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Artist Leaves 15,000 Coins On Ground In London To See How People React, And The Result Surprised Him
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Wednesday, AirBnB host Jamahl McMurran and his guest Lana Mesic, a Croatian artist and photographer, set out to start a social experiment with a huge pile of coins.
It all started when Lana didn’t know what to do with the 15,000 coins that she had left from her previous art installation. Instead of transporting the heavy pile back home, she and Jamahl thought of a better idea… “So my Airbnb guest and I decided to place 15000 2p coins on the canal and record what would happen…. #coinsbythecanal,” Jamahl wrote on Twitter. The results were hilarious! Keep on scrolling to take a look.
What would you do if you saw a pile of coins like that? Let us know in the comment section below!
More info: Twitter | Instagram
AirBnB host Jamahl and his guest decided to start a social experiment with a huge pile of coins
They placed 15,000 coins on the street and waited for people to pass by
Live tweeting everything they saw:
This smart kid decided to fill up his whole bag and the struggle was real
Others just played in the coins as if it were a sandbox
This guy put his umbrella on the pile and shot a Instagram-worthy photo
One biker just grabbed some extra change
Then this guy decided to literally make it rain money by pouring some coins over his head
Sadly, the observations came to an abrupt end when these guys showed up…
They just took it all down to every coin…
What would you do if you saw a pile of coins like that? Let us know in the comment section below!
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Oh no what a surprise. Some people don't dare to take it all because they suspect being filmed and just have some fun with it. And others don't give a fuck as they are not really stealing anything and just take it all. #notreallysurprised. If people would start dropping their small change too and it would become a huge pile. That would be surprising.
Most people wouldn't take it all because they simply couldn'T be arsed to deal with them. Not sure about British banks but most German ones demand hefty fees for taking in large amounts coins - if they take them at all.
Supermarkets here in UK have coin machines that give you notes against your coins... they probably took them to the nearest Tesco.
In the U.S., I've found that most banks will take ROLLED coins and pay on the spot. But if it is used as a deposit and if they find slugs (or other artificial coins, or coins of a smaller denomination than was paid for, they will just deduct it from your account.
My bank in Germany doesn't take my change at all. They closed the cash point. They don't have those machines just the normal bill giving ones ... -.-
Its free to change coins at the bank here in Andorra.... those german banks sound way too greedy... Great project, the kids looked so happy & the guy tipping coins over his head was awesome 👍
I don't understand this desire to piss on people's magic. Who cares if it was a surprise? It was an interesting art project. No one asked for or needs you to be surprised.
I didn t ask People to post it here nor your reply. That s just the nature of the game here.
I haven't read all the comments yet, so I don't know what you mean. But I agree with you that it looked like an entertaining way to drop around $200 she had to do something with.
I will wish on the canal like wishing well. :)
Thinking the same here! Would had wish for more happy ideas like this guy.
Croatian girl.
I'd put a tiny Smaug statue on top of it
nice !
Winner!!!!
Cool idea ;)
Perhaps I would take a coin shower.... like Scrooge McDuck! A childhood dream :-)
I'm thinking the same! :)
Being a coin collector I would probably search every single coin until I find one with a collector's value (like one with a mint-made error)
Yep, Avarice finally shows it's Ugly Head.
The guys at the end remind me the 1% in our world. While the pile of coins was basic income...
They should have also filmed the bank tellers reaction when they asked for £300 in 2p coins ^_^
I would take one, for good luck.
I'd probably remove the pennies from my pocket and drop them on the pile.
I'd invite a bunch of kids and adults to bring their coins to add to the pile and we'd have a contest to see who could build the most creative mini structure .
I'd add to it.
I would pick them up and run them through my hands and probably laugh. Good experiment!
I'd stop by, observing from my current distance at the given moment, and be all like "Uhm? What's that? Eheh, wow, weird!" And leave with a smile.
I would take one coin and make a wish when I throw it in the canal. And then I'd take a picture of this rare event😉
I would play play play!
i would definitively take some and then look up for beggars and tell them there are more so they could get it...
I would have taken a photo worthy of Instagram then given some of my coins to the pile
I would not touch.....
I would play in it like a sandbox too lol
That was still a good idea. Its amazing how different everyone's mind works. It shows you the good in humanity. But if he thought that no one would really steal it than there was a serious problem with his thought processes lol.
I'd throw one over my shoulder into the canal and make a wish.
I would probably put an extra coin into the pile
I would to take some photos with my golden dog :D And in second dream- I would to make a golden fishes picture with all these coins <3 Absolutely fantastic idea with this experiment, but I expected, that people will toss their own money there, for making this golden mountain bigger! Unfortunetely - not :P
That small pile is 15,000 coins? Cheese! How will I ever save up enough for my own pool of coins now!?
I would have Made a piece of art work right there out of it for all to enjoy...I like this experiment...not impressed with the guys at the end taking it all...selfish society we live in !
Build a coin castle like those in beaches may be ;)
Build a castle like those usually built in a beach ;)
🎵 Make it rain 🎵
someone posted a clickbait on boredpanda, the amount of people falling for it will surprise you
I would have made a wish on one and thrown it into the canal.
I would take one coin, make a wish and throw it into the canal. 😉
I would look around for someone who needs money...
Step on it or lay on it
I hope those guys grabbed them all and then made a breadcrumb trail for the next few blocks for fun, transforming the art piece.
I wouldn't take anything. I'd want to of course but I wouldn't, I'd feel too bad. I know it would be a social experiment of some kind.
I'm wondering how much it would be in American dollars?
I'd lean against the rail and watch the fun and maybe make some takers uncomfortable.
i feel so stupid because i realize the first thing i would do is look for some officer or alert the closest shop clerk
This reminds me of the short CGI film: '"The Wishgranter", which one can view on You-Tube.
i would have just picked up a coin and throw it into the canal tbh
I would lay on them and take a selfie. And pour some coin on me :)
I feel like I would be the one playing in it like a sand box
I would throw them all over my head like that one guy did
Take some and buy food for a homeless person
I think that the diverse reactions indicate the diverse sample of 'homo sapiens' we live among (including those who ended the fun 4 everyone!)
Make it all flat to look like a cool flooring project!
The guy in the last photo is the guy in the first photo, same clothes, brought back a friend, detestable cretin.
dont know that is a lot of money
Abject waste of time...and money.
Surprised the government didn't show up to Tax it. Oh wait... maybe that's who the two guys were.
Surprised the government didn't show up to tax it... Oh wait, maybe that's who the two guys were.
I'd think it's street art!
who were the two idiots?
The only surprise to me was that someone didn't take it all sooner....uk banks will take it all.They supply little bags to put 50p, worth in....
I would look for a leprechaun!
I'd probably take a picture and move on. 15000 coins would weigh a lot.
Sit somewhere and watch
I might have spread it around and rolled in it.
Exactly what I would have done and thrown it up in the air to fall on me as I laid there making money angels :) And no...not because I assumed I was being watched.
I would probably sit and make a penny Castle and walls and some buildings , maybe I would make a path of coins to a village. I would Play!
Coin shower.
Not rlly surprised
Looks like the guy with the grey pants and black T-shirt is the same guy as the one at 10.54
Definitly the rain!!!!
They're going to have years of good luck
I'd take one for luck , &, hope the rest would be picked up by children. Can you imagine their excitement in scooping up these coins?
it's coper people!!!!
I'd probably add to the pile and then make it rain like tht guy did
If you find anything of value on the streets and do not take reasonable action to try and return it to the owner you can be convicted of theft. Notiify the police of the find and if it is not claimed it will then become yours. If you take it and just keep it you can be charged with theft. So if you see a tenner lying on the pavement take reasonable action to return it.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
So we left £300 on the footpath to see if anyone picks it up. Ummm duuhhhh
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
In another surprise experiment a couple stand naked in the middle of Trafalgar Sq. You won't believe how many rude & nosey people stared at them!
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Artist? what artist?
Read the preview.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
A pathetic way to advertise your tawdry and increasingly socially inept enterprise. I work in the media. I would never use your 'facility' I'd rather sleep on a park bench,
Oh no what a surprise. Some people don't dare to take it all because they suspect being filmed and just have some fun with it. And others don't give a fuck as they are not really stealing anything and just take it all. #notreallysurprised. If people would start dropping their small change too and it would become a huge pile. That would be surprising.
Most people wouldn't take it all because they simply couldn'T be arsed to deal with them. Not sure about British banks but most German ones demand hefty fees for taking in large amounts coins - if they take them at all.
Supermarkets here in UK have coin machines that give you notes against your coins... they probably took them to the nearest Tesco.
In the U.S., I've found that most banks will take ROLLED coins and pay on the spot. But if it is used as a deposit and if they find slugs (or other artificial coins, or coins of a smaller denomination than was paid for, they will just deduct it from your account.
My bank in Germany doesn't take my change at all. They closed the cash point. They don't have those machines just the normal bill giving ones ... -.-
Its free to change coins at the bank here in Andorra.... those german banks sound way too greedy... Great project, the kids looked so happy & the guy tipping coins over his head was awesome 👍
I don't understand this desire to piss on people's magic. Who cares if it was a surprise? It was an interesting art project. No one asked for or needs you to be surprised.
I didn t ask People to post it here nor your reply. That s just the nature of the game here.
I haven't read all the comments yet, so I don't know what you mean. But I agree with you that it looked like an entertaining way to drop around $200 she had to do something with.
I will wish on the canal like wishing well. :)
Thinking the same here! Would had wish for more happy ideas like this guy.
Croatian girl.
I'd put a tiny Smaug statue on top of it
nice !
Winner!!!!
Cool idea ;)
Perhaps I would take a coin shower.... like Scrooge McDuck! A childhood dream :-)
I'm thinking the same! :)
Being a coin collector I would probably search every single coin until I find one with a collector's value (like one with a mint-made error)
Yep, Avarice finally shows it's Ugly Head.
The guys at the end remind me the 1% in our world. While the pile of coins was basic income...
They should have also filmed the bank tellers reaction when they asked for £300 in 2p coins ^_^
I would take one, for good luck.
I'd probably remove the pennies from my pocket and drop them on the pile.
I'd invite a bunch of kids and adults to bring their coins to add to the pile and we'd have a contest to see who could build the most creative mini structure .
I'd add to it.
I would pick them up and run them through my hands and probably laugh. Good experiment!
I'd stop by, observing from my current distance at the given moment, and be all like "Uhm? What's that? Eheh, wow, weird!" And leave with a smile.
I would take one coin and make a wish when I throw it in the canal. And then I'd take a picture of this rare event😉
I would play play play!
i would definitively take some and then look up for beggars and tell them there are more so they could get it...
I would have taken a photo worthy of Instagram then given some of my coins to the pile
I would not touch.....
I would play in it like a sandbox too lol
That was still a good idea. Its amazing how different everyone's mind works. It shows you the good in humanity. But if he thought that no one would really steal it than there was a serious problem with his thought processes lol.
I'd throw one over my shoulder into the canal and make a wish.
I would probably put an extra coin into the pile
I would to take some photos with my golden dog :D And in second dream- I would to make a golden fishes picture with all these coins <3 Absolutely fantastic idea with this experiment, but I expected, that people will toss their own money there, for making this golden mountain bigger! Unfortunetely - not :P
That small pile is 15,000 coins? Cheese! How will I ever save up enough for my own pool of coins now!?
I would have Made a piece of art work right there out of it for all to enjoy...I like this experiment...not impressed with the guys at the end taking it all...selfish society we live in !
Build a coin castle like those in beaches may be ;)
Build a castle like those usually built in a beach ;)
🎵 Make it rain 🎵
someone posted a clickbait on boredpanda, the amount of people falling for it will surprise you
I would have made a wish on one and thrown it into the canal.
I would take one coin, make a wish and throw it into the canal. 😉
I would look around for someone who needs money...
Step on it or lay on it
I hope those guys grabbed them all and then made a breadcrumb trail for the next few blocks for fun, transforming the art piece.
I wouldn't take anything. I'd want to of course but I wouldn't, I'd feel too bad. I know it would be a social experiment of some kind.
I'm wondering how much it would be in American dollars?
I'd lean against the rail and watch the fun and maybe make some takers uncomfortable.
i feel so stupid because i realize the first thing i would do is look for some officer or alert the closest shop clerk
This reminds me of the short CGI film: '"The Wishgranter", which one can view on You-Tube.
i would have just picked up a coin and throw it into the canal tbh
I would lay on them and take a selfie. And pour some coin on me :)
I feel like I would be the one playing in it like a sand box
I would throw them all over my head like that one guy did
Take some and buy food for a homeless person
I think that the diverse reactions indicate the diverse sample of 'homo sapiens' we live among (including those who ended the fun 4 everyone!)
Make it all flat to look like a cool flooring project!
The guy in the last photo is the guy in the first photo, same clothes, brought back a friend, detestable cretin.
dont know that is a lot of money
Abject waste of time...and money.
Surprised the government didn't show up to Tax it. Oh wait... maybe that's who the two guys were.
Surprised the government didn't show up to tax it... Oh wait, maybe that's who the two guys were.
I'd think it's street art!
who were the two idiots?
The only surprise to me was that someone didn't take it all sooner....uk banks will take it all.They supply little bags to put 50p, worth in....
I would look for a leprechaun!
I'd probably take a picture and move on. 15000 coins would weigh a lot.
Sit somewhere and watch
I might have spread it around and rolled in it.
Exactly what I would have done and thrown it up in the air to fall on me as I laid there making money angels :) And no...not because I assumed I was being watched.
I would probably sit and make a penny Castle and walls and some buildings , maybe I would make a path of coins to a village. I would Play!
Coin shower.
Not rlly surprised
Looks like the guy with the grey pants and black T-shirt is the same guy as the one at 10.54
Definitly the rain!!!!
They're going to have years of good luck
I'd take one for luck , &, hope the rest would be picked up by children. Can you imagine their excitement in scooping up these coins?
it's coper people!!!!
I'd probably add to the pile and then make it rain like tht guy did
If you find anything of value on the streets and do not take reasonable action to try and return it to the owner you can be convicted of theft. Notiify the police of the find and if it is not claimed it will then become yours. If you take it and just keep it you can be charged with theft. So if you see a tenner lying on the pavement take reasonable action to return it.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
So we left £300 on the footpath to see if anyone picks it up. Ummm duuhhhh
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
In another surprise experiment a couple stand naked in the middle of Trafalgar Sq. You won't believe how many rude & nosey people stared at them!
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Artist? what artist?
Read the preview.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
A pathetic way to advertise your tawdry and increasingly socially inept enterprise. I work in the media. I would never use your 'facility' I'd rather sleep on a park bench,