Suspicious-looking coins caused quite a stir in one part of Northumberland County. Police, emergency crews and even the FBI were called to investigate the penny problems.
Emergency crews were called to the Sovereign Bank in Milton around 1 p.m. Tuesday.
When authorities arrived they found something they had never seen before: lots of pennies that appeared to be corroded.
Northumberland County's Department of Public Safety Officer showed Newswatch 16 a picture of strange-looking pennies found inside the bank in Milton and inside the Wine and Spirits store next door.
"The pennies were corroded, black in color, almost to the point, that they appeared burned away," said Stephen Jeffery, Northumberland County's Department of Public Safety Officer. "It makes it look pretty suspicious."
Police shut down the bank and state store during the investigation.
Authorities said it started after an employee at the state store opened a pack of pennies picked up from Sovereign Bank earlier in the morning. The employee returned the coins. Bank employees called police after someone there found more strange-looking pennies in another pack.
"We did a quick test on the scene. We had no idea what it was," said Jeffery.
Authorities said two bank employees suffered some peeling to their hands, but are otherwise unhurt.
The pennies have been sent to Harrisburg for testing.
Police are trying to determine where the coins came from.
Emergency crews were called to the Sovereign Bank in Milton around 1 p.m. Tuesday.
When authorities arrived they found something they had never seen before: lots of pennies that appeared to be corroded.
Northumberland County's Department of Public Safety Officer showed Newswatch 16 a picture of strange-looking pennies found inside the bank in Milton and inside the Wine and Spirits store next door.
"The pennies were corroded, black in color, almost to the point, that they appeared burned away," said Stephen Jeffery, Northumberland County's Department of Public Safety Officer. "It makes it look pretty suspicious."
Police shut down the bank and state store during the investigation.
Authorities said it started after an employee at the state store opened a pack of pennies picked up from Sovereign Bank earlier in the morning. The employee returned the coins. Bank employees called police after someone there found more strange-looking pennies in another pack.
"We did a quick test on the scene. We had no idea what it was," said Jeffery.
Authorities said two bank employees suffered some peeling to their hands, but are otherwise unhurt.
The pennies have been sent to Harrisburg for testing.
Police are trying to determine where the coins came from.
