What stuck with me most from ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ (ATU 328, ‘The Boy Who Stole Ogre's Treasure’) is the fact that those magic beans were tossed away yet really were magical.
Even today, people routinely cast off things that have genuine value despite being small and seemingly insignificant.
One such overlooked trinket would be the lowly crown bottle cap. Without William Painter’s 1892 invention, many drinks like Coca-Cola would not be globally portable and enjoyed as universally as they are today.
After the 1960s’ transition from cork liners to clear plastic liners, not only could your soda arrive fizzy, it could also contain a cartoon image, photo or message hidden inside its crown.
Pre-internet, this simple idea was enchanting and gave a moment of joy for all ages. Call me crazy: I collect and share these gems by the thousands, and some are worth much more than others (based on rarity and condition).
Explore my eBay store to see hundreds of varieties from around the world!