Need Help With a Mystery...

by Kurt
8 replies
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I have a friend that recently took up metal detecting. On his first trip out, he found something very interesting...it's a big wad of paper money stuffed in an old lard can.

The few bills he can see are dated 1861 and 1863, and are US currency, not Confederate.

His discovery took place near an old west wagon trail. I can't say where he found them, because he wants to search the area more. He's done a little research and believes the money could be from an old stage coach robbery.

A big problem is, the bills have deteriorated and are all stuck together. He estimates there are between 500-1000 bills in the old lard can.

Without any "story" connected to the bills, he can get face value for the bills from the US gov, if they can be seperated/restored. With a proven "story", the bills could be worth even more.

Anyone have any ideas on how to get the paper money restored? I've looked online for things like "money restoration", with no luck. I'm thinking some type of archeology restoration my be best, like with the Dead Sea Scrolls. The thing is, it can't cost more to restore the bills than they are worth.

Anyone have any knowledge in this area and can help with the type of service my friend needs? Maybe an idea that can help with researching this type of service?
  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    I'd be checking at archaeology and history depts. of state colleges or universities, old book restorers/old book sellers (pages are also paper)/antique stores - antiques and collectibles. Maybe old school print shops. Rare coin and money dealers/collectors. Banks. Printed Yellow pages at the library because they might not have internet presence.

    https://www.google.com/search?q=old+...72._zNfjkeS5w4

    Do some research first and then maybe a sample try:
    http://www.ehow.com/how_6968427_rest...per-money.html

    http://www.rmcurrency.com/
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    • Profile picture of the author Midnight Oil
      I would definitely make contact with someone at Numismatic News. They've been around since 1952. Someone there should be able to guide you in the right direction.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I second the idea of taking them to the archaeology dept of a local college. He might even be able to get it done cheaply allowing them to be used as a "project" for an advanced archaeology class. He may have to donate a % of the proceeds to the dept, though.

    He also may be able to get a drift of the story behind them via a local history book, too. There's one on the Berthoud Pass and Empire area that had me searching for a buried treasure in my spare time out that way. Never found it, but had fun looking anyway.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    Numismatic - that's the word.

    Just about every town has a local historian for "the drift of the story".

    Then, I suppose there's legal standing and maybe trespass issue stuff
    to consider. Indian and a lot of artifacts are federally protected, I believe.
    Those kind of things.
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    • Profile picture of the author HeySal
      Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

      Numismatic - that's the word.

      Just about every town has a local historian for "the drift of the story".

      Then, I suppose there's legal standing and maybe trespass issue stuff
      to consider. Indian and a lot of artifacts are federally protected, I believe.
      Those kind of things.
      Yep - I forgot about that.

      Over 50 yrs old and you might be looking at a "land grab" by the feds if they find out. So.........he needs to have the cooperation of someone who has land out there so he can claim he found it on private property. NEVER admit to an authority that you found anything of value on public land.
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      Sal
      When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
      Beyond the Path

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      • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
        Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

        Yep - I forgot about that.

        Over 50 yrs old and you might be looking at a "land grab" by the feds if they find out. So.........he needs to have the cooperation of someone who has land out there so he can claim he found it on private property. NEVER admit to an authority that you found anything of value on public land.
        Thanks. I'm out of thanks. Yeah. Popped into my head about an hour later after a nap.
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        • Profile picture of the author HeySal
          Hey Kurt - Dan,

          Did you two know that a large chunk of Silver Plume is still underground from a landslide? If you go into town, look to the mountain just behind the town, and where that large ravine is......there's buried homes. That was around 1900 sometime that slide took place. I have a book on Empire and Berthoud Pass history that talked about it. I used to look for stuff all the time out there. That was before metal detectors and I'd sure be a happy camper if I could just move back and do some more hunting out there. Both mineral and treasure. Colorado is an awesome state if you love minerals, treasures, ghosts, mining history. That area is just packed with all of it.

          This is making me homesick for my little cabin in Empire. sob.
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          Sal
          When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
          Beyond the Path

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  • Profile picture of the author markeeter
    This sounds so cool like a real treasure hunt! =3 I hope you find a good story to go with it. I think contacting an archeologist is your best bet. you can make a 50% 50% deal or something!
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