Canadian Spy Transmitter Coins
(3 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)
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The U.S. government has released information to American defense contractors about an interesting espionage threat; namely Canadian coins with tiny radio frequency (rf) transmitters hidden within! The mysterious coins were found planted on U.S. contractors with classified security clearances. This occurred on at least three separate occasions between October 2005 and January 2006 as the contractors traveled through Canada.
The report didn’t indicate the motive for such a surveillance device, but insisted that the risk was genuine. You do get the impression (and I’m not alone on this one) that the details released are the tip of the proverbial iceberg. The Canadian security services’ press release states that they work closes with the U.S. intelligence services, and have neither motivation nor reason to spy on American contractors. The suspects include France and China, but of course, we’d never be told.
The technology is interesting however. Since the coin is so small, any battery would be even smaller, resulting in short operating time. However, if the device was passive, such as an RFID tag, then a battery would not be required. The device could be a short-range tracking or tagging device in that case. Even still, the metal of the coin would provide rf shielding, so preventing a transmitter from being effective over any kind of distance.
One massive limitation is the risk of the coin being spent! This makes the device impractical for any sensible surveillance operation.
It’s a fantastic idea, straight from the movies. But it puzzles me based on the practical limitations on the applications for such a device. I guess we’ll never know the truth.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:10 am
This turns out to be bogus:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap.....-Coins.php
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:14 am
I really am not surprised. Technologically its odd, let alone the practical issues.
Thanks for the information!
January 23rd, 2007 at 4:39 pm
A bit daft really – i mean, how long does a coin stay with a particular person?
January 23rd, 2007 at 4:47 pm
I personally save all of my coins. Just spend electronically or with notes, and save the coins.
February 10th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
That’s pretty impressive, and bound to get the conspiracy theorists going.
If there wasn’t enough concern about RFID chips as is it, inserting them into coins for surveillance purposes seems a pretty scary idea!
February 10th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Well I questioned the likelihood of these devices in the original post. Basically, the concept is flawed. Would be better to bug a mobile phone, because
1) its easier,
2) the owner is likely to want to keep hold of it due to value and
3) there’s a better capability for tracking built into it.
August 7th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
This is very funny
with people concerned about RFID chips and tracking lol, If this was true then it would have to be another country, Canada takes pride in making great canadian coins.
August 8th, 2007 at 9:01 am
It did turn out to be a hoax though…
June 11th, 2008 at 3:01 am
[...] espionage threat namely Canadian coins with tiny radio frequency rf transmitters hidden within!http://www.spyreview.co.uk/2007/01/22/canadian-spy-transmitter-coins/Coin FactsAt this time I am only including information on american coins. Much more detailed [...]
January 24th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
I don’t know about the internal mechanism but this type of coin is called a “shell coin” and has been used the world over by magicians for a long time. One can buy them at any good magic supplier; the best are generally acknowledged to be the ones made by Eddie Gibson. A Shell Coin can contain other shells (I have one that contains 3 other shells of smaller coins – which enables one to “produce” 5 coins from 1). One side of a shell coin can also be used to cover another smaller coin which is then picked up by a magnetic “pull” (a magnet attached to elastic anchored in the sleeve and wrapped in black velvet. It is palmed and then released as one waves over the shell, whisking it away to reveal the smaller coin; called a coin “change”).
I just thought someone might find this info useful.