I have planted ‘seeds’ for other young collectors by giving away low value notes to kids who might one day blossom into full fledged collectors like myself.

When the United States invaded Afghanistan it was in the news every 15 minutes for days on end. Friends who knew I collected notes asked if I had any ‘give-away’ Afghanistan money as it was a great novelty item given it was so much in the press. I had nothing of ‘give-away’ value but I contacted Steve Eyer in Mount Zion to help in acquiring a few wrappers of Afghani notes. He came through and sent me several wrappers of 1000 Afghani notes. These ended up costing about 17¢ per note at the time and were perfect. I gave several to all who had asked for them and still had plenty left. I thought I would do a little ‘seeding’ and my daughter’s school and sent a handful of them with her one day. I included one in a plastic sleeve complete with details all about the note for the teacher. Well, as you would guess I was the hit of the day with all her classmates!

One classmate gave the note to an older sibling who took it to their junior high school to show it of. In doing so someone said, ”Hey I bet that money has ANTRAX on it!” Anthrax had been in the news but was never mentioned until now in association with that money. A teacher overhearing this came to investigate and contacted the principle who, not knowing how to handle a potential threat called the local fire department who was over the HAZMAT (Hazardous Materials Team). Once hearing “Anthrax” alerted the FBI.

Coming home from cardiac-rehab, (did I mention I had just been released from the hospital from triple by-pass surgery?) my wife told me to sit down and have a cup of coffee before I call the fire chief. Wondering that my daughter might have burned down the school, my wife explained she had been called about the Afghanistan money and the fire chief and FBI agent were waiting to speak with me.

I called and explained that it was a non-issue and they were clean uncirculated banknotes that I had given away and I had been a collector for a number of years and I had acquired them from Steve Eyer who was also a legitimate collector/dealer and I again assured them they were safe. The FBI Agent told me the note was on its way to the Houston Crime Lab for testing. I pleaded for him to turn the truck around and forget the whole ordeal as it was nothing and had just gotten blown way out of proportion. He said he figured it was innocent enough and believed my story but was helpless to stop the process once it had begun. I asked if this was going to hit the media as I was embarrassed that this had made such a big deal. He assured me nothing else would be said about it. Well, next morning it was on the local morning news, only to be followed weeks later by a mention in the local newspaper. Finally, the story died and everyone forgot about it. Or so I though.

After about 3 to 4 months I had forgotten about the whole ordeal and was at work when my wife received a registered letter from our local police addressed to me. She called me and read it to me. It stated they had some ‘property’ of mine and there was a case number. Going from one detective to the next I found the one in charge of my case. I inquired just what this ‘property’ was and he, shuffling through papers, said, “Looks like we have some Afghanistan currency of yours.”

I replied, “What? That money has come back to haunt me again? Throw it away!”

He explained that there was a chain of custody that had to be complied with and once I signed (all six places) I could do whatever I wanted to with it. I told him I would leave work and be right over.

Once there I signed all the paperwork and was handed the ‘property’. It was the Afghanistan banknote alright, wet, triple bagged and tagged from the crime lab.

I took it home to burn, but my wife insisted I keep it because of the story behind it. I did, but I am ever so mindful about what notes I now give away and when! Here it is.... double bagged!