When you are gardening, we bet the last thing you would expect to find is a 700-year-old coin. Despite this, it was precisely what happened to a little girl. She could not have imagined that this lucky find of hers would bring the police to her doorstep a few years later.
Helping Her Mom
At around 9 years old, British citizen Kate Harding had been giving her mother a hand in the garden. She had simply been playing with the dirt when she came upon an old silver coin.
Helping Her Mom
Buried Treasure
Like most little kids would do, Kate hid the coin from her parents and kept the buried treasure a secret. She went into her room, shut the door and cleaned the dirty coin. She had a feeling it had been buried for quite some time since it was so dirty and worn.
Buried Treasure
Abandoned In Her Dresser Drawer
After a week of obsessing over her new find, Kate shoved the old coin into her dresser drawer and forgot about it. Little did she know it would come back to haunt her many years later. What do we mean exactly?
Abandoned In Her Dresser Drawer
Brings Her Back
Back then, she did not give the coin a lot of thought. However, she decided to save it and did not talk to anyone else about it. Years later when she was moving out of the house and preparing for college, she came across the old find.
Brings Her Back
A Sudden Loss
It was a sad moment for Kate since her mom passed away only several months after she discovered the coin. Kate was instantly transported back to the good ol days, one of the last memories she had with her mom.
A Sudden Loss
A Good Memory
It turned her life around, as you can imagine. She held onto the coin as a reminder of her late mother and those days they spent in the garden. However, her interest in this coin grew around 14 years later.
A Good Memory
It’s History
She did not have any information about it when she was a little girl, but Kate felt she could uncover some more facts now that she was an adult. Her curiosity was suddenly peaked and she decided to make it her mission to find out more about this mysterious coin.
It’s History
I Need Answers
At the age of 23, she wanted to figure out just what it was and where it could have come from. This little piece of metal truly puzzled her. A number of questions swam around in her brain, and she needed answers, fast.
I Need Answers
Trying To Understand
The next day Kate went to the town’s local museum and enlisted the help of some experts. She explained the story and asked for their help so that she could gain more of an understanding behind the coin.
Trying To Understand
Looking For Answers
Kate walked through the museum door that day looking for answers. She simply wanted to understand the history behind this piece. She had no idea it was about to get her into more trouble than she’d ever seen before!
Looking For Answers
Unexpected News
When Kate took the coin out of her bag, the expert on staff took a look at her unusual find. After a few seconds of looking the piece over, the expert delivered some unexpected news to Kate.
Unexpected News
A Rarity
He explained to her that this memento was not actually a coin, but something different entirely. She was shocked to hear that this was the case. So if it wasn’t a coin, then what was it?
A Rarity
No Doubt In Her Mind
Before arriving to the museum that day, there was no doubt in Kate’s mind that what she had found was a coin. Even though it was not used as currency, it was still worth far more than she thought.
No Doubt In Her Mind
Not Good News
In fact, they have only ever found four of these coins in the United Kingdom. It is pretty easy to assume that this would be good news, but you would be wrong to think that! A storm was brewing and Kate couldn’t escape it.
Not Good News
Not A Coin
The experts informed Kate that although it did look like a coin, it was actually a piedfort, which looks a lot like a coin. The difference is that piedforts weigh around twice as much as coins and they are double as thick.
Not A Coin
An Understandable Mistake
It was understandable that Kate mistook the piedfort as a coin, anyone not in the business would make such a mistake. She now became curious about piedforts and what one was doing buried in her childhood backyard.
An Understandable Mistake
A Heap Of Cash
Kate became even more excited when she found out that her coin was worth quite a heap of cash. Any student dealing with loans could understand where she was coming from. Maybe she wouldn’t have to live paycheck to paycheck now!
A Heap Of Cash
Misunderstood
It was only natural for her to feel overjoyed upon hearing just how valuable her treasure actually was! After all, she is the one who found it, so she thought it was safe to assume that she was the one who would get the profit.
Misunderstood
A Great Find
Even though experts have yet to figure out what piedforts are used for, the theory is that they served as guides for mint workers or reckoning counters for officials. They knew that they were valuable, but they aren’t sure why.
A Great Find
She Couldn’t Believe It
This made it a rare object that was around 700 years old! Her head was abuzz after hearing such a thing, although she probably should have paid more attention to what they had to tell her.
She Couldn’t Believe It
Discovering Its Value
Her coin was a commemorative object that marked the ascension of Charles IV to the French throne back in 1322. This, of course, meant that it had significant historical value and was worth a lot.
Discovering Its Value
Its Worth
This rare piedfort was said to be worth $3,000. Even though she was thinking of all the things she could do with that amount of money, she knew that it was a priceless object for her.
Its Worth
Forego The Cash
For Kate, it held sentimental value that exceeded its monetary value. Remember, she kept it after all this time because it made her feel close to her late mother. So our guess is she would keep it and forego the cash value.
Forego The Cash
On Different Pages
Actually, this was not the case. The police of England simply did not share this sentiment. Since the coin held such historical value, the authorities actually wanted to obtain it from Kate.
On Different Pages
A Messy Situation
As you can imagine, Kate had a hard time being understanding of the fact that the authorities wanted to take this coin from her, but at the same time, they had a hard time understanding why Kate was holding onto it so hard.
A Messy Situation
Her Mistake
The Ludlow Museum insisted that she let the local coroner know about the rare and exciting find so that they could examine it further and start negotiations. Yes, they wanted to buy this object off her.
Her Mistake
She Didn’t Want To Sell
However, she already made up her mind about keeping the piedfort. Kate simply went on with her life after ignoring the request. She was wrong to think that they were going to give up on it!
She Didn’t Want To Sell
Determined
The museum continued to send her letters about it. On top of that, the staff would call her day in and day out. Kate simply ignored their attempts at communication because she did not want to let go of it.
Determined
Can’t Hide Forever
However, she knew that she could not dodge these peoples’ phone calls for the rest of her life. Soon enough, a South Shropshire coroner by the name of Anthony Sibcy was alerted about the situation.
Can’t Hide Forever
A Terrible Surprise
The next thing she knew, the police were at her doorstep. They issued a summons for her to show up in court. Kate was dumbfounded. Did she do anything wrong? As far as this young woman was concerned, it was hers since she found it.
A Terrible Surprise
In Too Deep
However, she had no idea that it was not what the law said. She didn’t even know a law existed regarding old coins. Kate had a feeling she was in way too deep now and there was no way of getting out.
In Too Deep
First Person
Kate Harding had no idea that she would be the first person ever to be prosecuted under the Treasure Act of 1996. She had no idea her situation would come to such a point! She simply longed to learn more information about the coin she found as a young girl.
First Person
The Treasure Act
In The Treasure Act 1996, created by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the finder of any sort of object that can be classified as treasure has no choice but to report their discovery. This law is legally binding.
The Treasure Act
The Law
The Treasure Act of 1996 says that a found object older than 300 years old that contains 10 percent precious metals and is not a coin must be reported to the coroner within a period of 14 days.
The Law
A Criminal
Kate did not do this. Since she had no idea her coin was actually a piedfort, or that this law even existed, who can blame her? Can you believe that the authorities had no remorse for her?
A Criminal
Who Was Right?
Her actions were actually considered to be a criminal offense. Since she didn’t report the coin, and she wasn’t willing to give it up, her offense was taken even more seriously. Who was the one in the right here?
Who Was Right?
Jail Time
Kate felt helpless, but who wouldn’t feel that way in her situation? She wished her mom could be here to guide her and give her advice. Kate got arrested, prosecuted, and could be given up to three months in jail.
Jail Time
In Her Defense
However, she hired a great lawyer out of Shrewsbury by the name of Brendan Reedy. He had vast experience in representing clients at magistrates courts, the police station, Crown Court and Court of Appeal. He was not going to let anything happen to Kate.
In Her Defense
On Her Side
Luckily, he was completely on her side and agreed to fight for her against the authorities. Would they win the case, or would she be forced to give up the cherished coin that held so many great memories for her?
On Her Side
A Big Headache
Brendan ran with the story that Kate did not report the find because of her disorganization and its sentimental value to her heart. Also being that she was 5 years old, it wasn’t possible at the time.
A Big Headache
Only Time Would Tell
Was this going to be enough to get her out of this huge mess? Both Kate and her lawyer hoped so. They both knew how tough the courts could be when they wanted something, so only time would tell.
Only Time Would Tell
Gardening With Mom
Kate did admit that she did not report this piece of treasure to the coroner once she was aware of the law. Although we can all agree that this was not too smart, we have to remember how much this precious coin reminded her of gardening with her late mother.
Gardening With Mom
It Was Priceless
Despite all that had happened, Kate was determined now more than ever to keep the coin. It was valuable and rare, but this was not important to her. The importance lied solely with its sentimental value.
It Was Priceless
She Had Nowhere To Turn
For her, this was the only thing she had left of her mother. This made the object priceless. She knew that they might go after it even after she was cleared of the charges. What was she going to do next?
She Had Nowhere To Turn
Speaking To The Coroner
It was a long and tiresome battle, but she was finally able to walk free under a conditional discharge. She only had to pay about $30 toward her legal fees! However, she still did not have the right to keep the object that she believed belongs to her.
Speaking To The Coroner
Still A Surprise
Once they cleared it up, she finally did what she should have done many months ago. She went to talk to the coroner at last. Little did they know that she had a surprise for them.
Still A Surprise
She Lost It
The Ludlow Museum wanted to pay her $3,000 for this piece of treasure. However, Kate explained that she had lost it when she talked to the coroner! For this reason, the piedfort never went to the hands of the museum.
She Lost It
Not Alone
The public expressed outrage at the way the authorities handled this delicate situation. “Since when did museums become law enforcers? I too would ignore threatening letters from a bunch of ‘collectors.’” At least she wasn’t alone in the way she felt.
Not Alone
Public Outrage
Citizens could not believe that a lawsuit like this even took place at all. “They took this woman to court over a coin! This is ridiculous! I’m all for preserving English heritage, but quite rightly this is her property…”
Public Outrage
Bending The Law
“…What happened to possession is 9/10ths of the law?” said one user. Another one had this to say: “That is crazy! She found it fair and square, why does she have to give it up?”
Bending The Law
Confusion
Coventry man Alan had a few questions about it: “I can’t understand how she could be found guilty. If the find was in 1996, did it occur before or after the Treasure Act came into force?
Confusion
No Boundaries
Can the prosecution prove the date of the find?” However, the museum was willing to do everything to get that piedfort. There were no limits or boundaries that the museum wouldn’t cross to get it.
No Boundaries
More Questions
He went on, “Secondly, if it took place 14 years ago she was only 9 years old. What was the age of criminal responsibility at the time? For juveniles under the age of 15, the prosecution would still have to prove that she knew that the act was seriously wrong.”
More Questions
Getting Serious
He ended it with, “As the magistrates’ appalling ignorance of the law has given her a criminal record, I think she should appeal before a real judge.” Things were getting pretty serious here, all over this sentimental coin.
Getting Serious
No Matter What
Did she really lose this piece of treasure that she had for 14 years? We do not think it is likely. All we know is that she was determined to keep this object with her.
No Matter What
Distraught
She was truly willing to do anything to ensure that it stayed with her. If our theory is true, we cannot blame her for resorting to such a tactic. It was something that reminded her of her mom, after all.
Distraught
Willing To Do Anything
We would have done the same thing if we were in her shoes, after all. It reminded her of her late mother, so we understand where she was coming from. The museum shouldn’t force her to give it up.
Willing To Do Anything
Into Thin Air
After she claimed that she lost it, authorities finally stopped harassing this poor woman. Unfortunately for the museum, they would not be able to examine the coin since its current whereabouts continue to be a mystery.
Into Thin Air
Heirloom
Even though she could have exchanged the piedfort for as much as $3,000, we think that she just kept it somewhere safe in her house. Maybe she will pass it on to her kids in the future.
Heirloom
Held For Safekeeping
At any rate, we sure hope that this is not the last time anyone sees it. If the coin really meant so much to her that she’d go through all this trouble for it, we hope she has it somewhere safe. When this man purchased a home in Tucson, Arizona, he didn’t expect the surprise he would receive with his new house. There was a secret buried in his backyard that no one knew much about. He immediately began digging feverishly. He had no idea what he would discover.
Held For Safekeeping
A New Beginning
In Tucson, Arizona, John Sims had bought a new home. His friend explained how there was somewhat of a mystery about the property that no one could figure out. Sims had no idea how this little bit of information would unfold to an incredible chain of events.
A New Beginning
So I’ve Heard
Sims’ friend made sure to tell him about the mystery surrounding the backyard. There was a rumor about something unknown that was buried there. Now that Sims owned the place, he could do anything he wanted on the property. As he was moving in his belongings, his mind was racing. He desperately wanted to know more.
So I’ve Heard
Wild Curiosity
Understandably so, Sims was going wild with curiosity as to what could possibly be buried in his new backyard. From the moment his friend told him about the rumor, he became intrigued. Half-jokingly, Sims asked his friend for a shovel. Even though the two laughed it off, Sims knew he needed to gather the right equipment for the job.
Wild Curiosity
A New Project
With a newfound determination to uncover the secret his backyard was hiding, Sims began to set things in motion. He couldn’t help but wonder what he would find, if he found anything that is. He knew the possibilities we limitless. Despite the fact that he would make a mess of his yard, he knew it would only be a minor setback. John knew he wouldn’t be able to let the matter go until he got to the bottom of it. So, he began to dig.
A New Project
Arizona Heat
John set to work on the yard, but it seemed as if the elements were working against him. Naturally, the notorious Arizona heat was in full effect, rising to three digit degrees Fahrenheit. Despite this, John kept going, hoping he would find something worthwhile. Even with his determined labor, he found nothing. Could the rumor have been just that, a rumor? Instead of giving up, Sims kept going.
Arizona Heat
Adjustment
Even though he dug four different holes in his backyard, John came up empty. There was a possibility that even if there was something underneath the surface of the grass that it had already been destroyed or it had collapsed. At this point, despite the disappointment he had felt, John knew he couldn’t give up. He knew he had to begin thinking outside the box. Suddenly, an idea came to him as to how he can locate whatever was in his yard.
Adjustment
The Blueprints
John had found something that would greatly help him in his backyard search: municipal records of the part of Tucson that he lived in. He searched through the documents until he found what he needed. Aside from a record stating the house had been built, there was another thing there. He now had a clearer picture of what to look for. He found a document stating that the company Whitaker Pools built something there in 1961. One thing didn’t add up, however. Why would a swimming pool be built underground?
The Blueprints
Taking It To Another Level
Sims knew he had to refocus his search and be more careful about it. Up until this point, he had just been working based on a hunch. Now he had documentation and he wanted to go about it in a smart way. For this reason, he hired consultants to come over with metal detectors. Things were beginning to get serious. The crew showed up with all the equipment, and they all began to scour the backyard together. At first, they found nothing. Suddenly, the detectors went off.
Taking It To Another Level
X Marks The Spot
John was ecstatic when he heard the metal detectors go off not once, but twice. He marked both spots with an X on the grass. His search was not going to be blind this time around. The professionals he hired helped his focus the search and make it more effective. He quickly began digging up the spots he marked. Soon enough, his shovel hit something. What could he have found?
X Marks The Spot
Lucky Strike
John’s shovel hit something made of metal. He was ecstatic, but nonetheless, he paused. At first, he thought it might be a septic tank and wondered whether to keep digging around it. Now that he discovered something, he had to proceed with caution and work precisely so he wouldn’t cause any damage. Thankfully, he found out that what he found was not what he initially thought it was.
Lucky Strike
The Discovery
It seemed that John had discovered some kind of entrance in his backyard that was shaped like a hatch. He cleaned up around it and then pried the lid open. He made sure not to inhale too much. He had no idea whether there was mold down there or worse, toxic gas fumes. Sims peered in carefully and was amazed at what he saw.
The Discovery
Stairs Below
Under the lid Sims had just discovered just three feet below the grass in his yard was what seemed to be a series of sharp blades. After a closer look, John realized it was actually a spiral staircase leading downward. A lot of people wouldn’t hesitate to explore this newfound discovery, yet John hesitated despite his overwhelming excitement. He had a good reason for his hesitation.
Stairs Below
Safety First
Even if he proceeded carefully, John knew it would be a foolish thing to do without serious preparation. John is, in fact, a fire department captain, so he is well aware of the possible dangers in just climbing down into the underground space. He knew the structure beneath might not be stable. Because of this, he thought of a plan. The only problem was, he couldn’t execute it on his own.
Safety First
The Team
John needed some help with the plan he had in mind, so he called up a bunch of his friends. He wanted to make sure he had the backup he needed in case something were to go wrong. With John’s experience rescuing people, he was well aware that if the old lid were to collapse and fall on him, he would be a goner. Before they would be able to explore what was below the surface, there was an important task they needed to complete.
The Team
The Master Plan
While John was excited to explore the finding in his yard, he knew he wanted to navigate the space safely. He didn’t know enough about what was waiting down below. So, he and his friends made a plan about how to approach the entire thing. They came up with a blueprint as well as a method of how to proceed. They had no idea what they were about to discover.
The Master Plan
First
The first step on their list was to reinforce and fix the concrete structure surrounding the stairs leading down. The stairs weren’t safe with all the rust they had accumulated. Despite the growing temptation to just climb in to find out what was inside, John knew he had to go about this in a smart way.
First
Reinforcements
Sims worked relentlessly with his friends to set down a few layers of concrete and secure the rebar inside the hatch. They needed to make sure the structure wouldn’t crumble when someone would go down there. They kept having to pour new batches of concrete in order to stabilize everything. Throughout the whole process, John couldn’t help but wonder what could possibly be waiting inside the hatch. All the while he had no idea that something was working against him.
Reinforcements
Summer Stench
One factor that slowed down the progress of the team was the unavoidable blistering Arizona heat. What was worse, that no one could know whether the intense and direct heat would affect anything inside the mysterious hatch. In order to protect themselves and whatever was inside the hole, the team put up a tent over the entire project. Around the entrance, they set up a Sonotube cardboard structure so that they wouldn’t cause damage to anything while they worked. After they were done with the cement, it looked like they were finally ready to make their descent. However, they were still missing one thing.
Summer Stench
Preparation
In order to make sure they would be able to illuminate whatever was inside the hatch, Sims and his team installed an electrical line. In addition, they put up a black pipe to funnel in fresh air. At long last, they were reaching their final goal. Over fifty years later, the mystery of the underground cavern would be solved.
Preparation
Ready To Go
Once the team was done widening the entrance, it looked much better than when they had begun. Despite the Arizona heat, they worked on and at last, they were reaching the part they looked forward to the most. John finally felt secure enough to go down and explore his backyard discovery. Everyone had been waiting for this moment, most of all John. At last, it was time to go inside.
Ready To Go
Last Touches
Despite the fact that the outside of the structure was reinforced, the stairs were still not safe. They were covered in rust, and despite the fact that the structure around was fine, Sims couldn’t know what weight the stairs could hold. Unlike the entrance that was able to be reinforced, the stairs couldn’t be repaired from above. The team needed to get inside in order to repair the stairs in any way. Because of this, John had to find an alternative way inside. Nothing could stop him at this point.
Last Touches
Another Way In
John had to figure out a way to get inside the cavern without using the rusty stairs. Since the entrance was too narrow or deep to jump, John could get hurt by the rusty stairs. Instead, he inserted a ladder. Ever since his friend had told him about the rumor, John couldn’t wait to solve this mystery. Filled with uncontainable excitement, he descended the ladder. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what he would find down there.
Another Way In
John The Explorer
As John went further and further down the ladder, he knew he was the first person to be there in over half a century. As he went down into the shaft, he discovered there was an entire complex underground. It wasn’t full of dirt, or anything of that nature. As a matter of fact, it was completely empty. He walked across the floor and through an arched doorway. He would soon see something that would leave him speechless.
John The Explorer
A Bit Of The Past
Inside the chamber, the ceiling appeared to be covered in old fiberglass that was coming apart. As soon as he caught a glimpse of it, he knew the structure was still not fully secure. He and his team still had work to do. If the fiberglass would come apart, it could harm bare skin and impact breathing, but now that John finally knew what was under his yard, there was no way he could give up. He knew there was still more to uncover.
A Bit Of The Past
Long Buried
Underneath John’s backyard, this structure seemed to not have been used by the previous inhabitants. Some wear and tear was to be expected over the course of fifty years with no upkeep, but otherwise, the structure was in great condition. While there was nothing inside it, John and his friends figured out what it once was. While it stated on the blueprints that Whitaker Pools had built the structure, it certainly was not a swimming pool. This structure had a different purpose altogether.
Long-Buried
A Historical Find
As it turns out, the structure underneath John’s garden is a nuclear fallout shelter. It was built at the height of the Cold War tensions between the US and the Soviet Union. At the time, the mass paranoia was on the rise, resulting in bomb shelters being built. Behind the scenes, Whitkar Pools expanded their business services to build something people desperately wanted in the era of the Cold War. Instead of swimming pools in their backyards, people wanted bomb shelters. As John was learning more and more about the structure, he realized he was not alone.
A Historical Find
Tucson
As it turns out, the Tucson area was filled with these kinds of bomb shelters. At the time they were built, it wasn’t seen as overreacting to have one built in the back garden. On the contrary, a man who had one built was seen as a family man just looking out for his loved ones. The nuclear war threat was very real at the time. Aside from this, Tucson had another secret to be unveiled.
Tucson
Missile Town
Once, Tucson, Arizona was home to 18 different ballistic missiles that were capable of traveling across whole continents. Each one was 110 feet long and 10 feet wide. They were able to destroy an area of 900 square miles, with the capability to be launched in just 58 seconds. At the tip of each missile was a 9-megaton nuclear warhead. So Tucson wasn’t just full of shelters, it was also full of weapons. Obviously, this project was kept a secret. Now that the Cold War is long behind us, there is still the question of whether there are still missiles that were left behind.
Missile Town