The Hidden Hoard of Seattle's Pioneer Square
A rare coin discovery in 1888 offers a glimpse into the transient, globalized pockets of Seattle's earliest residents.
Mr. A. C. Thomas, of the firm Thomas & Co., who keeps a shop on Front street, has on exhibition a rare collection of coins that were found under a floor in a building in Pioneer Square. The collection is quite large and includes a number of pieces of foreign money, as well as coins from different parts of the United States. Mr. Thomas has had this collection in his possession for some years and is particularly interested in it because the coins were found under a floor where a pioneer house once stood. The collection includes many ancient and curious pieces, and it is a fascinating look at the varied backgrounds of the people who helped build this city.
“The collection includes many ancient and curious pieces, and it is a fascinating look at the varied backgrounds of the people who helped build this city.”
Long before digital banking, Seattle's early settlers stored their wealth beneath floorboards. This discovery reminds us that beneath the pavement of today's Pioneer Square lies a physical record of the transient, multi-ethnic labor force that built the city from the ground up.
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