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Canadian Coins Not Nano-Tech Espionage Devices

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the reality-is-always-funnier dept.

Necrotica writes "An odd-looking Canadian coin with a bright red flower was the culprit behind the U.S. Defence Department's false espionage warning earlier this year. The odd-looking — but harmless — "poppy coin" was so unfamiliar to suspicious U.S. Army contractors traveling in Canada that they filed confidential espionage accounts about them. The worried contractors described the coins as "anomalous" and "filled with something man-made that looked like nano-technology," according to once-classified U.S. government reports and e-mails obtained by the AP."

6 of 412 comments (clear)

  1. Conspiracy? by Tuoqui · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Man this has tinfoil hat written all over it... Why wasn't the contractor given a government issued one?

    I mean really, nanotech in coins? They use nanotech in computer processors and look how much time and effort it takes to make one of them.

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  2. Typical Defense Security Service by CXI · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The Defense Security Service is the same group that felt it was a good idea to ban access to their websites based on top level domain name. You see, they figured no one with a .edu domain name could be trusted despite universities being a large consumer of their services. I asked them how the heck we were supposed to view their site. They suggested that we "buy a .com" and then it would work fine. After weeks of explaining to them how bonehead an idea that was they changed their policy. *sigh*

  3. Royal Canadian Mint is very High Tech... by gwn · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I can understand the concern, especially considering the quality and technical savvy of the Royal Canadian Mint. Here is part of the Wiki entry:

    "The Mint has been at the forefront of currency innovation. Among the Mint's technical innovations have included its plating process, which consists of a multi-ply technology that allows electromagnetic signatures to be embedded in the coins, assuring readability in the coin-processing industries.[3] Its other innovation was the world's first coloured circulation coin, the 2004 Remembrance Day 25 cent piece, with a red poppy on the reverse. Further innovation was achieved with the adaptation of the Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) technology to coat its dies, extending the life of the die beyond that of past chrome coated dies.[4]" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Mint

    Now, consider that the mint also makes coins for many other countries, US military contractors and security conscious travelers can be even more paranoid.

    By the way, Canadian money is made by and controlled by the Canadian government... Do you know who makes and controls US currency? If you guessed the US government, you should check again.

    1. Re:Royal Canadian Mint is very High Tech... by IP_Troll · · Score: 4, Interesting

      By the way, Canadian money is made by and controlled by the Canadian government... Do you know who makes and controls US currency? If you guessed the US government, you should check again.

      Do you have any information to back that up? Last time I checked all US bills and most US coins have US Treasury mints marks printed on them. All US Treasury mints are in the US. All the paper for US bills are made from recycled cotton (jeans) in one paper mill in MA, where the watermarks and security bands are embedded during the paperforming process. The fact that this papermill has a monopoly on paper for US bills has caused considerable consternation among those who would like to cut the cost of creating money. Metal for US coins is similarly controlled.

      I am not trying to flame/be a troll, I honestly would like to know your sources.

      Also, do the Candian mints sell uncirculated collector sets like the US mints? These poppy coins seem pretty neat, I would like to get a collector set.

  4. Re:Better Safe Than Sorry, Eh by Bloke+down+the+pub · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I was telling myself that if I was a spy and my target was american, I think I'll try using something that looks like a nickel, not an odd-looking foreign commemorative special edition coin.
    Yeah, especially coloured bright red. You'd make it, I dunno, the same colour as the rest of coin so it doesn't stand out.

    What I want to know is why it didn't occur to anyone to 1) call Canada and ask them or 2) call a coin collector and ask them or 3) use google, rather than running around like headless chickens.

    Pity it wasn't the one dollar coin, then we could have had a cheap jibe about loonies. Oh well, eh.
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  5. Re:Canada vs. US by epiphani · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The reference is to the following poem, taught in elementary school around remembrance day (November 11th) in Canada. Written by Canadian John McCrae, during the first world war. I recall it made a pretty decent impact on me - war is no picnic.

    In Flander's Fields

    In Flanders fields the poppies blow
    Between the crosses, row on row,
    That mark our place; and in the sky
    The larks still bravely singing, fly
    Scarce heard amid the guns below.

    We are the Dead. Short days ago
    We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
    Loved and were loved, and now we lie
    In Flander's fields.

    Take up our quarrel with the foe:
    To you from failing hands we throw
    The torch; be yours to hold it high.
    If ye break faith with us who die
    We shall not sleep, tho poppies grow
    In Flander's fields.

    Liet. -Col. John McCrae

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