Re: NY worlds fair Irradiated dime

["Jim Hoerner" <jim_hoerner@HOTMAIL.COM>]

>Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 08:05:53 -0800 (PST)

>From: M Nivas <motnivas@Y...>

>To: RadSafe

>Subject: NY worlds fair Irradiated dime

>

>Greetings to all,

>

>When I attended the New York World's Fair in 1964

>(1963?) I went to the American pavilion. They were

>irradiating Dimes (your own) and placing them in a

>blue disk with electrons orbiting the dime. As a kid

>we went into our closets to see if the dimes glowed.  (they did not)

>

>The purpose was to show that irradiating a dime was

>safe.

>

>First, has anyone attended the fair and has a

>souvenir?

>

>And second, does anyone know what they irradiated the

>dime with?

>

>Tom Savin



http://www.coin-newbies.com/articles/irradiated.html



They were irradiated with neutrons.  Back then (1964 and earlier), the US 

dimes were made mainly of silver.  Ag-109 + 0n1 => Ag-110 (25 sec 

half-life).  Obviously, the intent was to show that radiation decays away to 

nothing, not to be confused with food irradiation which does not make 

mangoes (Quayle spelling) radioactive.



I'm not sure how effective this propaganda technique would be.  People might 

get the message "See how easy it is for us to make your money radioactive?  

Don't worry, you'll still be able to spend it after a 100 kiloton blast."  

:-)



Oak Ridge would also irradiate them for visitors, from what I read.



They come up on eBay often for about $5-$10.  I'd buy one for my anti-nuke 

friend, but he'd be afraid to put it in his pocket.



http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7109&item=3301911854

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7109&item=3301750442

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7109&item=3302057522

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3300449730

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3301086596



Regards,

Jim

Who is thinking of starting his own Germ-Free Currency Business



--

Hold the door for the stranger behind you.  When the driver a 

half-car-length in front of you signals to get over, slow down.  Smile and 

say "hi" to the folks you pass on the sidewalk.  Give blood.  Volunteer.



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