| Author |
 Replies: 16 / Views: 4,582 |
|
Pillar of the Community
Canada
4227 Posts |
We had TCM on and it was The FBI Story with Jimmy Stewart. At one point the dry cleaner found a Franklin half in Stewart's pocket, dropped in on the counter and lo and behold, it was a spy coin containing mircrofilm! I took a quick screen shot, but I can't make out the date. Anyone here have a spy coin of their own?  |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5207 Posts |
I guess the modern equivalent would be a Magicians coin or in the way way back days an Opium dollar. I will leave out the rumors of the traveling circus and the tents that men went to and got counterfeit dollars back in change because they would not go to the law to admit what they were doing when they got shortchanged. Edited by jack jeckel
05/17/2014 9:00 pm
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12819 Posts |
That's pretty interesting - I'd like to get my hands on one for sure. I'm not in the spy business but it would certainly be a good conversation piece.
Wonder what was on the microfilm... floorplan of the book depository building, perhaps?
[edit: word choice]
Edited by CelticKnot
05/18/2014 12:48 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
767 Posts |
I cannot tell you if I have a spy coin or not.
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
12819 Posts |
You could but then you'd have to kill us?
|
|
Valued Member
United States
256 Posts |
I found a double head quarter with two different dates on it. I believe it's a Magicians coin |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
Were coins like these ever actually used by spies back in WWII/Cold War? I know it's possible, but I had always been under the impression that 90% of the cool "spy toys" appearing in film and literature were little more than fiction.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
76 Posts |
I've got a book at home about the history of espionage, and I believe there is a picture of a modified coin in there. I'll have to check it tonight and see if I can find the picture.
My Great-Great-Grandfather was a silversmith and engraver. My Great-Grandfather told a story about how his dad made a secret compartment in a half dollar for him. I really wish we still had that half dollar in the family!
|
|
Valued Member
United States
291 Posts |
I went to the spy museum in Washington D.C. a few years ago and they had quite a number of "spy coins" on display. Very interesting stuff.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4591 Posts |
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1300 Posts |
Great thread!! I seen a episode on the AMerican heroes channel of all the crazy stuff from the early cold war including coins like that!! Very interesting was the spy cats...didnt work apparantly fluffy was more concerned with food then nabbing secrets!!  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2824 Posts |
If you want some just google scotch and soda coins. I have scotch and soda coins at my dads house he is a magician he has about 100 of them I used them I will post them a lot of the the spy coins where scotch and soda Franklin and Kennedy coins and gb pennies.   Edited by OcalaFlorida
06/05/2014 1:26 pm
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
Were coins like these ever actually used by spies back in WWII/Cold War? There was at least one documented case, and that was what was dramatized in the movie mentioned in the OP. The coin was a hollow five cent piece and I believe the microfilm was simply a message in code that they were not able to decrypt. |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1234 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
8137 Posts |
Too bad it is a 1924 Kennedy.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1234 Posts |
I see a smudge on a 1974  |
| |
Replies: 16 / Views: 4,582 |
Posted 05/18/2014 12:47 pm
me wantie
