The 2018 1oz Communi-Tree Round – Growth, Silver, and the Spirit of Steemit
Among all the coins and rounds in my stack, there’s one piece that stands tall—just like the mighty tree it portrays. The 2018 1oz Communi-Tree silver round, designed by me and brought to life with the help of our incredible #silvergoldstackers community on the Steemit blockchain, is more than just a piece of bullion—it’s a symbol of our shared story, our roots, and our growth.
This round was created during a time when the Steemit platform was still in its early stages of evolution. Full of energy and excitement, we minted 1,500 rounds for the community—a limited-run project that embodied our collective values of growth, decentralisation, and connection.
And it’s particularly fitting that I’m sharing this on Easter Sunday, a day symbolic of rebirth, renewal, and new beginnings—exactly the spirit behind the design of the Communi-Tree.
The Design: A Story in Silver
At first glance, the design appears to be a stylised, thriving tree—deep roots, wide branches, a canopy of leaves—but hidden within its limbs is a deeper message for those who know where to look.
Originally, we considered including the inscription "From small acorns, big oak trees grow" around the edge of the round. That phrase captured the essence of what we all felt: that from small beginnings on the Steemit blockchain, incredible things could blossom. While the phrase didn’t make it to the final version, the sentiment is deeply etched into the design.
Within the branches and leaves of the tree, you’ll find a host of symbolic creatures: small fish, dolphins, orcas, and a single majestic whale. These marine animals represent the different tiers of users on the Steemit platform—from minnows to dolphins to orcas and whales—each playing a unique role in the ecosystem.
- The fish, found clustered near the base of the tree, are small and numerous, symbolising the newcomers to the platform—full of potential and vital to the community’s future.
- As your eyes rise up the tree, dolphins and orcas begin to appear, fewer in number but higher in position, representing growth and progress.
- And finally, perched alone at the top of the tree’s tallest branch is a single solitary whale—a powerful figure, visible to all, yet deeply connected to the structure below.
I still think this was a genius design. It mirrors the real dynamics of how we grow and evolve within Steemit: we begin at the base, small and plentiful, but with effort and community support, we move upwards. It’s a metaphor captured perfectly in one troy ounce of silver.
More Than Just a Round
This was never about profit. It was about marking a moment in time—creating something meaningful, something ours. As a designer, I couldn’t have asked for a better project. As a stacker, I couldn’t ask for a more cherished piece.
The 2018 Communi-Tree Round is proudly nestled in my perma-stack. Every time I look at it, I’m reminded of how far we’ve come—not just as individuals stacking silver, but as a community of creatives, thinkers, and builders on the blockchain.
A Community Rooted in Purpose
While coins and rounds come and go, very few carry the kind of personal and collective weight that this one does. It’s more than silver. It’s history. It’s hope. It’s a reminder that from small acorns, big oak trees really do grow—especially when they’re nurtured by a community like ours.
And who knows? Maybe someday, this piece will be seen as more than just a cool design—it'll be seen as a silver artefact from the early days of something revolutionary.
