Man Watching Antiques Roadshow Deciphers A Cryptic Item's 'Code'

Some of the most fascinating antiques in the world are currently sitting inside a dingy pawn shop — that is, if the experts can see that value. A retired engineer watching Antiques Roadshow from his couch at home knew experts were making a mistake when they appraised an item covered in "unbreakable" code. Determined to uncover the hidden message, he set out to answer the question appraisers couldn't — but it wasn't going to be easy.

Mystery box

One of the most special items Antiques Roadshow has ever seen really doesn’t seem like much. In fact, at first glance, it looks like a dime-a-dozen wooden box your grandmother once used to store things like bobby pins or fancy soap...

Early origins

But this wooden box goes back further than bobby pins. In fact, it goes back even further than your own grandmother. The small box, which can fit in the palm of your hand, is engraved with the year 1785 — almost 235 years ago. 

Cryptic engraving

Still, its age isn’t what makes this box so special. The truly captivating characteristic of the box is the numbers engraved around the lid. They made for a beautiful design, but as it turned out, they were much more than just decoration.

A captivating watch

When Antiques Roadshow-viewer Paul Wisken started the episode featuring the box, he figured it would be like any other — except it wasn't. As soon as the mysterious box appeared on screen, he was intrigued. The numbers stood out to him.