forget bitcoin; this is badcoin
Mike Tyson jumps in ring with Houston celeb dealer to launch exclusive collectible coins
Boxing legend and pop-culture icon Mike Tyson may not want to hand over $450,000 to that drunk dude he had to check in an airplane last year. But Iron Mike is ready to give people his own line of signative coins (and they're not made of iron, natch).
Tyon has joined forces with Houston’s Celebrity Mint to launch a limited edition series of gold and silver collectibles, just in time for the holiday shopping season. Crafted from .9999 gold and .999 silver, the pioneering, legal tender trading coins are now available on CelebrityMint.com and eBay.
Thousands of viewers tuned in to eBay Live last week as Iron Mike joined Celebrity Mint to unveil his exclusive line of products. “This is legendary,” Tyson said on the eBay Live broadcast. “This is humbling me. I’m very proud of this... This is the baddest coin on the planet.”
Celebrity Mint – founded by the Duncan Group of Houston’s U.S. Coins and Jewelry – is fusing the timeless thrill of sports memorabilia collecting with the prestige of coin collecting to invite a new generation of collectors into the fold.
Tyson’s Celebrity Mint collectibles include Iron Mike Signature Series Coins, including 1,499 coins at 2 oz. silver and 491 pieces at 5 oz. silver. Each item is autographed by Tyson and certified by Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS).
Tyson authorized a full line of coins and cards. Photo courtesy of Celebrity Mint Houston
Fans can also check out the 0.5 Gram Gold Legends Series cards, authenticated and certified by Numismatic Guaranty Co. (NGC) through its coin grading arm NGCX. Only 1,000 were made, including 100 chase cards with a vibrant green colorway.
More hardware includes 2-oz. Silver Chibi Coins and 24k Gilded 2 oz. Silver Chibi Coins, both graded by PCGS Proof Ultra Cam 69 or 70. Only 500 were made, including 50 of the 24k Gilded Silver, per press materials.
“We are unveiling the ultimate sports collectible piece,” said Celebrity Mint co-founder Kenny Duncan Jr. in a press statement. “When we founded Celebrity Mint, we wanted to work with icons – the best of the best. It is an honor and pleasure to work with Iron Mike to create these new collectibles that celebrate his legendary career.”
This isn’t the first time sports icons are getting their mint on. The worlds of sports memorabilia and rare coins collided in October as Celebrity Mint debuted its first ever legal tender trading coins with wrestling icon Ric Flair (wooo!) at New York Comic Con.
Upcoming launches for its inaugural Legends Series will include boxing boss Floyd Mayweather, all-time baseball hit leader and cultural lightning rod Pete Rose, and more to be announced soon.