Short History of Hollow Spy Coins
On May 1st 1960, U2 pilot Francis Gary Powers was shot down over the USSR and taken captive. In his possession was a hollow silver dollar, containing a poisoned needle that was to be used to take hia own life in such a circumstance. He did not use it and was held for 21 months by the Soviets. He was then exchanged for Soviet spy KGB Col. Vilyam Fisher at the Glienicke bridje, in Berlin Germany. Col Fisher was also no stranger to hollow coins. His capture by the US FBI directly related to a hollow nickel that was used to transport microfilm.