The crypto-currency Bitcoin is all over social media, blogs and news sites. But beyond the volatility, speculation and noise there is a fascinating question being asked and answered: from coins to wallets, how does the world’s first widespread digital currency manifest in visual or physical form? (top image by cybrbeast)

The Bitcoin logo is a rather simple affair, borrowing much from traditional currencies (a partial strike-through) and clearly, most of all, the United States dollar. For some, though, seeing is not enough – for emotional and practical reasons alike, many want a physical analogue to their virtual wealth.

That baseline design, however, has spawned not only 3D renderings approximating solid coins, but actual physical coins themselves for fans of hand-held collectibles. The Casascius series have solid brass, electroplated gold and pure silver variants that ‘contain’ real Bitcoins (an address with a private key hidden below a removable hologram). Like Gold Eagles, the value of these on the secondary market has consistently stayed above the ‘spot’ price for the currency they contain.

And it does not end there. For security purposes, many people prefer to keep copies (in some cases: their only copies) of their virtual Bitcoin ‘wallet’ in offline form. For better or worse, this translates computer-centric risks (hacking and data corruption) back into more familiar ones (physical theft or loss). Designers on that front  have come up with a number of interesting options, from plasticized and paper ‘notes’ to self-printed wallets. In the decentralized, open-source spirit of Bitcoin, many designers (like Doctor 75R) give these designs out freely as well.

Canton Becker lists off the advantages of his variant, shown above: “(1)Private key is hidden behind folds, so your wallet content is still safe if left out in the open or photographed. (2) Tamper-proof tape indicates when you (or someone else!) has revealed the private key. (3) Folding design obfuscates private keys so they’re hidden even when holding wallet up to a bright light. (4)Reverse side has basic wallet operation instructions and a register for writing down deposits / balance. (5) Private and public keys are replicated (and rotated) in triplicate to maximize chances of recovering keys if paper is damaged / crumpled.”

There is even a movement toward making Bitcoin secret (de)coder rings – like gold or silver ones, they can be stolen, but they also allow you to wear and keep your wealth (literally) close at hand. By engraving the private key on the inside of the band, there is no way to see it unless you (or someone) takes it off.

And, of course, anything with sufficient fans warrants making wallpapers – here are a series of six available at full size on Flickr.

If you’ve been following the news these past months like everyone else, you’re probably incredibly shocked too at the complete disregard that bankers and other Wall Street establishments have shown your money. While these people have been throwing away hundreds of thousands of dollars on spa weekends, the artists and sculptors below have been doing something entirely different with their money. At least in this case if the economy hits them hard, they can sell their work, most likely for more than they put into it. This is just another amazing example of extraordinary artworks made from ordinary objects.

Rirkrit Tiravanija’s Relational Aesthetics

(found via j-no)

Rirkrit Tiravanija is a Buenos Aires-born Thai contemporary artist known for exploring the social role of the artist using relational aesthetics. He is most famous for installation art pieces where he cookes meals for gallery-goers, reads to them, or plays music for them. Rirkrit’s treatment of money, above, is a perfect example of this examination of human beings in their social context rather than in a private space.

Moneygami – Origami from Money

(found via close the world)

It is almost difficult to believe that this concept hasn’t been done before or replicated by more people. While the core concept is incredibly simple, the results are nothing short of amazing. Each of the pieces is formed by folding currency from a different country in such a way that the resulting miniature emphases the face of the leader on the note. Not only that, but each of the faces is given a unique hat or garb, representing the culture of the currencies’ country of origin.

Skyline Silhouette Money Cutouts

(found via spluch)

In a concept similar to the one shown above, this set incorporates the cultural heritage of each country into the note buy cutting it out in the shape of one of the countries’ popular skylines. Often with faces projected onto the skylines, the final pieces are beautiful works of art, immediately identifiable by the precise cutting of the skylines.

Money Sculptures by Justine Smith

(source: justine smith)

Justine Smith’s work is noted for here exploration of our relationships with, and responses to money, in political, moral, and social settings. On the one hand we have guns and grenades, representing the money used to fund wars and cause bloodshed around the world, and on the other, are intricate and beautiful flowers representing everything just and sacred.

The Most Expensive Wallpapers in the World

If you thought opening a bar or a restaurant was a bad financial decision, look again. Simply by adopting the ‘money on the wall’ theme, these bars have managed to convince patrons to write silly things on dollar bills and stick them on the walls. The result? Bizarre, beautiful, mindboggling, and certainly the most expensive bar decoration around, not only do these wallpapers attract more curious patrons, but they also fill the pockets of the sneaky saloon owner.