What would be a cool coin to slip into a new construction and how easy/what are the risks?

Longacre · October 15, 2013 11:11PM

We are thinking of adding on an addition at the Longacre Estate. The house is located in an undisclosed location, but it is somewhere in the state of Connecticut. For posterity, I was thinking of slipping in a slabbed coin into one of the walls before it gets sheetrocked. I figure, long after Longacre turns to dust, someone might tear down the house and have a nice surprise. I have the following questions:

1. A Connecticut copper would seem appropriate, but I don't know how a slabbed copper would hold up inside a wall. I assume it would be OK, so long as it is one of the interior walls.

2. Any other thoughts on a type of coin? The Connectictut commemorative seems like a cheesy choice, but what are your thoughts? I assume silver is a better long term metal than copper.

3. Logistically, for the contractors in the house, would I be able to slip something into the wall, unseen, or does the insulation and sheetrock go up together, not giving me enough time to put something inside? With what the contractor is charging, I would not want to make an inadvertant donation to his cause, if he happens to find the coin as they are working.

4. Or would <gasp> a banknote be more appropriate and last longer, particularly from a local obsolete bank?

RYK · October 15, 2013 11:16PM

I would place a 100 year old coin, like one if your spare 1913 Liberty nickels.

WildIdea · October 15, 2013 11:26PM

I would think a coin from the year you made the addition would be more appropriate.

pmac · October 15, 2013 11:31PM

All of the above. CT copper, CT note, CT commems, 2013 PS & MS, etc. Don't forget to add your provenance.

PQueue · October 15, 2013 11:34PM

Perhaps you should consider something common, but somewhat substantial. Your avatar could be an appropriate choice. I would place a type 3 Liberty $20 gold in MS63 - MS64 in there. It's common, but I suspect it would be a substantial & exciting find when found.

Steve27 · October 15, 2013 11:42PM

I think it should be a large cent, because back in the 1800's they nailed large cents into the rafters of new homes for good luck.

beaman004 · October 15, 2013 11:56PM

I'm more contractor than numismatist so I'll help with question 3. The walls would be framed, then electrical and plumbing would be roughed in, then insulation, then sheetrock. It really depends on the size of the addition and the contractors crew size for how many activities would happen on a given day. For me I would just talk to the contractor about it, they should be used to fielding interesting requests. For discretion you could always put the piece in a non-descript, possibly locked or secured box, and just say its a time capsule or something you want to bury in the wall before they close it up.

If you want to be sneaky about it, wait until they are on lunch or break when they are already closing walls up and drop it in behind some insulation while no one is around.

Cool idea.

jayPem · October 16, 2013 12:16AM

Are there any interior walls being built ? That might be a better choice...around here exterior walls have a layer of plywood which off gasses nasty stuff for awhile, plus possible pressure treated sills, insulation....could turn a coin black even in a holder ?

I'd go for the gold ! Just remember where it goes so you can knock a hole in the wall and rescue it yourself if times get tough

Staircoins · October 16, 2013 12:31AM

Perhaps a very small time capsule, with a 2013 silver proof set, a 2013 ASE (slabbed, of course), a CT copper, and a CT obsolete note?

If you're really feeling generous, you could add a 2013 Reverse Proof Buffalo or AGE.

ricko · October 16, 2013 12:49AM

A slabbed ASE with a laminated note giving date, identification and purpose. Interior wall is preferable. Cheers, RickO

BillJones · October 16, 2013 12:55AM

Does this "Longacre" have anything to do with James Longacre who was the U.S. chief mint engraver in the mid 19th century? If does, then the item should have something to do with him. He was a bank note and illustration engraver before he made coin dies. So one of those would work, or you could have it as simple as an Indian cent. The trouble with that though is that copper corrodes, and having lived in New England I can tell you that the temperature changes can be murder on coins. An inside wall is much better. It's best that it is not an outside wall. Those are the worst. I once stored coins in a closet that was on an outside wall, that caused problems because of the temperature changes in the winter.

Edited to say that the big risk is if they just tear the house down and don't spot what you have hidden in the wall, it's gone. It is off the air, but the show, "Complete Home Makeover" used to show the razing of the old houses, and if there was something worthwhile hidden in the walls, it wasn't pretty.

Dentuck · October 16, 2013 1:00AM

You might consider walling off your family man-servant, Consuelo, with a cask of Amontillado
and a satchel of colonial coppers. He can be sustained over the years through a discreetly
hidden mail-slot for food (perhaps disguised as an HVAC vent).

coindeuce · October 16, 2013 1:04AM

Take the "pennies" out of your loafers. You know, the ones you wore to Yale.

nags · October 16, 2013 1:14AM

It would also depend on the type of insulation you are using. With spray in there would be a pretty good chance the item would never be found. I guess I'd try to find a location that would create the highest probability of being found in the distant future.

Jcarney · October 16, 2013 1:17AM

Drywall in an estate? Horrors. I woulda thunk lathe and fine plaster.

LindeDad · October 16, 2013 1:25AM

I like the current Eagle idea best.

AUandAG · October 16, 2013 1:32AM

Drop the idea.

Today they take a long armed excavator and just tear them down and put them in dump trucks
and haul them away.

Some are even used for Fire Department training and go up in smoke if they are not next to
other structures.

Bad idea.

bob

PerryHall · October 16, 2013 1:35AM

<< I like the current Eagle idea best. >>

What kind? If you mean a 2013 ASE, I agree.

Unknown · October 16, 2013 2:28AM

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AMRC · October 16, 2013 2:31AM

<< A slabbed ASE with a laminated note giving date, identification and purpose. Interior wall is preferable. Cheers, RickO >>

Exactly what I was thinking. However, I would make it a 2013. Or if you are feeling generous I would do a slabbed Gold Eagle. Denomination is up to you. Make it a treasure!

DIMEMAN · October 16, 2013 2:57AM

>>>I would think a coin from the year you made the addition would be more appropriate.<<<

egads!..That would be a useless insult to leave coins from 2013!! They will NEVER be worth anything! Might as well leave dirt.

hammer1 · October 16, 2013 3:28AM

Much more important than you leaving a coin in the wall is checking that the subs don't leave open cans of Coke and other basura inside your walls.

Casman · October 16, 2013 3:53AM

<< Much more important than you leaving a coin in the wall is checking that the subs don't leave open cans of Coke and other basura inside your walls. >>

Nah, that stuff is usually deposited into the ventilation system/ductwork...

hammer1 · October 16, 2013 4:01AM

<< 

<< Much more important than you leaving a coin in the wall is checking that the subs don't leave open cans of Coke and other basura inside your walls. >>

Nah, that stuff is usually deposited into the ventilation system/ductwork...

>>

Nope, to easy to get a duct cleaner out and sweep it. Try figuring out why you can't get rid of ants, and where to start pulling sheetrock apart to find where someone left an open can of Coke.

BryceM · October 16, 2013 4:07AM

It's a nice idea, but I'm sort of with Bob on this one. The chances of it ever being found are pretty small. Demo contractors have a certain amount to get done before lunch, you know. If that doesn't bother you, just get a little box and put some semi-valuable stuff like a modern proof set or at most a 1/10 oz AGE.

Dentuck · October 16, 2013 4:15AM

Just say the word and I'll have a QDB-autographed copy of the current-edition
Red Book couriered to your corner office for inclusion in the time capsule.

coinsarefun · October 16, 2013 4:36AM

<< Just say the word and I'll have a QDB-autographed copy of the current-edition
Red Book couriered to your corner office for inclusion in the time capsule. >>

This!!!!

Tookybandit · October 16, 2013 4:43AM

Wait until all work is done on your home. Then cut out a small piece of drywall with a box knife, drop the item(s) in the wall and then just go to Home Depot and get a drywall repair kit to patch up your hole. Maybe you can do this before the walls are painted, or just hang a framed picture over the patched area.

I would not hide anything in the walls when work on your home is still in progress.

Justlooking · October 16, 2013 5:04AM

I think current year is customary. An ASE would be just fine. When we opened up the walls of my kitchen, I found a calendar from 1954 ... the kitchen used to be the back porch. But that's neither here nor there.

spy88 · October 16, 2013 6:39AM

As some have already mentioned, the days of piecing out the destruction of any building by hand
is long gone and few in the business use this method. Too costly in time and money.

But you say...

<< We are thinking... >>

If you are part of the crew in any way, shape or form, and you really want to do this, then the item should be as large and as colorful as possible so it might have a chance of being recovered. Even then, it may be just one individual on a work crew that finds and pockets it with no reporting. Even if you included your name, address and phone # with the object, you would probably never know the outcome.

Very neat idea but just not practical...IMO, but stranger things have happened. Referring to the car
with bodies recently found in a river(?) after 30 years of relatives wondering where they disappeared to.

Dentuck · October 16, 2013 6:51AM

Of course, the time-capsule might be found even if the entire house
isn't torn down, depending on where you situate it. Maybe put it somewhere
where a non-load-bearing wall might be removed to enlarge a room ---
perhaps in the walk-in humidor, or in the sub-basement wine cave.

WestySteve · October 16, 2013 7:02AM

<< Wait until all work is done on your home. Then cut out a small piece of drywall with a box knife, drop the item(s) in the wall and then just go to Home Depot and get a drywall repair kit to patch up your hole. Maybe you can do this before the walls are painted, or just hang a framed picture over the patched area.

I would not hide anything in the walls when work on your home is still in progress. >>

It's probably going to take the drywall guys more than one night. Maybe you can just wait until they are finished for the night, then reach way down the wall behind one of the drywall pieces and tape it to the back. They'll never find it the next day when they get back to drywalling.

What would be a cool coin to slip into a new construction and how easy/what are the risks?

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