Man Finds 2 'Little Round Things' Buried under His Porch, Realizes Piles of Cash Are Hidden There
Treasures are all around us, and we never know when we might find something precious or life-changing. It can be closer than we think or hidden in plain sight. One man discovered two curious objects under his porch, leaving him speechless.
Anyone who has ever seen something shiny while walking on the beach or in the forest can confirm the rush and excitement. The best discoveries often catch us off guard, and one man experienced his fair share of surprises.
A typical Friday quickly became an unforgettable moment for a Wildwood, New Jersey homeowner. He wasn't looking for anything when he unearthed two mysterious objects.
Rich Gilson. | Source: youtube.com/CBS New York
FINDING STRANGE OBJECTS
Home renovations can be fun, and sometimes they lead to unique findings on one's property. For Rich and Suzanne Gilson, a DIY project to excavate their yard became an adventure.
Rich discovered lots of the bundles in his yard, and upon further scrutiny, he realized there was something extra special about it.
The couple bought their Andrews Avenue house in 2018 and slowly modified it to their liking. Four years later, in 2022, Rich hired a mini-excavator to help him remove rocks.
During the process, he stumbled upon two strange round objects. He shared: "Generally, you find stuff [when renovating], but nothing quite like this."
Rich Gilson. | Source: youtube.com/FOX 29 Philadelphia
THEY LOOKED LIKE WEEDS
Amid the dirt, debris, and concrete, Rich noticed what looked like little round weeds. He picked them up and threw them to the side before continuing to work. He planned to use the objects to fill up other areas.
However, the homeowner eventually realized the mysterious items were not weeds and noticed the edges of his findings had a green tint. As he looked closer, he was left speechless, calling his wife from inside the house. He said:
"My wife was in [the house] painting. And I said, 'You've got to come and see this. You won't believe what I just found.'"
Rich Gilson holds the mysterious object. | Source: youtube.com/FOX 29 Philadelphia
THE UNBELIEVABLE DISCOVERY
The couple couldn't believe their eyes, and Rich said: "This is money. It looked like little mini-cigars all bound up together. As I broke it apart, I started to see what it was." The bundles contained rolled-up vintage $10 and $20 bills.
The money was protected by a layer of brown paper and tied with an elastic band. Immediately Rich's mind started wondering about the origins of the hidden treasure.
Vintage dollar bills. | Source: youtube.com/FOX 29 Philadelphia
THE MONEY INTRIGUED THE HOMEOWNER
Rich discovered lots of the bundles in his yard, and upon further scrutiny, he realized there was something extra special about it. To his surprise, all the money was dated the same year: 1934. The homeowner knew this was strange. He stated:
"If you go in your pocket right now and look at your bills … they’re not all the same year. It just doesn’t happen that way."
Rich was excited that he had found the cash. The more than $2,000 was reported to be worth about $43,000 in 2022, but he was more fascinated by the money's history.
THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE
Rich spoke to people and did extensive research to trace the history of the house he owned. Thankfully, his neighbors, who had lived on their property for three generations, remembered intriguing details about the home.
They informed Rich that it had operated as a brothel many years ago. He believed the more-than-80-year-old money was buried in the ground for a reason and possibly forgotten.
Rich suggested that the cash was possibly acquired through sinister means. He said:
"My sense is that something fishy happened. Somehow, somebody got new bills, rolled them up like that, put them in a jar. Somebody was hiding it, not just under their bed or in a wall for safe keeping."
THE MONEY WON'T BE SPENT
The money was still pristine, but Rich revealed a surprising action plan. While most people would be excited to spend their lucky find, Rich wanted to do the opposite.
The homeowner held onto the money because he believed it gave credibility to his one-of-a-kind story. He explained:
"If I spend it and I tell the story, people are gonna be like, 'Well, where's the money?'"
Many wanted to know if Rich planned to search for more money on his property. However, he quickly silenced those questions, revealing that he simply wanted to finish his renovations and live in peace.
Whether or not the money had a history as colorful as Rich suggested, it still provided a thrill of excitement and perhaps an encouragement for others to dig around their homes in the future.
Have you ever stumbled upon something unusual? If not, what would you do if you did?
Click here for another fascinating story. One woman found a hidden door in her house leading to a mysterious room. She couldn't believe her eyes when she saw countless old letters.