“The West Point time Capsule, initially seeming to hold only dust, has been revealed to conceal ancient coins dating back centuries.”
The U.S. Military Academy announced on Wednesday that a nearly 200-year-old West Point time capsule, which initially seemed to hold nothing more than dust during a disappointing livestream unveiling, indeed contained hidden treasures.
However, these treasures were far more concealed than anticipated.
According to West Point’s news release, the lead box believed to have been placed by cadets at the base of a monument held six silver American coins from the years 1795 to 1828, as well as a commemorative medal.
All of these items were discovered within the sediment of the box, which appeared to be its sole contents during the ceremonial opening at the New York Academy on Monday.
West Point archaeologist Paul Hudson, reflecting on the discovery, stated, “When I first found these, I thought, man, you know, it would have been great to have found these on stage.” After the event, Hudson took the box back to his lab, where he meticulously sifted through the silt using a small wooden pick and brush.
Hudson’s perseverance bore fruit as he recounted, “Before long, lo and behold, there’s the edge of a coin sticking out, and I thought, well that’s OK. That’s something, that’s a start.”
The lackluster live opening of the capsule led to disappointment, drawing comparisons to Geraldo Rivera’s 1986 televised unsealing of a Chicago hotel vault linked to gangster Al Capone, which famously revealed nothing but dirt.
The crowd gathered at the U.S. Military Academy had hoped for military artifacts or historical documents as experts opened the box and aimed a camera inside.
Hudson noted that extracting the coins and medal in a controlled environment was probably a better approach. He plans to further analyze the sediment in search of additional clues about potential contents.
It appears that moisture and sediment had seeped into the box through a damaged seam. These conditions could have led to the disintegration of any organic material within, such as paper or wood.
“Unveiling Ancient Treasures: Coins and Medal Survive Time Inside West Point Time Capsule”
Surviving the test of time were a 1795 5-cent coin, an 1800 Liberty dollar, an 1818 25-cent coin, 10-cent and 1-cent coins from 1827, and an 1828 50-cent coin. Additionally, an Erie Canal commemorative medal from 1826 was found.
Experts suggest that the value of most of the coins could range from a few hundred dollars to well over $1,000, depending on their condition.
The findings support the academy’s theory that cadets left the box in 1828 or 1829, upon the completion of the original monument dedicated to Revolutionary War hero Thaddeus Kosciuszko.
This monument’s dedication involved a committee of five cadets, including Robert E. Lee, a graduate from the class of 1829, who would later become a Confederate general.
Kosciuszko, known for designing wartime fortifications for the Continental Army at West Point, passed away in 1817. His statue was added to the monument in 1913.
The historical preservation and analysis of the time capsule will persist, with Hudson stating, “I think there’s more that we can learn from this, to learn about the academy’s history and about the country’s history.”