News: Radio Trackers in Coins?

One of our operatives has reported that Excite News is running a story on hidden transmitters inside hollow coins used to track movements of contractors in Canada. Allegedly, the Pentagon has found reason to believe that agents of unknown origin have placed the coins on targets to track their movements.

My take on this: unlikely. As the story states, the intent of the device doesn't match the practicality of the device. Excite quotes a researcher who states that there is a risk that it might be spent, so the device wouldn't really be appropriate. I'll take it a step further: how would you plant it? A coin with a radio transmitter would have to be somewhat sizeable in order to transmit to a receiving station. So are their targets receiving these coins as change? If I received a half-dollar from a newstand, I'd say "thanks" and drop it off at my dresser at the earliest convenience.

You may say that might just be the point - to find out where that dresser is and hence where the contractor lives. But how would using such a device be any more effective that traditional surveillance? A team of 4 agents - even 2 agents - could easily track the individual back to their home, work, and haunts. One of the original Moscow Rules was that "technology will let you down," and I seriously doubt that any intelligence service would rely on the such a device to find information of dubious value. Much better would be a coin with a hidden microphone and transmitter.

Additionally, I don't think we have the technology for this anyway. You'd need a long-term battery and a good antenna. Unless, of course, you were using an old technique where you bounce a radio wave off the device to receive audio (à la The Thing) - but how would you aim at the coin in some poor sap's jeans? And would you want to? If it was me, after working with so many technical devices that fail when you need them, I'd throw up my hands and say "hell with this, let's just follow him in the car."

Now, if you really want to use hollow coins, use them for the old WWII purpose - hiding film, messages, and microdots. Or do the standard practice hiding the key to one-time pads, just make sure to write the key on flash paper or cigarette paper so it can easily be destroyed.

If you try to find hollow coins on the Internet, you'll probably be frustrated at first. In the early 90s, they were available for around $50, but they seemingly can't be found now. However, the device is available at magic shops. Look for the Scotch and Soda trick, and you'll have a hollow coin that can store your film or code at less than $25. It's also not a bad trick - you're sure to win a drink or two from it.