So I’ve come across the typical Time Machine. It’s about the size of a phone booth (or sports car), and it can physically transfer me and whatever I can reasonably fit inside across the years. I’ve managed to resolve all of the contradictions that would create schisms in the universe, and I’ve already learned that you can’t change the big events like the whole Nazi thing or JFK assassination.
So what I’d really like to do is cash in.
Since I can’t create major disruptions to society (for reasons), I can’t become a famous prognosticator or finagle my way to other obvious fame.
But I can certainly parlay my knowledge into smart decisions.
And there’s the artifact angle; although if I bring some old priceless object with me in the Time Machine, there’s that risk it will be considered a fake, since it’s not old enough.
So what to do? And how to do it?
First, I figure I’d need local currency. If I head back to the 18th century, for example, my 21st century money looks fake.
So, I should load up on jewels, right? What about aluminum foil? Wasn’t Aluminum a very valuable commodity at one point?
But if I convert my wares to cash, then what?
Depending on when I went, I could cheaply snag a mint condition baseball card or comic book- which would fetch a lot of money in present times - and either take it with me in my Time Machine, or stash it in a safe deposit box.
But what about a document from colonial America? If it would be thought a reproduction if immediately transported, I’d have to stash it. Is there some bank where I can put it so I can then retrieve it 250 years later?
I suppose I’d want to do the same with certain stocks. It’d be helpful to invest in Coca Cola when it was a fledgling company, as one example, and leave the stock certificates for yourself. But then how do you ensure that you will leave that stock so that the future you - who isn’t born when you acquire it - can “inherit” it in the future?
Do I need to create “identities” at periodic periods throughout history- my own ancestors, if you will - so that I can pass it along to my present self?
What are the other ways an ambitious time traveler can put their effort into something profitable?
I’d figure knowing some trivia like who is going to win the next presidential election isn’t exactly a big money maker. I mean, if you decide to live in the past, you might be a “know it all”, but would being able to predict future events really be a financial boon?
I mean, sure, there’s last week’s lotto numbers. But anything else?
(The complications of time travel is why nobody does it, in my opinion)
