the BitcoinTalk Forum.)
Now if that isn't a true crypto-romance story, then we don't know what is! Congratulations Dave and Julie! Your love makes us proud! :)
I've seen a few coins with "SN" on the front.
TL/DR: The "SN" stands for Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious inventor of the bitcoin technology.
Beginning with our 2016 release, we minted TWO (2) collectible variations of our popular Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coins—the standard mint coin and the special mint coin.
The majority of Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coins on the market are standard mint coins with a total annual mintage of at least 2,000+ coins.
For example, our new 2018 standard mint coins have "JULIE" minted on the fronts below the year as well as "MINTED IN USA" on the reverse side. However, a very select few coins in circulation have the initials "SN" minted on the fronts with "S. Nakamoto" in signature script on the reverse side. These are our special mint coins. Our special mint coins have VERY LIMITED CIRCULATION and are made available within select Bitcoin Penny™ products ONLY. (You will find one SN coin hidden inside each Short Roll, three inside each Classic Roll, and a whopping FORTY inside each Special Edition Roll!) This rare variation is a fun little homage to the classic hobby of coin roll hunting, and we hope that you enjoy discovering your own rare Satoshi Nakamoto coin!
Are Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coins made with real copper?
Absolutely! Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coins are ninety-seven percent (97%) pure copper! (For comparison, the current U.S. penny is only 3% copper. In fact, the U.S. penny hasn’t been minted with this much copper since 1837!)
We take a lot of pride in the high quality of our Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coins.
Will they fit in my favorite penny loafers?
According to our last count, there are approximately ONE BAZILLION penny loafers on the market today, from the vintage Cole Haan found on eBay (circa 1980) to the higher quality handsewn specialties from Rancourt & Company or Oak Street Bootmakers. (Two of our favorites!) All these different shoe expressions have penny slots of various sizes, shapes, and styles.
While we can't promise that Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coins will fit inside every pair of penny loafers on the planet, we can promise that even if they don't fit inside your favorite penny loafers, you'll still own a fistful of super cool bitcoin swag that's sure to impress even the most un-impressible of friends!
What size are Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coins?
Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coins are the size of the average American’s pocket change—a little smaller than the US quarter (.900") and about the same thickness as the US nickel (.077")—making them the perfect size to carry around comfortably in your pocket all day long, showing them off to everyone you meet! (Go ahead. Make your friends jealous. We give you permission. Besides, that Chris is a jerk anyway.)
Besides making my friends jealous, what can I do with my Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coins?
Start with casually flipping a single Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coin in the air as you lean ever so lightly against your local barista’s coffee counter. Not only will you look cool doing it, but flipping a Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coin in the air results in a lovely, ear-catching R-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-N-G that others around you are sure to admire!
If looking cool at the coffee bar isn’t your cup of tea, explore your sartorial side by sliding them in your favorite penny loafers, place one on the greens as a fun golf ball marker, or simply carry a few around in your pocket to use as icebreakers when introducing friends to the new bitcoin e-currency!
Whatever you do with your Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coins, you're celebrating the future of money!
How much is the shipping charge?
Our shipping rates are based on a simple flat fee schedule. All domestic (USA) orders are shipped for only $7 via USPS Priority Mail with online tracking and delivery confirmation. All non-domestic / international (non-USA) purchases are shipped for only $23 via USPS International First Class with limited online tracking and delivery confirmation. (These rates are subject to change.)
Can I pay with bitcoin?
Absolutely! We proudly accept payments via Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ethereum (ETH), and Litecoin (LTC). However, if you prefer old school payment methods, then we've added the PayPal option (including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express) for your total convenience.
So what are you waiting for? Order your Bitcoin Penny™ Commemorative Coins TODAY!
