The E-Sylum:  Volume 5, Number 5, February 3, 2002, Article 16

THE NICKEL OF DOOM AND OTHER STRANGE TALES

  Ardent numismatic bibliophiles search far and wide for
  important tidbits of information, and the range of sources
  referenced in The E-Sylum is a good indication of that
  range.  This week we can add the Weekly World News
  to the list.  The supermarket tabloid weighed in with two
  groundbreaking stories in the February 5th, 2002 issue.
  (The same issue featuring such articles as "Taking Your
  Dog's Temperature Can Be Fun",  "Beat Baldness With
  Chia Seeds", and my favorite, "Stinky Demons Terrorize
  Poland"):

  "Oprah To Replace Lincoln on $5 Bill:
  ... According to a well-placed insider, a congressional
  subcommittee is debating a secret initiative to replace
  all the United States Presidents featured on currency
  with modern celebrities."   [Actually, the committee
  is hung up on the "thin Oprah / portly Oprah issue...
  -Editor]

 "This Cursed Nickel May Be In Your Pocket!"
  "Frantic Treasury Department Officials are reportedly
  trying to track down a 'cursed' nickel and take it out
  of circulation - before it kills again!

  Experts say that since the unlucky five-cent coin was
  minted in 1978, it has been linked to at least 395 deaths
  in car crashes, plane wrecks, electrocutions, and other
  mishaps.

  An Illinois coroner 'borrowed' the nickel from a train-
  wreck victim - an died the next day when he fell off his
  riding lawn mower and it ran over him.

  A West Virginia turkey hunter was killed when his
  bullet ricocheted and hit him in the groin.

  The cursed nickel looks ordinary except that Thomas
  Jefferson wears a scowl.   Also, on the tails side, one
  of the windows of Monticello is closed."

  [So beware of the "Scowling Tom" variety and forget
  about Full Steps - keep your eye on the windows.
  Elvis may be looking back  -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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