US military time capsule not empty after all

A clip capsule from the 1820s that was opened successful a highly-anticipated ceremonial astatine the West Point US subject academy was recovered to incorporate coins and a medal.

The pb container was searched successful beforehand of a country of cadets connected Monday. The assemblage was disheartened erstwhile the container was opened and it appeared empty.

But now, officials accidental the container really held a medal and 5 coins, minted successful years ranging from 1795 to 1828.

In a statement, the academy said they "were embedded" successful the box's "matrix".

The coins were minted with values ranging from 1 cent up to 1 dollar.

The container besides contained a medal that celebrates the completion of the Erie Canal successful 1825. The canal was built successful 8 years and connected the Hudson River successful New York to the Great Lakes.

"Six coins and a medal were embedded wrong the matrix, dating from 1795 to 1828," West Point said connected Wednesday.

"The humanities preservation process volition continue, and updates volition beryllium provided erstwhile caller accusation is available," it added.

At Monday's ceremony, young troops watched arsenic immoderate of West Point's apical brass took the signifier to observe the breathtaking moment.

In beforehand of them, centre stage, was the grey container - 12in by 12in by 13in (30cm by 30cm by 33cm) - and 2 schoolhouse employees, lasting by with purple rubber gloves and achromatic masks, prepared to unveil its contents.

The container had been recovered a fewer months earlier, during the restoration of a bronze statue of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a celebrated warfare leader and statesman.

Underneath the marble look of the monument the container was discovered, seemingly placed determination during the completion of the statute successful 1829.