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$100 National Treasure Question Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

FrancisScottKey: Unfortunately the owner did not respond to the previous note so this is being archived. Should the owner decide to repair/replace this and have it unarchived, it can be done as long as it still conforms to the guidelines.

Regards,
FrancisScottKey
Volunteer Cache Reviewer

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Hidden : 7/18/2015
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

This is a quick mystery cache that can be found with a google search, some light reading and a mile hike (or a four minute drive...)

 

Solving the actual mystery is much more convoluted and complicated. But today, we're just looking for a smilie.


In the Fall of 2013, a new $100 bill design was released into circulation. One of the fascinating changes that was made to the new $100 bill had nothing to do with the security features, holograms or colored ink. They changed the time on the clock of Independance Hall! Conspiracy theorists and Americana treasure hunters are unsure what to make of this development, but it must be big!

In the movie National Treasure, the time on the clock is a plot point - where the shadow of the steeple at that time indictaes the next clue for Nicolas Cage. In the movie, he claims the time is 2:22, which is incorrect. They were not allowed to reveal the true time, so as to not alert the mass audience of the potentially vital clue to this historic treasure.

The other interesting thing about the change in the time, is that both engravings for printing the bills were done by the same man prior to the 1928 release of the last version of the bill. So the governement had been planning for the eventual release of this second clue for over 85 years. This is not the mystery you are trying to solve today.

Today, I have started you at the Easton Courthouse's clock tower. You don't actually need to be there, there is nothing to physically find, but it is a lovely courthouse if you are interested. Using the coordinates supplied for the tower, I want you to subtract the time from the old bill from the North coordinates, and add the time from the new bill to the West coordinates. Follow these coordinates to find your smilie.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Qbrf guvf erfrzoyr n znfbavp flzoby?

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)