120 International Men of Mystery

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Welcome to another episode of "Nailing History," where Matt and Jon turn the past into a comedy show! This week, they’re tackling the 1962 prisoner exchange that inspired Bridge of Spies, and they’ve got a quirky gem to share: the infamous hollow nickel!

The episode kicks off by comparing the movie’s dramatic take on the Cold War swap of Soviet spy Rudolf Abel and American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers with the actual event. While Bridge of Spies turns the exchange into an edge-of-your-seat thriller with intense negotiations, the reality was a bit more like waiting for a DMV appointment—lots of paperwork, polite nods, and the occasional frostbite from standing in the cold.

Matt and Jon then dive into the film’s portrayal of Abel and Powers. The movie makes Abel look like the James Bond of espionage, but in reality, he was more like a chess enthusiast who occasionally forgot where he’d left his pieces. Powers, meanwhile, is shown as a heroic figure in the film, but his real-life return was more of a “Welcome Back” card and a heap of administrative forms.

And now, for the pièce de résistance: the hollow nickel story! Picture this: during the Cold War, someone had the bright idea to hollow out a nickel and use it as a secret compartment for microfilm. It’s like the spy equivalent of hiding a letter in a book, but way cooler and way more metal—literally. The nickel was discovered and became a legendary piece of spy tech, proving that even spare change can be part of high-stakes espionage.

Tune in for a hilarious ride through the real and reel worlds of espionage, complete with comparisons of Hollywood drama and the practical (and comically small) details like the hollow nickel that prove even the most mundane objects can be involved in international intrigue. It’s history, hilariously revealed!