This Man’s Simple Basement Renovation Turned Into A Life-Changing Treasure Find

Reddit user Branik12 is passionate about remodeling and renovating homes. So, when he and his wife bought a fixer-upper home in the greater Cleveland area, he couldn't have been more thrilled.

He was ready to get to work! The thing with projects such as this is that you need to expect the unexpected. And for Branik12, the unexpected came stashed away in the ceiling of his new basement. You'll never believe the treasure he uncovered, something that's been hidden away for over half a century.

Branik12 And His Wife Bought A 1940s House

Branik12 And His Wife Bought A 1940s House
BuildPix/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images
BuildPix/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images

Thirty-five-year-old Reddit user Branik12 is a self-proclaimed "do-it-yourself home remodeler." So, when he and his wife bought a fixer-upper in the greater Cleveland area, they were very excited.

The home dated back to the 1940s, and there were more than a handful of renovations that needed to happen. But the couple was up for the task, even though they're the first to admit the project was going to take a good amount of time to complete.

ADVERTISEMENT

It Was Time To Start On The Basement

ADVERTISEMENT
It Was Time To Start On The Basement
DIY Photolibrary/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images
DIY Photolibrary/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Getting straight to work, Branik12 and his wife were able to completely redo most of the first and second floor of their new house. They were very excited about what they accomplished, and who wouldn't be? But they still had one more level that needed their attention.

ADVERTISEMENT

The couple made their way down to the basement, ready to get to work on renovating the space to their specifications. Little did they know that they were about to come across a life-changing treasure.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Basement Was A Creepy Blank Canvas

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Basement Was A Creepy Blank Canvas
Daniel Thistlethwaite/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images
Daniel Thistlethwaite/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

To put it mildly, the basement was creepy. The area had cold concrete floors, barely-there windows that gave off the only light, and walls that needed more than a few fresh coats of paint. Thankfully, Branik12 is an optimist and didn't see his horror movie-inspired basement.

ADVERTISEMENT

Rather, the Reddit user saw a blank canvas. He was beyond excited to get started in the basement, never knowing that he was about to stumble upon something unexpected.

ADVERTISEMENT

Branik12 Was On The Brink Of A Strange Discovery

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Branik12 Was On The Brink Of A Strange Discovery
DIY Photolibrary/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images
DIY Photolibrary/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

One of the "creepy" features in the basement was the aged peeling plaster walls. Branik12 was smart, though, and decided it was a good a place as any to start his project. So, he tore the walls down to expose the cinder block stone behind it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Once he started, the Reddit user soon discovered that there was more than one secret stashed away in the basement. He quickly made a strange discovery within the basement walls.

ADVERTISEMENT

There Was Writing On The Wall

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
There Was Writing On The Wall
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

As Branik12 began tearing away the old plaster and chipping at stubborn pieces, cinder block stone began to appear. But it wasn't the stone that surprised Branik12. As he peeled more and more of the plaster away, he began to notice something on the stone: writing.

ADVERTISEMENT

Of course, it could have been the construction workers who wrote instructions on the stone at the time. But Branik12 didn't believe that, so he peeled the plaster further back, exposing something else entirely.

ADVERTISEMENT

They Didn't Think Too Much Of The Writing

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
They Didn't Think Too Much Of The Writing
DIY Photolibrary/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images
DIY Photolibrary/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

On Reddit, Branik12 wrote, "We peeled back the walls and revealed some random writing and drawings." The writing wasn't organized, but rather a mix of names and random doodles. The couple wasn't entirely sure what to make of the strange etchings.

ADVERTISEMENT

All they knew was that something felt very off. But Branik12 wasn't going to let the graffitied wall stall his project. So, he got right back to renovating the basement, despite feeling a bit uneasy.

ADVERTISEMENT

Now, It Was Time To Gut The Ceiling

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Now, It Was Time To Gut The Ceiling
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

With the walls removed, Branik12 stepped back to admire his work. Of course, when he imagined looking at his basement after finishing up the walls, he never expected to be surrounded by strange writing and doodles.

ADVERTISEMENT

They were everywhere! Still, he kept the graffiti in the back of his mind and started on the next phase of the basement renovation. It was time for him to begin gutting the ceiling. Of course, what he hoped to be a quick part of the project didn't exactly go as planned.

ADVERTISEMENT

This Phase Was Going To Take Longer Than They Expected

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
This Phase Was Going To Take Longer Than They Expected
Sally-Ann Norman/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images
Sally-Ann Norman/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

On his Reddit account, Branik12 said, "There [is] a good quarter-inch of dust on the ceiling. We put up plastic to keep the dust out of the rest of the house and exposed then patched the air returns first."

ADVERTISEMENT

Honestly, the couple thought they knew what they were doing with this next stage of the renovation. But something very messy that was going to take more time than they initially expected was about to come up. They had no idea what they were about to find.

ADVERTISEMENT

Branik12 Spotted Something Between The Pipes

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Branik12 Spotted Something Between The Pipes
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

Ironically, Branik12 and his wife thought this remodel was a bit easier than the ones they had done in the past, regardless of the heavy dust and strange etchings. Because the basement was empty and there wasn't much to move, other than two heavy foot-traffic floors, they didn't have much to worry about.

ADVERTISEMENT

But what they didn't expect was finding something hidden away between the pipes in the ceiling. It was this discovery that had Branik12 stop dead in his tracks.

ADVERTISEMENT

It Was A Green Metallic Box

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
It Was A Green Metallic Box
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

While Branik12 was gutting the ceiling, exposing pipes and wooden beams, he noticed something tucked away between the pipes. But the basement was very poorly lit, and he couldn't identify the green object.

ADVERTISEMENT

So, he hopped off his ladder and grabbed a flashlight to get a better look. When he finally got a good look at the object, he was finally able to place it. Tucked between the pipes in the ceiling was a green metallic box!

ADVERTISEMENT

He Found Some Sort Of Treasure!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
He Found Some Sort Of Treasure!
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

On his Reddit account, Branik12 sarcastically told his followers, "cool; I found treasure!" He'd read so many internet articles about people finding "long-lost treasure" in their homes or even in their backyards that it was hard for him not to joke about the prospect of him stumbling across something amazing.

ADVERTISEMENT

Even though he was making fun of the situation, Branik12 was overly curious about what was inside the metal container. It must have been stashed up in the ceiling for a reason.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Box Had Some Weight To It

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Box Had Some Weight To It
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

Without waiting another moment, Branik12 carefully removed the dust-covered box from the ceiling. The dimly-lit basement was no place to open the "treasure," though. So, the Reddit user grabbed his wife and they made their way outside to make sure they had ample light.

ADVERTISEMENT

Branik12 had no clue what they were about to find in the metallic box, but he was sure there was something inside. The box had a slight weight to it.

ADVERTISEMENT

They Started Guessing The Contents Of The Box

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
They Started Guessing The Contents Of The Box
Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images
Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Unfortunately, Branik12 concluded that the box didn't contain coins or gold bars of any kind because nothing was rattling around inside. But what did that leave? A bunch of letters from way back when? The weight was right for a bunch of letters.

ADVERTISEMENT

Still having no clue the contents of the box, the couple eagerly began to lift the lid. Of course, Branik12 documented the entire thing, making sure to capture the moment frame by frame.

ADVERTISEMENT

They Thought Ball Cards Or Recipes Could Be Inside

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
They Thought Ball Cards Or Recipes Could Be Inside
Chris McGrath/Getty Images
Chris McGrath/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The couple was having fun guessing what could be inside the old container. While Branik12 believed it to contain old baseball cards, his wife thought it might be a bunch of old family recipes. One thing they seemed to agree on was that it was filled with paper of some kind.

ADVERTISEMENT

Boy, were they in for a surprise! The couple never would never have guessed what they were about to find stashed away in the old box.

ADVERTISEMENT

There Were Three Separate Packages In Old Wax Paper

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
There Were Three Separate Packages In Old Wax Paper
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

As it turned out, there were three separately wrapped packages inside the box. Each was bundled in old wax paper, so the elements couldn't get to whatever was inside. But before they went to unwrap the three packages, they noticed something else.

ADVERTISEMENT

There was an old piece of newspaper tucked away in the box from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, dated Sunday, March 25, 1951. Well, one thing was for certain, whatever is in the box has been there since the '50s and most likely hasn't been touched since.

ADVERTISEMENT

Money, Money, And Some More Money

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Money, Money, And Some More Money
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

The couple was growing more and more excited. So, when Branik12 finally unwrapped the first package, he couldn't help but stare at what was in his hands. There, right in front of him, was a stack of dollar bills.

ADVERTISEMENT

And the stack wasn't just a bunch of one and five dollar bills. The couple really did find a long-lost treasure! Now it was time to unwrap the other two packages to see what else they had discovered.

ADVERTISEMENT

They Found Thousands Of Dollars In Cash

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
creative
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

On his Reddit account, Branik12 said, "These are all twenties! We are freaking out at this point." He and his wife believed that the first package contained at least a few thousand dollars in cash. Unbelievable!

ADVERTISEMENT

By this point, the couple couldn't believe their eyes, and they still had another two packages to open! Thinking they couldn't possibly be surprised by the contents of the other two bundles after this one, they dove in. And, boy, were they wrong.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Second Package Contained Another Stack Of Money

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Second Package Contained Another Stack Of Money
Alfred Gescheidt/Getty Images
Alfred Gescheidt/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The two were already a few thousand dollars richer than they were a few minutes ago, so they didn't expect to find yet another large stack of cash in the second package. Yet, that's exactly what they found after unwrapping the second bundle of old wax paper.

ADVERTISEMENT

It was ridiculous! Never in their wildest dreams did they ever imagine coming into this type of money. And they did nothing but find it in a ceiling!

ADVERTISEMENT

Second Package = A Stack Of $50 Bills

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Second Package = A Stack Of $50
Blick/RDB/ullstein bild via Getty Images
Blick/RDB/ullstein bild via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

On his Reddit account, Branik12 wrote, "The second package did not have any twenties." Instead, the second package held something worth even more. Instead of twenty-dollar bills, the second stack held all fifty dollar bills!

ADVERTISEMENT

Oh, and get this, the second stack of cash was just as large as the first. Branik12 and his wife stumbled upon a gold mine, and they hadn't even broken into the third and final package yet!

ADVERTISEMENT

$100 Bills Were Found In The Third Package

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
$100 Bills Were Found In The Third Package
Carol Smiljan/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Carol Smiljan/NurPhoto via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Since the first and second packages were filled with cash, Branik12 and his wife thought the third was going to be filled with more of the same. But they never expected to find what they did.

ADVERTISEMENT

In the third wax-covered package was another stack of cash. But this one was different; it was filled with 100 dollar bills! Branik12 wrote on his Reddit page, "this is out of control!" You could say that again, friend!

ADVERTISEMENT

Branik12 Thought They Were Game Show Contestants

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Branik12 Thought They Were Game Show Contestants
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

Branik12 and his wife were in shock. They stood there staring at the unbelievable fortune they found stashed away in the basement ceiling of their new home. It didn't feel real. Things like this didn't happen to people like them.

ADVERTISEMENT

Branik12 even considered that they might be the un-knowing guests of some weird game show. Little did they know that the third package was just the tip of the iceberg. They were about to learn a lot more about their treasure.

ADVERTISEMENT

Some Of The Bills Were Rare

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Some Of The Bills Were Rare
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

Gazing down at his newly-found fortune, Branik12 noticed something. There were some bills that were very rare and probably worth more than what the note actually said. On his Reddit account, Branik12 wrote, "some brown notes, a gold certificate, and some star notes nearly uncirculated."

ADVERTISEMENT

So, the question now was how much money was the couple looking at here? Originally they thought it was a few thousand, but it seems like they underestimated the bills' actual worth.

ADVERTISEMENT

They Needed To Find Out If The Money Was Legally Theirs

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
They Needed To Find Out If The Money Was Legally Theirs
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

As it turned out, the bills were all printed between 1928 and 1934, so they were most likely worth way more than what Branik12 expected. The thing was, he'd heard and read about people finding treasure such as this in their homes, but they never explain what they do after they find it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Was the money legally theirs, or did they need to give it to someone? So, he went to Reddit in search of some answers.

ADVERTISEMENT

They Contacted A Real Estate Lawyer

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
They Contacted A Real Estate Lawyer
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

With their home renovations put on hold, Branik12 called up one of his friends who just so happened to specialize in real estate. They wanted to know what to do with the money so they didn't get in trouble with the law for some reason.

ADVERTISEMENT

To their astonishment, their friend said they had nothing to worry about because the money was legally theirs! Now, it was time to find an appraiser, so they could find out how much money they were sitting on.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Total Came Out To $23,000

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Total Came Out To $23,000
Pierre Vauthey/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images
Pierre Vauthey/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

After finding someone to take a look at their findings, the couple learned a few things. First, 20 of the bills were above their face value, and ten were worth more than four times their original value! In total, the couple found a small fortune of $23,000 in their ceiling basement.

ADVERTISEMENT

Someone, their story didn't end there. The couple was only scratching the surface of mysteries their new house had to offer.

ADVERTISEMENT

It Was Time To Get Back To Work

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
It Was Time To Get Back To Work
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

After about a week, Branik12 said their adrenaline was wearing off, and they had to come back down to reality. And the reality was that their basement was still unfinished and in complete disarray. So, he got back to work.

ADVERTISEMENT

Starting off right where he finished, Branik12 began peeling away more of the ceiling. And after finally coming back down to Earth, imagine his surprise when he saw yet another box stashed away in the ceiling.

ADVERTISEMENT

He Had To Make Sure There Were No More Boxes

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
He Had To Make Sure There Were No More Boxes
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

He couldn't believe his eyes; there was another box in the ceiling! Just to be sure there weren't more treasures hidden up there, Branik12 made quick work gutting the rest of the ceiling. Satisfied that the second box was the last one, he made his way back upstairs.

ADVERTISEMENT

Now, it was a waiting game because he wasn't going to open the box without his wife, and she so happened to be at work. Finally, she got home, and they were like little kids on Christmas, yet again.

ADVERTISEMENT

There Was $10,000 In The Second Box!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
There Was $10,000 In The Second Box!
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

Inside the heavier second box was yet another stack of old bills. Like the first box, a newspaper clipping from 1951 was neatly tucked inside. But when they peeled the paper away, they noticed something different.

ADVERTISEMENT

This box didn't have individually stacked packages. Rather, the old bills were vertically placed in the box, an assortment of $20s, $50s, and $100s. The couple counted $10,000 in total. But that wasn't including the rare bills that were in the mix! It was time to get their find appraised.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Total Amount They Found Was $45,000

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Total Amount They Found Was $45,000
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

As they did the week before with their first finding, the couple went to Google to research some of the rare bills. Then, they made their way back to the appraiser to see how much money they were actually dealing with.

ADVERTISEMENT

As it turned out, the first and second treasure combined was worth $45,000! The couple couldn't believe they found such a treasure stashed away in their old home's basement ceiling.

ADVERTISEMENT

They're Saving The Money For Their Mortgage

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
They're Saving The Money For Their Mortgage
Branik12/Imgur
Branik12/Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

In a follow-up Reddit post, Branik12 explained that their findings are safe in the bank and that they plan to use the funds to pay off their mortgage. With the amount they found, the two believe they'll be able to pay it off fairly quickly.

ADVERTISEMENT

They plan to relocate to the country. Here's to hoping the two decide to renovate their new countryside home. As they very well know, who knows what they might find hidden away!

ADVERTISEMENT

The Farmhouse Was Neglected For Years

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Farmhouse Was Neglected For Years
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Reddit user EvilEnglish was very close to his grandparents growing up. So, when they passed away, and he was asked to clean out their neglected Tennessee farmhouse, he accepted.

ADVERTISEMENT

It had been a solid 20 years since anyone has been to the house, let alone touched it or made renovations. The young man had no clue he was about to make the discovery of a lifetime in this long-empty house.

ADVERTISEMENT

Easier Access To Medical Care Was Why They Left

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Easier Access To Medical Care Was Why They Left
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

It's sad because his grandparents wouldn't have left their farmhouse if his grandpa hadn't been diagnosed with lung cancer. To be closer to a medical center and their family, they decided to leave the farm in 1997.

ADVERTISEMENT

After the grandfather passed away, EvilEnglish's grandma never returned to the beloved house they had shared for so many years. Eventually, she passed away, too. With no emotional connection to the house, the grandson kept putting off visiting the property, until now.

ADVERTISEMENT

His Endgame Was To Sell The House

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
His Endgame Was To Sell The House
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

It was going to cost EvilEnglish too much money to maintain and keep the farmhouse. So, there were two options: demolish the home or sell it. He chose the latter. The only problem was that no one had set foot inside the farmhouse in 20 years!

ADVERTISEMENT

It was dusty, falling apart, and had a serious case of cobwebs and mildew damage. EvilEnglish had some work to do. But he was up for the challenge and ready to get started!

ADVERTISEMENT

Time To Get Down To Business

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Time To Call Mom
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Deep down, EvilEnglish knew that there was no possible way he was going to be able to sell his grandparent's farmhouse in its current condition. With all of the neglect, it looked like the house was about to collapse! He was going to have to get down and dirty.

ADVERTISEMENT

While rummaging through the house and trying to get rid of rubble, EvilEnglish's mind wandered. He remembered fond memories he'd had in this house. And one, in particular, stood out.

ADVERTISEMENT

His Grandpa Was A Sailor And Loved Treasure

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
His Grandpa Was A Sailor And Loved Treasure
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

In the middle of cleaning, EvilEnglish began to reminisce about his late grandparents, especially his grandpa. Back in the day, he was a sailor and was even chased by pirates at one point in time! He and his wife used to love reading Treasure Island to EvilEnglish.

ADVERTISEMENT

That book always made him associate treasure with the farmhouse. So, it makes sense that EvilEnglish began to believe his grandparents had stashed away some type of treasure in the house. He just had to find it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Treasure Hunting Started In The Closet

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Treasure Hunting Started In The Closet
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

With his mind made up, EvilEnglish began thinking about where his grandparents could have possibly hidden treasure in the decaying farmhouse. So, he started where any logical person would -- the closet!

ADVERTISEMENT

Walking up to the hall closet, he wasn't expecting much. There was hardly anything in the house, aside from dust and cobwebs, after all. So, with his expectations kind of low, he opened the door. EvilEnglish didn't find anything but an old, smelly carpet. But then, everything changed.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Carpet Was Covering Something

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Carpet Was Covering Something
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

After seeing that the closet was empty besides the old mildew-ridden carpet, EvilEnglish couldn't help but feel mildly disappointed. Then again, he was in the old farmhouse for a reason. So he was going to have to take care of the carpet sooner or later.

ADVERTISEMENT

He decided sooner was best, considering the smell. As he began to rip up the carpet, he noticed something hidden underneath. He scratched his head, having no clue what it could be. Then it hit him.

ADVERTISEMENT

He Began To Remove The Carpet

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
He Began To Remove The Carpet
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

After he realized there was something underneath the grimy carpet, he began to remove it. For EvilEnglish, what started as an average day (well as 'average' as restoring a neglected farmhouse can be), turned into a mystery.

ADVERTISEMENT

As he suspected, as he peeled away the carpet, something began to take shape. What was it? Well, he wasn't going to stop there. EvilEnglish was now on a mission to remove the entire carpet and expose the secrets below.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Object Underneath The Carpet Was A Safe

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Object Underneath The Carpet Was A Safe
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Once the entire carpet was removed, EvilEnglish stepped back and stared at the exposed object for a while. He couldn't make heads or tails of it; what could it possibly be? The ground around it was dug carefully, so the object slid into it seamlessly.

ADVERTISEMENT

Then, a carpet was thrown over it so no one would find it. There was only one explanation; the object was some kind of safe. Unfortunately, it was covered in concrete. But, to EvilEnglish, that meant one thing: it was harboring something important!

ADVERTISEMENT

He Wanted To Know What Was In The Safe

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
He Wanted To Know What Was In The Safe
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

EvilEnglish had no idea what was inside the safe, but he was willing to bet it was something extraordinary. His grandparents had an affinity for old treasures, after all. While his grandpa liked to collect antique "arms," his grandmother loved old artifacts.

ADVERTISEMENT

There could be some priceless gems hidden in the concrete safe! Now the question was, how was he going to open it? And what if he spent hours trying to open it and nothing was there?

ADVERTISEMENT

Time To Call Mom

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Time To Call Mom
Semevent/pixabay
Semevent/pixabay
ADVERTISEMENT

Not wanting to waste his time trying to crack open the concrete safe if there was nothing inside, EvilEnglish called his mom to see if she had any insight. She did! Apparently, the grandparents had a safe when they had all lived in Florida.

ADVERTISEMENT

But that wasn't the only useful information his mother had to share. There was something else she knew, which could be the key to unlocking the mysteries of the safe. EvilEnglish was on pins and needles.

ADVERTISEMENT

She Knew The Combination

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
She Knew The Combination
Evilenglish/Reddit
Evilenglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

After confirming that the slab of concrete was, in fact, a safe, EvilEnglish's mom dropped another round of knowledge. She knew the combination! She told her son that the combination was most likely her husband, his father's, birthday. And, if that didn't work, try his social security number.

ADVERTISEMENT

EvilEnglish was thrilled. Not only did he have confirmation that the slab of concrete was a safe, but now he had the means to open it and see what was inside!

ADVERTISEMENT

The Combinations Didn't Work

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Combinations Didn't Work
Evilenglish/Reddit
Evilenglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

After spending some time putting in both combinations, EvilEnglish came to the conclusion that they weren't going to open the safe. He quickly realized that the lock was rusted together, or the two combinations his mom gave him were incorrect.

ADVERTISEMENT

Either way, he was back to square one. Then, a light bulb went off in his head. If he was ever going to get this old safe open, he was going to have to call in professional reinforcements.

ADVERTISEMENT

He Called A Locksmith

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
He Called A Locksmith
Evilenglish/Reddit
Evilenglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

As EvilEnglish was unable to open the safe by himself, he decided it was time to call in a professional. And what better person to call than a locksmith? Unfortunately, he found the safe on a Sunday, so all of the locksmith shops were closed.

ADVERTISEMENT

He was going to have to wait until Monday. At least he wasn't light on chores to do around the farmhouse. The only issue is that his mind kept wandering back to the safe.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Locksmith Had A Hard Time

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Locksmith Had A Hard Time
Evilenglish/Reddit
Evilenglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

EvilEnglish called a locksmith the first thing Monday morning. Then, he was on his way to the farmhouse to meet up with the man who was, hopefully, going to be the key to opening the safe. It took the locksmith a half-hour to figure out that the mission was impossible.

ADVERTISEMENT

The professional would normally have referred EvilEnglish to one of his colleagues if he knew how much work the job entailed. But, like EvilEnglish, the locksmith was now determined to get the safe open.

ADVERTISEMENT

They Worked For Hours

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
They Worked For Hours
Blaine Harden/The The Washington Post via Getty Images
Blaine Harden/The The Washington Post via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

EvilEnglish and the locksmith weren't going to stop until they got the safe open. After struggling for a few hours, chipping away at concrete, they began to see the latch. That meant that they were eventually going to get the safe open; it was just a matter of when.

ADVERTISEMENT

A few more hours and a lot of patience later, it began to look like they finally found the opening they needed to crack the safe.

ADVERTISEMENT

They Cracked The Safe!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
They Cracked The Safe!
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Fast forward a few hours, and the locksmith managed to find what they needed to open the safe! It's unknown if the locksmith stayed to see the treasure trove inside the safe, but EvilEnglish wasn't wasting any time.

ADVERTISEMENT

Was he going to find family heirlooms? Or maybe the contents inside the safe were worth a lot of money, and that's why his grandparents hid them away? The only way to tell was to get everything out of the safe and start examining!

ADVERTISEMENT

Was It Books, Boxes, Or Something Else?

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
books
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

At first glance, EvilEnglish thought the contents were nothing more than a pile of old books. Or maybe they were boxes? He wasn't sure, but he wasn't going to rule out any possibilities at this time. He had just gotten the safe open, after all!

ADVERTISEMENT

He began taking the book/boxes out of the safe, and at first, he was a bit disappointed. Where were the antiques and artifacts he thought he was going to find?

ADVERTISEMENT

He Kept Looking For Answers

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
He Kept Looking For Answers
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

As he started to take out the objects from the safe, EvilEnglish's hopes of finding buried treasure began to dwindle as everything was pretty much destroyed. But then he started to look closer at each of the objects, and a new sense of excitement began to wash over him.

ADVERTISEMENT

There was a vintage coin book that was pretty water damaged, but it was still intact. That meant it survived the farmhouse pipe leak a few years back. There might still be hope for the other objects!

ADVERTISEMENT

He Found Rare Coins

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
He Found Rare Coins
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Unfortunately, there were a bunch of dollar bills that were damaged beyond repair due to the flooding. But there was still much to be excited about! EvilEnglish stumbled upon a collection of rare coins in the safe. They were well-preserved, unlike the bills.

ADVERTISEMENT

He could safely say that his grandparents had the right idea locking the coins up. But EvilEnglish was only scratching the surface of the safe. There was still more treasure to be found!

ADVERTISEMENT

Money And More Money

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Money And More Money
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

It turned out, as EvilEnglish dug deeper and deeper into the safe, there were more bills. These were damp, but not as damaged as the previous ones he found. He believed that, with some professional help, he'd be able to salvage a few.

ADVERTISEMENT

Then, getting closer to the bottom of the safe, he found something remarkable. It seemed as though the treasure just kept getting more grandiose the further he dug! You won't believe what was at the bottom.

ADVERTISEMENT

Thousands Of Dollars In Coins

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Thousands Of Dollars In Coins
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Toward the bottom of the safe, EvilEnglish believed he'd found hundreds of dollars worth of rare coins. But upon closer inspection, he concluded that it was closer to thousands of dollars!

ADVERTISEMENT

He's no coin expert, so he was going to have to get a referral and ask a professional how much the coins are worth. But the treasure didn't stop there. EvilEnglish was about to stumble upon something he'd never seen before.

ADVERTISEMENT

Silver Bars With Historical Inscriptions

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Silver Bars With Historical Inscriptions
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

Another thing that EvilEnglish came across were silver bars. Unsure of what they were at first, he soon learned their significance. Each of the bars was inscribed with the state names Connecticut, Deleware, and Massachusetts, along with their founding date. He figured they were rare bars, due to their historical significance.

ADVERTISEMENT

But, like the coins, he was making assumptions and wanted to get a professional's opinion about the artifacts' worth. But the coins and bars weren't the only things EvilEnglish found.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Strange Box

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A Strange Box
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

With all of these findings, EvilEnglish was on cloud nine. The thing is, with all of the rare coins, dollar bills, and historical silver bars, he never would have guessed that the last item he'd take from the safe would pull at his heartstrings.

ADVERTISEMENT

The final thing he took out of the safe was an overly rusty box. Now, he was no stranger to opening things! So, after some time and persistence, he opened the box.

ADVERTISEMENT

Grandma's Jewelry

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Grandparents
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

What he discovered inside pulled at his heartstrings. The contents of the old box were some of his grandmother's priceless jewelry. And while the pieces weren't historically significant or worth much, they held plenty of sentimental value.

ADVERTISEMENT

EvilEnglish was very emotional, holding his grandmother's jewelry. But while he was doing so, something was nagging him. If his grandmother's things were hidden away in this safe, then where were his grandfather's antiques? Surely, there was another safe hidden in the farmhouse.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Coffee Table Was Next

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Coffee Table Was Next
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

After putting away the treasure he found, EvilEnglish began to search the rest of the farmhouse. Who knows, maybe there was another safe here that held some of his grandfather's things. He was going to leave no stone unturned, stripping the entire house if need be.

ADVERTISEMENT

Hey, he had to renovate anyway, right? That's when he noticed a rotting coffee table with a few drawers. Thinking he had nothing to lose, he opened one of the drawers.

ADVERTISEMENT

Another Safe With "Dangerous" Antiques

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Another Safe With Dangerous Antiques
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

There was a safe hidden away in the coffee table! Thankfully, EvilEnglish was able to open the second safe without the help of a locksmith. Once he cracked the safe open, what he found inside wasn't that big of a surprise.

ADVERTISEMENT

The safe contained some of his grandfather's antique arms, objects that EvilEnglish was curious about because he didn't know their location. But that wasn't the only thing he found in the coffee table safe.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bills With An Important Signature

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Bills With An Important Signature
EvilEnglish/Reddit
EvilEnglish/Reddit
ADVERTISEMENT

With his grandfather's antiques, the rare coins, silver bars, and his grandmother's jewelry, EvilEnglish was about to have a nice payday. Then, he stumbled upon something that was about to increase his find's total worth.

ADVERTISEMENT

In the second safe, he found dollar bills with Joseph W. Barr's signature. For one month in 1968, Barr was the Secretary of the Treasury. Because of his short term, not many of these notes were produced, making them very valuable.

ADVERTISEMENT

Asking The Online Community For Help

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Asking The Online Community For Help
Patrick AVENTURIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Patrick AVENTURIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Proud of his grandparent's valuables, and his treasure hunting skills, EvilEnglish went to the internet. He took pictures of all of his findings and posted them to Reddit in hopes of getting some answers. Most importantly, did anyone know the value of everything?

ADVERTISEMENT

The online community wasn't too helpful, although they thought his findings were very cool. But there was one Redditor that had a useful bit of information. If he wanted to replace the damaged bills, he should visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

ADVERTISEMENT

How Much Was Everything Worth?

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
worth
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

While that information was useful, EvilEnglish still wanted an exact value for the items. He figured he was standing on a goldmine and that everything probably totaled thousands of dollars. "Anything from 1964 or older is 90% silver worth about 20 times face value of the coin," he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Then, there was one Reddit user that clued him in on collectors value, saying that coins found in a safe have a value separate from the face value. Either way, EvilEnglish is going to have a nice payout!