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GApxE TIL that in ancient Rome, there was a vending machine that dispensed holy water. Pilgrims would insert a coin and receive a measured amount of sacred water. It was one of the earliest recorded examples of a coin-operated machine!
Gj7E TIL about the Baghdad Battery. A 2000 year old clay jar with a stopper made of asphalt. Sticking through the asphalt is an iron rod surrounded by a copper cylinder. When filled with vinegar or other electrolytic solution, the jar produces about 1.1 volts.