Art
Solid Gold Casts of Nelson Mandela’s Hands Sell for $10 Million in Bitcoin
- Canadian cryptocurrency firm plans world tour of Mandela art
- Owner struggled to find buyer amid ‘Mandela Art’ stigma
It’s one of the more unusual deals in the art world. After more than a decade, an Alberta businessman has finally found a buyer for his prized collection of gold castings of Nelson Mandela’s hand. The final price? Ten million dollars -- in bitcoin.
Attempts by Malcolm Duncan, formerly of South Africa, to sell the hands back in 2007 were scuppered by controversy over provenance and a possible missing charitable donation. This time he’s had better luck, albeit with an unusual buyer.