One hundred thousand dollars in bills, but too damaged and soaked to make a fortune yet: this is the incredible discovery that a couple claims to have made in a rusty and muddy safe recovered last weekend from a pond from New York.
After revealing their story on social networks and to the local press – supporting photos and videos – Barbara Agostini and James Kane told AFP about their adventure on Tuesday.
These metal fishermen at the bottom of ponds, lakes and rivers that irrigate the American megalopolis are not their first safes fished out.
But the one found on Saturday did not contain plastic, a few coins or even a dead animal: James Kane could not believe his eyes when he discovered bundles of banknotes held by elastic bands.
But the paper money was very damaged, completely soggy, dirty and covered in mud in places.
The couple in their forties, however, claimed to have estimated their treasure at $100,000 in 100 notes.
“It was unreal,” testified Barbara Agostini: “I thought it was a joke until I saw it with my own eyes.”
Cautious and fearing that the money was linked to a crime or misdemeanor, they went to the New York police (NYPD) so as not to “have a problem on their hands”.
“As a matter of principle, any property worth ten dollars or more must be reported and reported to the police,” an NYPD spokesperson responded to AFP.
“In this case, the value and authenticity of this alleged currency could not be attested due to an advanced state of deterioration,” continued the police, confirming that the matter had been referred to them by the couple. .
To hope to convert their find into hard cash, they want to take it to the Treasury Department in Washington.
American legislation provides for the replacement of bank notes that are too damaged, provided that they are not the result of trafficking or a crime.
