jaceravone

Well, I could swear that there was a thread about these coins, but after many key word searches, I only came up with one mention of these coins from a post by Drusus from May of last year.

I remember reading the thread about these a while back and so today when I was in my local coin shop I saw one of the assistants searching through a box of junk coins that someone brought in. Tons of people walk in everyday with "grandpa's" collection of old coins - which are all circulated - but you will never know what you will find.... just see my post from the other day titled "I didn't win again" (haven't learned how to link previous threads yet) Anyway, I saw this and asked him how much? At first he said $3, but then said take it. Sweet! Heck, I gave them half my paycheck last week - all I have left is my right kidney and a pint of blood and my wife has dibs on that!!! Anyway, I stole the post that Drusus wrote last may along with his link. Here it is:

http://www.orau.org/ptp/collection/m...toes/dimes.htm

"One of the most popular exhibits in the American Museum of Atomic Energy is a "dime irradiator." To date, more than 250,000 dimes have been irradiated, encased in plastic and returned to their owners as souvenirs. The irradiator works as follows: A mixture of radioactive antimony and beryllium is enclosed in a lead container. Gamma rays from the antimony are absorbed by the beryllium atoms and a neutron is expelled by the beryllium atom in the process.

These neutrons, having no electrical charge, penetrate silver atoms in the dime. Instead of remaining normal silver-109, they become radioactive silver-110. After irradiation, the dime is dropped out through a slot in the lead container and rests momentarily before a Geiger tube so that its radioactivity may be demonstrated. It is then encased in the souvenir container. Radioactive silver, with a half-life of 22 seconds, decays rapidly to cadmium-110 (In 22 seconds, half of the radioactivity in each dime is gone, in another 22 seconds half the remainder goes, and so on until all the silver-110 has become cadmium). Only an exceedingly minute fraction of the silver atoms have been made radioactive."

Here are my pics:

Attached Thumbnails

 

 

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"These are the times that try men's' souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."
Thomas Paine, Intro to the The Crisis, December 19, 1776

Hobo

Those are cool. I have not run across one but I would buy one (at the right price).

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No state shall emit bills of credit, make any thing but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts, coin money . . . - US Constitution, Article 1, Section 10

ANA LM-3799; OHNS LM-59; SUSCC R-4005. All coins stored in bank safe deposit box.

jaceravone

How about free? I will keep my eyes open for one for you - but I don't think I will be lucky the second time around. All he originally wanted was $3. Didn't think that was bad. I had never seen one at the shop until today.

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"These are the times that try men's' souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."
Thomas Paine, Intro to the The Crisis, December 19, 1776

rotobeast

http://www.cointalk.org/showthread.p...t=cool+trinket


Congrats !
They're cool !

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De Orc

That is deffinatly something different LOL I wonder if I should try and find one for my dime collection Yeh why not after much deliberating LOL

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My Notes 1176 to date 02/06/09 http://www.banknotebank.com/?collection=De-Orc

My Coins 2168 to date 02/06/09 http://www.omnicoin.com/?collection=De-Orc

gatzdon

I wonder how involved it would be to detect the cadmium, or if the quantity is too small to detect it using non-destructive means.

jaceravone

THANKS ROTOBEAST! Way to go. I knew I wasn't crazy. That was the thread. Thanks for linking it. Joe

__________________
"These are the times that try men's' souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph."
Thomas Paine, Intro to the The Crisis, December 19, 1776

coleguy

Those are neat pieces. I've looked and only found them on Ebay, but they're going for 20-50 dollars there! And thats for common 50's and 60's Roosevelts. Guess I'll have to hold off for a cheaper find.
Guy~

mark_h

Kind a cool. If I had one of those I could tell everybody that what is making my hair fall out.

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the other mark
Best Baan Community
Empty airtite seeks unwanted coins. All sizes welcome.

rotobeast

No problem, jaceravone.


I bought mine off of eBay for about $5.

Anyone wanting one, just keep an eye out, they go low sometimes.

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