Time Travel Barter Game

That “invention rip-off” syndrome was rampant back in that day and age.

 

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Poker with Doc Holliday update:

First of all let me explain what happened. (sorry about that to the user after me)

When I got into the time machine, I spilled my drink while setting it down on the main console, darn copper straws.

Next thing I know, all the lights and buzzers started blinking and screaming!

Hey, it's my first time tripping in a time machine all the buttons looked the same ok! (they have to work on that)

So I had no idea where I was going!

I just read some techno-jumbo-mumbo quick manual by a guy called Lordmarcovan about tripping in 1865.

When all the noise and lights stopped I had no idea what to expect.

I do note that there was a very unpleasant smell when I think I stopped.
I'm not sure if was from unobtanium crystal exhaust fumes or from
my spilled drink getting into the main console circuits.
(I used my entire bottle of Germ-X to clean that)

Anyway, I eventually wandered my way into an old schoolhouse with my silver dime where some young people are playing poker in the back room.

Far be it for me to judge young men playing poker in a schoolhouse.

Did I ask if they were old enough to play poker in the back of the schoolhouse?

No, even at that age everyone at the table was packing iron except me.
(remember Billy The Kid)

I did mention that those were nice looking gold and silver chips on the table.

Well, one of the other young people playing poker named Wyatt said that Young-Doc got them while on a previous trip.

Then I noticed that Young-Doc was wearing a necklace made from silver with an encased chunk of premium unobtanium crystal.

Oh yeah, I see what's going on here now.

Doc has a time machine of his own! (and apparently plenty of unobtanium)

That was not in the manual, and I read it front to back!

We played poker and I lost, but you already knew that part.

So, allow me to quote the great Paul Harvey.

"Now you know the rest of the story."

As far as to what chump change Doc had, only time will tell.

 

Yours truly would journey to Philadelphia. Upon arrival, I would take my dime and buy a newspaper (probably 1 cent) to take back. It likely would be chug full of news about Lincoln and the hunt for the conspirators, as well as the turmoil at the end of the Civil War. (Hopefully, the paper won’t turn yellow on the return time machine journey.)

I imagine my change would be a half dime and four cents. I’d take the change to a bank and hopefully get four of those new-fangled 2-cent pieces. I’d also want a flying eagle cent.

By the way, I ate a big meal before I left so I wouldn’t have to buy any food. My stomach flipped on the journey a bit, but a big belch took care of it.

I got to do a little sightseeing before I left. I was going to ask a Union soldier if he had ever heard of my great-great grandfather (a Union officer). But what if I actually found him? If I told him I’m his great-great grandson, they’d stick me in one of those insane asylums.

Thinking better of the idea, I went to the time machine and returned home no worse for the wear.

 

Well, no. Travel _forward_ in time doesn't damage items, as that is the normal direction they should travel anyway; it's only when objects are moved backwards in time that we see damage. This is due to chronoton flux when objects move against the normal directionality of chronoton flow- either antiparallel (for objects moving backwards through time) or orthogonal (further discussion of orthogonal temporal flux is prohibited for Level 3 civilizations). Primitive time-travel devices lacked adequate protection against chronoton flux. Work by Dr. Emmett Brown resulted in a device that could store up fluxes of chronotons to release them later harmlessly in a single burst; this "flux capacitor" made time travel much safer (provided you remember to bring sufficient fuel).

 

Doctor Who?? Is it really you???

 

If he knocks on your door, you will know. LOL
Knock, knock
who's there
Doctor
etc. etc. etc

 

It would be simple for me at this point. I would go to Mt Sterling, Illinois where I would go into town to the local bank and ask for 10 new Indian Head cents and make my way back to the time machine. There I would remove the envelope I have secreted in my vest pocket and place all the uncirculated Indian Head cents in the envelope and address it to "Rob", care of Cointalk, with instructions to freely disperse in LordM giveaways with congratulations from me.

After waiting to make sure the time machine left with no problems, I'd check my Colt in its holster, cycle the Spencer, and turn back to town where I'd join the McDannald Linn Wagon Train heading for the Oregon Trail, happily leaving all the insanity of the 21st century behind.

 

I will specifically look for an 1864-L and write the instructions to give Rob First Dibs on any one of the coins for his hard work and generous contests.

 

I'm going to visit Virginia City, Montana. I'm spending two cents on beer and getting an 1864 currency one of these in my change:



Then I'm going to use whatever time remains to pan for a little gold before going home.

 

Although, i don't have the wonderful storytelling skills of other contestants, i'll partake in this contest:

I'd set the time machine for Boston MA, as it'll be somewhat familiar to me, and I'll recognize at least the main thoroughfares. After fortuitously finding the dime, I'd head down to the Haymarket area, where businesses and vendors have traditionally been. Now, if i remembered my history correctly, the civil war created a tremendous shortage of precious metal coinage, so my silver dime would be in high demand. I'd first look for any open bank, but it's Friday afternoon, so "banker's hours" might be in effect. If i was fortunate enough to find an open bank, I'd go in and ask for the manager. With hat in hand, I'd explain how i was trying to collect older copper U.S. coins, and would he happen to have a supply of old style large cents and half cents, now that the new small cents were starting to circulate. If he did, would he allow me to search through some and evenly exchange my dime for .10 worth of copper coins. Assuming he was amenable, i would search for and exchange for the highest grade Liberty Cap half cents and large cents i could find. Once i presented him with my .10 worth of copper, he'd gladly take my dime in exchange. After graciously thanking him, I'd run back to my time machine and head home ASAP.

If i was unfortunate enough to find all the banks closed, I'd search out a druggist or hardware store (as i'd have better luck in a quieter store). Once again, I'd politely ask if i could exchange my dime for copper coins. Knowing that the shopkeepers most likely don't have a lot of small change, i wouldn't be as picky, and might even just ask for half cents, all the while explaining how the government had stopped making them, and wouldn't they rather have a silver dime, than some "obsolete copper coins".
Not wanting to push my luck, i'd make my way back to the time machine before dark, and safely head back to 2021.

 

I forgot to say that I'm using the other 5¢ to bribe the barman to tell me where the best panning spot is.

 

Although I cant write a story I would go to either Baltimore or Harrisburg both of which had viewings for Lincoln that day .

My choice would depend on if I wanted to see the train coming or going . I would use the dime to buy something cool tied to the event.

Coins I can have at any time only on 21 April 1865 could I experience this . And it would be great to see this singlaur historic event and I would hope my camara works

 

It is a dark and dreary day on April 21st 1865 in Harrisburg PA. Not only due to the inclement weather, but because today was the solemn first day of the funeral train for the now deceased President Abraham Lincoln on the 1700 mile, seven state journey to his resting place in Springfield Illinois.

I arrived at 12:34pm and began my trek to the train station to view our late President post mortem. On the way I was fortunate to find a silver dime laying in the street half buried in mud.

I inquired in town about the services of a photographer for hire. I found one that seemed to have the most modern Collodion process camera. Developing the film was required within a 15 minute timeframe with a portable developing room. This was perfect for my rigid, tight schedule. Now the kicker. The photographer wanted the ungodly sum of 5¢ for his services. I agreed and engaged him.

Why did I want a photographer? My plan is to have my picture taken with Abraham Lincoln while I was holding two coins I received in change from the photographer. One 3 cent silver 1863 and one 1864 2 cent piece. I wanted the provenance of the photo as authentication these coins were a part of the tragedy that befell our country.

As the train pulled into the station I waited with the photographer and thousands of others looking to pay their respect to our President. As the procession advanced and we moved to the front of the line I had the photographer set up his equipment for the historic moment. It was surreal for me. I was now standing in the presence of one of our greatest Presidents at such a somber time. I did not smile for the picture. I discreetly held the two coins side by side in one hand so they were clearly visible in the picture. We were ushered through the procession without much time for reflection.

The photographer retreated to his portable dark room to develop the picture. In the picture you can clearly see President Lincoln, me and the two coins. I was thrilled with the final product. I told the photographer I'd leave him a positive Yelp rating. Lol

This whole adventure took hours. My time was running short. I had to high tail it out of Harrisburg to get back to 2021. I didn't want the deteriorating unobtanium crystal to destroy the fabric of time and leave me stranded in yesteryear.