Cash Cache: Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels Traditional Cache
Cash Cache: Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Grab a spare nickel or two and visit this
cache, inspired by a cache we visited in Eastern Washington.
Learn a little about nickels, learn a little about where the
idiom "Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels" came from (you might be
surprised!), and earn yourself a smiley!
The Jefferson Nickel:
The Jefferson Nickel, first introduced in 1938 is a modification of
a model by sculptor Felix Schlag for a 1938 open competition to
design the coin. The designer's initials were added in 1966. The
'tail' side of the nickel showcases Jefferson's home, Monticello,
in Virginia. The coin's diameter is 21.2 millimeters. It weights 5
grams, and is 75% copper and 25% nickel.
For 2004 and 2005, the U.S. Mint decided to issue special two year
commemorative issues of the nickel, recognizing two of President
Jefferson's accomplishments: the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and the
Lewis & Clark Expedition, begun in 1804. In 2006, the Mint will
return to the Jefferson nickel, retaining the original reverse, but
with added detail. The front will still feature Jefferson, but with
/4 full face bust of the President, designed by Jamie Franki and
Donna Weaver.
Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels:
The first issue of wooden money in the United States was in
December 1931 when a Tenino (Washington!) bank failed and created a
shortage of money. In 1933, Blaine, Washington issued round wooden
coins when their bank failed. After that, other places, often in
the Northwest, issued wooden money.
It's not clear when "Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels" became part of
American culture, but it's fairly easy to understand it's meaning.
Each piece of wooden money produced had an expiration date, and
often a time. After that point, the money was worthless and
unredeemable. Essentially, it was firewood!
The Cache:
This cache contains the 'pages' from a Jefferson Nickel Collection
book (Number Three) starting in 1996. You are welcome to put one
nickel in a vacant spot, matching your coin with the spot's mint
and date. Please limit yourself to one spot per cacher, and sign
your username next to the coin you leave. The cache also contains a
few trading items, and there was a prize for FTF.
The road closest the cache is private (you
will be trespassing if you use it) and there is no legal parking on
it or near the Centennial Trail. Please ride your bike or walk in
along the trail to access this cache.
Congrats to NoShoes on his FTF. He won an
unactivated 2006 USA Geocoin.
Congrats to Johnny Boy for being FTF all three in the series. He
wins bragging rights.
As always, please let me know if there are any problems with the
coordinates or the cache. Most importantly, have fun!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Abg lrg. ;-)