Money
In Gold We Trust
Back in 1907, banks had run out of U.S. gold coins because depositors had withdrawn them all, fearing a recession. So a bank in Baker City, Oregon, having access to gold from a nearby mine, decided to print up its own gold coins. It stamped them with the phrase "In Gold We Trust" to differentiate them from official currency. Which immediately made them a collector's item.However, government agents soon showed up and destroyed all the existing coins and the dies, since private minting of currency is, of course, illegal. I'm not sure if any of the coins survived.
I found a 1984 replica of the coins on eBay going for around $2000.
Posted By: Alex - Sun Jul 08, 2018 -
Comments (1)
Category: Money, 1900s
Karl-Heinz Wemhoff, Master Check-Kiter
Here is an account of a bold check-kiting scheme that probably would not be possible nowadays. As with many of these crimes, it sounds like it was more work than making an honest living.Original article here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Mar 26, 2018 -
Comments (2)
Category: Crime, Money, 1960s, Europe
Deer Semen Fundraising
Recently filed campaign contribution reports reveal that Ana Lisa Garza, who primaried unsuccessfully to be the Democratic candidate for a seat in the Texas state house, received more than half her campaign contributions in the form of frozen "deer semen straws" — which came to an estimated value of $51,000.ABC7 News explains that down in Texas "deer semen has been a popular way to support political and charitable causes for years." This is because deer semen straws can fetch thousands of dollars within the deer-breeder community. And so, they've become a form of currency.
Deer Semen Straws. (Source: deerregistry.com)
Posted By: Alex - Sat Mar 24, 2018 -
Comments (0)
Category: Money, Politics
The Cheerios Dollar
In 2000, when the coin was introduced, 5500 of them were given away in boxes of Cheerios as a promotion. Turns out that these Cheerios Dollars were slightly different than all the other Sacagawea Dollars.
The tail feathers of the eagle on the reverse side of the coin had more details than the normal coin, and this made them more valuable. However, most of these Cheeries Dollars disappeared into circulation, and only around 70 of them have ever been found.
Detail of the tail feathers on a normal Sacagawea Dollar
The tail feathers on a Cheerios Dollar
Posted By: Alex - Mon Mar 12, 2018 -
Comments (11)
Category: Money
Truth Dollars
The mid-1950s fundraising campaign for Radio Free Europe:"Every dollar buys 100 words of truth..."
So if you don't give anything it's all gonna be lies!
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jan 27, 2018 -
Comments (3)
Category: Money, 1950s
Follies of the Madmen #345
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jan 06, 2018 -
Comments (1)
Category: Business, Advertising, Money, 1950s
83-Year Payment Plan
With the arrival of 2018, Henry Hepper can now finally stop making those monthly payments.
Detroit Free Press - Sep 29, 1935
Posted By: Alex - Mon Jan 01, 2018 -
Comments (2)
Category: Money, 1930s
LaVere Redfield, the Silver Dollar King
One of history's more-eccentric rich guys.
Brief essay here.
An outstanding incident from his life.
Source of article.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Aug 30, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Eccentrics, Money, 1950s
The Life and Death of 9413
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jun 22, 2017 -
Comments (4)
Category: Body Modifications, Culture and Civilization, Money, Movies, Surrealism, 1920s
The Shabby Millionaire
1989: John Barrier of Spokane, Washington went into Old National Bank to cash a $100 check. Then he asked to have his 60-cent parking ticket validated. The cashier refused, saying that merely cashing a check didn't entitle him to free parking. Barrier had a manager called, who also refused to validate the ticket. Barrier suspected that they were refusing because he was dressed in shabby clothes like he had just gotten off a construction job. So he withdrew the entire $2 million he had deposited there and took his money to another bank, Seafirst Bank of Spokane.The tale of the shabby millionaire eventually ended up being told in Seafirst's company newsletter. From there it made its way to a local newspaper column, and then leapt to the front page of USA Today and national headlines.
Both banks confirmed the basic details of what happened, although a representative for Old National Bank later insisted that they had, eventually, validated Barrier's parking ticket.
Detroit Free Press - Feb 21, 1989
The Akron Beacon Journal - Mar 29, 1989
Posted By: Alex - Sat May 13, 2017 -
Comments (4)
Category: Money, Pranks and Revenge, 1980s
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction books such as Elephants on Acid. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Our banner was drawn by the legendary underground cartoonist Rick Altergott. Contact Us |