On Thursday, 16 July 1998, all three lower mast sections were successfully lifted and carefully slotted into position. Beneath the main mast, a small wooden box was ceremonially placed by Hamish Hardie and Jamie White. Inside were a 1998 gold sovereign and a silver dollar, along with a scroll acknowledging the members of the Trust and Ship Committee who had contributed to the restoration. The scroll also recorded thanks to the US National Park Service’s San Francisco Maritime Museum, which had granted Jamie a secondment to research, plan, and develop the restoration of the rig.
As this solemn ceremony took place, ten-year-old Tom Gibson stood proudly beside his grandad, Murray Scrimgeour, watching the mast being stepped. Suddenly realising he too had a shiny coin in his pocket, Tom made his own contribution—dropping a 10p coin into the mast step alongside the official box.
For the next 28 years, both the box and Tom’s coin remained safely hidden. Then, on Friday 16 January 2026, they were rediscovered during the lifting of the masts by TS Rigging. Tom, now an engineer with CalMac, was delighted to hear the news, saying, “I never thought I would see it again!”
During the current restoration, the box and its contents will be kept safe in the Museum store before being returned to their rightful place—perhaps accompanied by a new 2026 coin. And, of course, Tom’s coin will be put back too.
Placing coins beneath the main mast before stepping or lifting the masts is an ancient maritime tradition, believed to bring good luck to the ship.
Extracted from The Tall Ship Glenlee website, read more here