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Penny Black Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

Long Man: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache, I'm archiving it.

Andy
Long Man
Volunteer UK Reviewer - Geocaching.com
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Hidden : 4/16/2019
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:


The Penny Black was the world's first adhesive postage stamp used in a public postal system. It was first issued in Great Britain on 1 May 1840, but was not valid for use until 6 May. It features a profile of Queen Victoria.

In 1837, British postal rates were high, complex and anomalous. To simplify matters, Sir Rowland Hill proposed an adhesive stamp to indicate pre-payment of postage. At the time it was normal for the recipient to pay postage on delivery, charged by the sheet and on distance travelled. By contrast, the Penny Black allowed letters of up to 1⁄2 ounce (14 grams) to be delivered at a flat rate of one penny, regardless of distance.

Postal delivery systems using what may have been adhesive stamps existed before the Penny Black. The idea had at least been suggested earlier in the Austrian Empire, Sweden, and possibly Greece.

 

The given coordinates is not where the cache is hidden, but at the Post Office in Beacon Hill. To find the real location you will have to solve a puzzle which is not cryptic. A little bit of research will give you all of the information required, so here goes:

The cache location is at   N51° 07.X'    W000° 45.Y' Also, to gain access to the prize you will also need to calculate Z.

A = In which year was Roland Hill born?

B = What year did Roland Hill die?

C = How old was Roland Hill when he died?

D =The Royal Mail was originally established in which year?

It's 1840 and your sister Ethel and you have seen that the Penny Black has started to be used. You've decided to get all of your spare change together to send out invites to your garden party. How many Penny Blacks can you buy? Your money = E, and Ethel's money = F.

You empty your piggy bank and find this:

9 Crowns, 10 Half Crowns, 7 Florins, 8 Shillings, 12 Sixpences, 25 Thrupenny Bits, 50 Pennies, 31 Halfpennies & 22 Farthings.

Ethel fumbles around down the back of chaise lounge and reveals the following:

1 Crown, 2 Half Crowns, 1 Two Bob, 4 One Bobs, 5 Sixpences, 3 Thrupenny Bits, 6 Pennies, 7 Halfpennies & 6 Farthings

A-C-E =X

B-D-F =Y

X+Y=Z



You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Lbh arrq M

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)