US defence contractors discover bugged coins

janbo1960 · Post by **janbo1960** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:25 pm

A report from a US Government agency says tiny transmitters have been found attached to Canadian coins.

US Defence contractors discovered the bugged coins after returning from visits to Canada.

The Canadian mint says they have never even heard stories about transmitters embedded in coins.

They were surprised it was even possible.

However, a report from the US Defence Security Service says three different defence contractors, all with security clearances, found the coins after returning from trips to Canada.

The transmitters were similar to the RFID tags used in the retail sector, which means they have very short ranges and really only identify the bearer, but they could be used to track a person's movements.

The report says the doctored coins are a good example of the methods spies are now using to acquire military technology

Post by **faceless** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 8:38 pm

I'm guessing that they want to find out how quickly coins travel, and where. The fact that the spread information could be used for many other purposes is bound to be something that a government representative will pass off as "nonsense" at some future press-conference - mark my words!

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:17 am

canadian coins though, that's pretty random *l*

Post by **eefanincan** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:18 am

Bob wrote:canadian coins though, that's pretty random *l*

I can believe it though. When our two dollar coin was issued (The "Toonie"), there were a lot of reports of the centre of it coming out... whether forced or not, you shouldn't be able to do that to a coin. If they can pop the middle out, I can see how they might be able to attach some sort of tiny electronic thing to it.

Whatever.... I mostly use debit anyway

6ULDV8 · Post by **6ULDV8** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:36 pm

Coins have been used since world war one for various things such as concealing messages, substances & small electronics.

Not sure if you recall, I am amongst other things a Magician / illusionist...
In that capacity I have seen some incredibly well gimmicked coins, I own a good many of them.

Even before the modern technologies used nowdays in creating coins for 'illusional' purpose, there were fantastic "makers" who would use old school tooling methods to hollow out coins, make coin 'shims' etc...
These old guys borrowed from the world of espionage.

I have had some of these coins on my person whilst traveling into & out of many countries & not once has anything been said as they have been x-rayed or pocket inspected by customs etc...

Now days with the use of 'Rare Earth Magnets' the coin technologies have become even greater...
Before the coins were just a 'snug fit' & took some conciderable "banging" to release the parts, today the fit can be a tad more loose, not that you would see it & they are held together with a 'one way' magnet...
(A bit like the magnet in a hard drive is one way).

I will post a picture to show you in a short while about what I am talking of...

EDITED:
Here ya' go... The 2p is a shell with a steel shim in it... the 2p/10p insert has a powerful yet directional magnet in it to hold it in place.
When inserted, the 10p 'vanishes' & the coin can be inspected up close, there is no way of telling that it holds the missing 10p.
This is one of many 'hollowed out' style of coins I have, but it shows you a good example of the technology & how some magicians make a coin vanish on your hand or in a glass etc...

To bug that coin... drill out a small bit of the 10p side of the insert, add te bug & you have a bugged coin in your change...
Many coins in the 'magic' arsenal have larger hollow spaces / compartments that you couldn't tell it was gimicked even if you worked in a bank & handled coins all day long.

Hope this has shed some light...

Post by **faceless** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:01 pm

6ULDV8 wrote: Hope this has shed some light...

Of all the fdetailed facts you've mentioned on here, that has to be the best one so far -

Bat · Post by **Bat** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:05 pm

Very clever DV8.

6ULDV8 · Post by **6ULDV8** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:17 pm

I had (just can't find it), a coin that would hold just over a gram of 'Powder'...
I used that a lot when I used to travel all over as a DJ

Of course, I wouldn't use it for that nowdays as I am a 'good lad'

I will hunt about later (taking care of my wife who is poorly today & having more work done on the house) to try & find a few more examples for ya'...

After edit....

I just had a good look at the 2p / 10p coin....
There is enough space in it between the insert & the "shell" to hold something as big as a postage stamp & about 3 times as thick..
If you look in the photos I took, you will see a ridge on the inside edge of the shell... that is there as an "air space" that helps the coins seperate easier (only the edge of the insert makes contact magneticly, the rest uses the power of attraction).

That space in itself could conceal a modern bug...

6ULDV8 · Post by **6ULDV8** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:47 pm

This one is a 1 cent coin, just to show you how good the milling is & what can be done.

This coin is not only milled out to be a gnats testicle hair thin, but it's also been 'expanded' to fit over a 'real' 1 cent coin.

You would never know a 2nd "whole" coin is in this one...

Now, if you wanted to hide a bug... mill out (remove) a part of a whole coin, add a dab of strong glue & insert...
Voila, a bugged coin that passes inspection...
You can even get the weight to match exactly, throw some "ketchup" on the coin to remove the tarnish on both sides, handle it a bit & then let it tarnish the natural way (or advance the tarnishing) & you'd never know.

Post by **Skylace** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:52 pm

Heck, the used to use special coins in the Roman times for prostitutes who spoke different languages from the Roman soldiers. Each coin would have a different sexual act on it and a time limit for it. These were very valuable coins to the soldiers!

Kezza · Post by **Kezza** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:04 am

Wow, what an informative post - thanks very much for the info on the coins. I also learned about yet another U.S. "alphabet agency", the "DSS". Didn't know that existed until today. Who knew the Couch could be so educational?

Post by **eefanincan** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 2:12 am

Skylace wrote:Heck, the used to use special coins in the Roman times for prostitutes who spoke different languages from the Roman soldiers. Each coin would have a different sexual act on it and a time limit for it. These were very valuable coins to the soldiers!

It's hard for me to think of coins being used for regarding sexual acts... since ours has the Queen on it

Post by **Skylace** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 5:18 am

eefanincan wrote:
Skylace wrote:Heck, the used to use special coins in the Roman times for prostitutes who spoke different languages from the Roman soldiers. Each coin would have a different sexual act on it and a time limit for it. These were very valuable coins to the soldiers!
It's hard for me to think of coins being used for regarding sexual acts... since ours has the Queen on it

And we've got dead presidents!

Post by **eefanincan** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 5:14 pm

Skylace wrote:
eefanincan wrote:
Skylace wrote:Heck, the used to use special coins in the Roman times for prostitutes who spoke different languages from the Roman soldiers. Each coin would have a different sexual act on it and a time limit for it. These were very valuable coins to the soldiers!
It's hard for me to think of coins being used for regarding sexual acts... since ours has the Queen on it
And we've got dead presidents!

Eww! I never thought of that!

Post by **Skylace** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 5:20 pm

eefanincan wrote:
Skylace wrote:
eefanincan wrote:
Skylace wrote:Heck, the used to use special coins in the Roman times for prostitutes who spoke different languages from the Roman soldiers. Each coin would have a different sexual act on it and a time limit for it. These were very valuable coins to the soldiers!
It's hard for me to think of coins being used for regarding sexual acts... since ours has the Queen on it
And we've got dead presidents!
Eww! I never thought of that!

The idea of it!