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Everyone enjoys stories about coincidences, which is why we’ve already released two compilations: Top 15 Astonishing Coincidences and Another 10 Remarkable Coincidences. Now, we’re thrilled to present our third collection of extraordinary coincidences. Dive in and feel free to share your own experiences in the comments.
10. The Golden Matchbox
In the 1890s, the Prince of Wales gifted a golden matchbox to his friend and fellow fox hunter, Edward Southern. During a hunt, Southern fell from his horse, and the matchbox broke free from its chain and was lost. Southern had a replica made, which he passed down to his son, Sam, upon his death. While traveling in Australia, Sam gave the replica to a friend, Mr. Labertouche. Upon returning to England, Sam learned that a farmer had discovered the original matchbox—two decades after it went missing—while plowing his field. Sam wrote to his brother, who was traveling in America, to share the news. When his brother read the letter aloud to his travel companion on a train, it turned out that the companion was carrying the duplicate matchbox, which had been given to him by Mr. Labertouche.
9. Lightning Shock
The likelihood of being struck by lightning once is incredibly low, and being struck twice on separate occasions seems almost impossible. So, what are the odds of being struck seven times? Roy Sullivan, the world record holder, experienced these events as follows:
1942 – Sullivan was first struck while in a lookout tower. The lightning hit his leg, causing him to lose a toenail. 1969 – The second strike occurred while he was driving on a mountain road, knocking him unconscious and burning his eyebrows. 1970 – The third strike burned his left shoulder in his front yard. 1972 – The fourth strike happened at a ranger station, setting his hair on fire. After this, he started carrying a pitcher of water. 1973 – A fifth bolt struck his head, throwing him out of his car and igniting his hair again. 1974 – The sixth strike injured his ankle at a campground. 1977 – The seventh and final strike hit him while fishing, resulting in burns on his chest and stomach that required hospitalization.
His iconic “lightning hats” are now showcased in Guinness World Exhibit Halls in New York and South Carolina.
8. Rail Crossing
In 1991, 19-year-old Cristina Vernoni tragically lost her life at an unguarded railway crossing in Reggio Emilia, Northern Italy. Four years later, her 57-year-old father was driving to work along his usual route, which included the same crossing, when his car was hit by a train. The vehicle was dragged several yards before the train came to a halt. Adding to the eerie coincidence, the train driver, Domenico Serafino, was the same person who had been operating the train that killed Vernoni’s daughter four years earlier. Investigators concluded the incident was purely accidental, ruling out any possibility of suicide.
7. Menacing Coincidence
In March 1951, Dennis the Menace was born… twice. Just three days apart, both Hank Ketcham (US) and David Law (UK) independently created their first comic strips featuring a character with the exact same name. Unaware of each other’s work, the two artists only discovered the coincidence later. They decided to continue their respective strips without interference. Adding to the oddity, both Dennis the Menace characters wore striped jerseys, as seen in the comparison image above.
6. Mr Robertson…
On October 15, 1952, Robert Paterson attempted to board an Amtrak train from Phoenix to Los Angeles. The conductor informed him that another Robert Paterson was already on the train. Upon investigation, it was revealed that both men held valid tickets. They shared similar height, weight, and physical appearance.
During the journey to LA, the train made an unexpected stop in Barstow to pick up yet another passenger: Robert Paterson. This third individual also bore a striking resemblance to the first two. By this point, the train carried three men with identical names and appearances, all traveling to Los Angeles.
When the train reached Los Angeles, the three Robert Patersons exited and went their separate ways. After unloading the baggage and preparing for the return trip to Phoenix, the conductor was stunned to see a familiar name on the passenger list: a fourth Robert Paterson. [Source]
5. The Spy Next Door
Norman Mailer initially had no intention of including a Russian spy in his novel Barbary Shore. However, as he developed the story, he introduced a minor character who was a Russian spy operating in the U.S. Over time, this character became central to the plot. After completing the novel, Mailer discovered that the U.S. Immigration Service had arrested Colonel Rudolf Abel, a man living just one floor above him in the same apartment building. Abel was allegedly the top Russian spy in the U.S. at the time.
4. D-Day Invasion
The Daily Telegraph’s popular crossword puzzle caused significant concern for security officers tasked with safeguarding the secrets of the Allied invasion of Europe in June 1944. MI5 officers, who often spent their free time solving crosswords, noticed that some clues seemed to reveal critical code names for the largest seaborne invasion in history. For example, the clue ‘one of the U.S.’ led to the answer UTAH, while another clue resulted in OMAHA—both names of beaches designated for American landings. Other answers included MULBERRY, referring to the floating harbors, and NEPTUNE, the naval support operation. Most alarmingly, a clue about ‘some big-wig’ yielded OVERLORD, the codename for the entire operation. MI5 was thrown into a state of panic.
Was the Telegraph crossword being used to leak information to the Germans? Two officers were dispatched to Leatherhead, Surrey, to investigate. They questioned Leonard Dawe, the 54-year-old teacher who compiled the puzzles. When asked why he had chosen those specific words, Dawe responded with indignation, asking if there was any rule against selecting words freely. His sincerity convinced MI5 that he had no knowledge of the D-Day invasion plans. The crossword answers were simply an extraordinary coincidence. [Source]
3. Titanic Coincidence
In 1898, Morgan Robertson published ‘Futility, or the Wreck of the Titan,’ a novel about a grand ocean liner departing Southampton, England, in April 1898. This ship, named Titan, was the largest and most luxurious of its time, deemed unsinkable. Bound for America, it tragically struck an iceberg, tearing open its hull and sinking. With only 24 lifeboats for 3,000 passengers, the disaster resulted in massive loss of life.
In 1912, the Titanic, a luxurious and supposedly unsinkable liner, embarked on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to America. During the journey, it collided with an iceberg, which tore through its hull, leading to its sinking. The ship carried only 24 lifeboats for approximately 2,200 people, resulting in numerous fatalities. [Source]
2. Lincoln Booth Coincidence
In a remarkable twist of fate, Edwin Booth saved Robert Lincoln, the son of Abraham Lincoln, from potential injury or death. The incident took place on a train platform in Jersey City, New Jersey, likely in late 1864 or early 1865. This occurred shortly before Edwin’s brother, John Wilkes Booth, assassinated President Lincoln. Robert Lincoln recounted the event in a 1909 letter to Richard Watson Gilder, editor of The Century Magazine.
“The incident happened late at night as passengers were buying their sleeping car tickets from the conductor on the station platform. The platform was level with the car floor, leaving a narrow gap between the two. Amid the crowd, I was pushed against the car while waiting. As the train started moving, I lost my footing and slipped into the gap, dangling helplessly. Suddenly, someone grabbed my coat collar and pulled me up to safety. When I turned to thank my rescuer, I recognized him as Edwin Booth, a face familiar to me. I expressed my gratitude and addressed him by name.”
Booth remained unaware of the identity of the man he had saved until months later, when he received a letter from Colonel Adam Badeau, a friend serving on General Ulysses S. Grant’s staff. Badeau had learned the story from Robert Lincoln, who was also serving under Grant. In the letter, Badeau praised Booth for his heroic act. Learning that he had saved the son of Abraham Lincoln reportedly brought Booth some solace after his brother’s assassination of the president. [Source]
1. Louis XVI Bad Luck
As a child, King Louis XVI of France was warned by an astrologer to be cautious on the 21st day of every month. Terrified by the prophecy, he avoided conducting business on that day. However, his vigilance wavered. On June 21, 1791, during the French Revolution, Louis and his queen were captured in Varennes while attempting to flee France. On September 21, 1791, France abolished the monarchy and declared itself a republic. Finally, on January 21, 1793, Louis XVI was executed by guillotine.
