Hollow spy coin

Brian Dereu sent me a sample of the hollow spy coins that he makes and sells. It came with a metal collar that makes it easy to open. I don't think I'll ever find a use for it, but I like having it anyway!

Hollow Spy Coins

[#1 posted by caffeine addict, July 27, 2009 11:10 AM]

I got one of these after you pimped them out last year. You're right... I never found a use for it, but I'm somehow happier knowing that I own one. The engineering is superb and it's really only the hollow noise when struck that gives them away.

[#2 posted by Anonymous, July 27, 2009 11:20 AM]

Might be good for covert carrying personal-use
amounts of certain pharmaceuticals.

[#3 posted by lolbrandon, July 27, 2009 11:40 AM]

Don't spend it all in one place.

Seriously, don't.

[#4 posted by wood29, July 27, 2009 11:45 AM]

If I had one, I would probably end up inadvertently buying something with it...

[#5 posted by InsertFingerHere, July 27, 2009 11:56 AM]

Would make for hours of fun if the airport TSA goons found this on you.

Go ahead, explain to them it's a novelty and that if you had REAL secrets to move around, you would use the Internet.

[#6 posted by Jerril, July 27, 2009 12:05 PM]

... I was about to post "Since when is it illegal to have a USB key where-ever" and theorize that the worst that would happen is a 30 minute delay while they establish you don't have any child porn or stolen hollywood movies on there...

... and then I realized we're talking about the freeking TSA. I'd be worried about the "guard" having more fun with a body cavity search and the interrogation and not bothering to check what's on the actual thumbdrive until I'd been shipped off to some third party nation for a few rounds of torture.

Americans: This is why I don't go to your country.

[#7 posted by technogeek, July 27, 2009 12:19 PM]

Of course hollowed coins are nothing very new; if you don't like this one, you may want to check a magician's supply house.

[#8 posted by Avram / Moderator, July 27, 2009 1:06 PM]

The perfect setup for a zany spy caper in which the wrong person accidentally gets the coin with the seekrit info.

[#9 posted by Takuan, July 27, 2009 3:59 PM]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8170027.stm

[#10 posted by Anonymous, July 27, 2009 6:31 PM]

With a hollowed coin, you can do some amazing magic tricks that will stupify your friends.

[#11 posted by Anonymous, July 27, 2009 11:29 PM]

If you want to get this from a magic shop, variations of this gimmick are often known as "Scotch and Soda" tricks.

[#12 posted by Anonymous, July 28, 2009 3:29 AM]

As others have pointed out, hollow coins are pretty common in magic stores and there are lots of different varieties. I used to have one when I was 12. I don't remember for sure, but I believe the $1.35 (or alternately 61 cents) tricks use hollow nesting coins. These sets cost about $20.

In other words, these "spy coins" these folks are simply marketing the same coins you could pick up at a magic store, and charging a higher price.

http://www.happymagic.com/cent-trick-locking-coin-trick-p-69.html

[#13 posted by pentomino, July 28, 2009 9:22 AM]

I can imagine that the magic shop coin and the spy coin would vary in quality, with the magic shop one being less likely to stand up to more than a little scrutiny.

Also, is there enough metal in a Micro-SD card to set off a TSA-style metal detector? I'd imagine there's less metal there than the rivets in my jeans.

[#14 posted by Matt, July 28, 2009 11:06 AM]

The biggest problem is that the liberty dollar is very uncommon. I can imagine some agent rifling through the contents of your pocket. "Let's see, keys, tissues, some change. Hey look, liberty dollar. You don't see many of those anymore..." (holds coin up to eye for close inspection, twirls it between fingers).