# Find a penny, Pick it up **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 29, 2002, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519 "2002-12-29T18:04:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/21 "2002-12-29T20:23:40Z")
Of course I’m sure every one one knows that penny is a medieval acronym for preciuos electrum not new year… what? why is everyone giving me strange looks? ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/22 "2002-12-29T20:57:54Z")
I’ve heard of the “heads up” rule too. But you can get around this by “accidentally” kicking the penny so it flips over. Then it’s “heads up” and you are so Jake. Sometimes it takes a couple of kicks and you have to stick with it. But man! Is it worth it to have a Lucky Penny all day! -Rue. (penny kicker) ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/23 "2002-12-29T21:15:01Z")
Uh…yeah…that Heads Up rule is serious, man. I would NEVER pick up a Tails Up penny if I were you. Be afraid, be very afraid if you chose to do so. I’ll be around later to handle all of those Tails Up pennies for you, see? I’m…um… officially designated the Tails Up Penny Picker Upper 'round here. Ruby Happy to Serve Mankind ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/24 "2002-12-29T21:20:39Z")
Someone is bound to come along here later on and tell you all how much of a freak I am for not following the heads/tail rule but honestly, I’ve never heard of it. Or maybe I’ve just picked up so many pennies that it’s all balanced out over a lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![Washte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Washte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washte)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/25 "2002-12-29T21:34:35Z")
Finding a penny is a good thing, especially if it’s heads up. This has been drilled into me by my MIL and hubby. If it’s tails and I bend to get it anyway, I get grunted at… To be honest, I’m not bothered. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/26 "2002-12-29T21:40:10Z")
We probably need to index our superstitions for inflation here: \*Find a twenty Pick it up And all the day You’ll have good luck But if upon the ground It lies Face down Whoever touches it surely dies!\* We could probably combine this with some story of picking up a $20 bill lying face down, then standing in front of a mirror while holding the bill at midnight on the night of the next full moon and chanting “Old Hickory! Old Hickory! Old Hickory!” and being bloodily dismembered by the vengeful spirit of Andrew Jackson. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/27 "2002-12-29T21:54:14Z")
So what happens if you find a $20 face down? Should you pick it up or leave it? (Personally, I’m snagging it, no matter which way it faces.) ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/28 "2002-12-29T21:57:15Z")
Well, if you touch it… You’ll _die!_ You’ll note I don’t specify _when_ you’ll die, though. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/29 "2002-12-29T22:41:59Z")
I also never heard the “heads up” rule until the last couple of years – I figure I’m grandfathered in on the heads or tails, doesn’t matter. They did a study a few years ago – no one under the age of 20 could be bothered to pick up anything smaller than a quarter. Not me – pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, I have no pride. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/30 "2002-12-29T23:21:49Z")
I’ve never heard of any rules associated with a found penny. I snag 'em as quick as I see 'em. ---
**Author:** ![white-tigeress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f475e1/32.png) [@white-tigeress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/white-tigeress)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/31 "2002-12-29T23:23:21Z")
and all day long u can fuck !! ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/32 "2002-12-30T00:08:06Z")
I have never heard that rhythm relating to pins. Just pennies. Never heard the headsup rule until I was in my twenties when an overly superstitious coworker told it to me. ---
**Author:** ![ILENSER](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/977dab/32.png) [@ILENSER](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ILENSER)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/33 "2002-12-30T00:46:55Z")
See a penny pick it up… OH…My back… 60 Doctor bill... 35 Meds… And all the night you’ll be in pain. ---
**Author:** ![auntnut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f6c823/32.png) [@auntnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntnut)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/34 "2002-12-30T01:18:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ukulele Ike \* > \*\*You’re all crazy. I don’t know why I bother with you. The rhyme involves PINS, not pennies. > > \*See a pin and > Pick it up, > All the day > You’ll have good luck. > > See a pin and > Leave it lay, > You’ll have bad luck > All that day.\* > > It IS good luck to pick up a penny, especially heads up, but there’s no rhyme involved in it. \*\* IS TOO…IS TOO…IS TOO INFINITY (so there!) ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/35 "2002-12-30T03:56:04Z")
Hello poetry lovers. Bullwinkle J. Moose also said “see a pin.” ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/36 "2002-12-30T05:18:41Z")
I see a good joke about picking up tail found in the street, but I’ll let someone else make it. And **Euty** , remember, children can see more of what’s there and true, because they haven’t been programmed by the microwaves from power lines and the flouridation of water yet. Those things take time, about 9 1/2 years, actually. I could post a cite for this, but the government would shut down the internet if I did, so for porn lovers everywhere, I will leave the internet up and running. The truth is out there… ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/37 "2002-12-30T05:23:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MEBuckner \* > \*\*Well, if you touch it… > > You’ll _die!_ > > You’ll note I don’t specify _when_ you’ll die, though. \*\* Okay folks, you read it here first! I found a $20 last night and if I die, I want **MEBuckner** charged with my death! Avenge me! ( 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/38 "2002-12-30T07:06:30Z")
Dateline: Gallatin, TN Well known and locally beloved curmudgeon **Tuckerfan** was found in bed this morning by members of the household staff. The deceased was taken to UTI’s criminal forensics lab for immediate examination. Among the bagged evidence removed from the house, at least three separate $20 bills were spotted by this reporter. No definate cause of death has been revealed at this time. Authorities are currently seeking one **MEBuckner** for questioning, though no arrest warrant has been issued as of press time. [sub]I always heard pennies, and the heads-up rule, too.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![NardoPolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NardoPolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NardoPolo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/39 "2002-12-30T12:08:46Z")
Find a penny, pick it up, and all day long you’ll have _a penny_. Locally: [ul][_]If you pick up a penny that is tails-down, you have to give it away. [_]If someone gives you a penny that was tails-down, you’re expected to give it back.[/ul]Life in these parts is complicated. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519/40 "2002-12-30T13:24:27Z")
I came in here just to warn you, Euty, about not picking up those found pennies if they are tails up. Imagine my surprise when I discover that’s the whole basis of thread. My grandmother, who helped raised me, was a bit superstitious. Even though I know it’s bunk, I can’t help myself and still, at the ripe old age of 32, there are things I can’t bring myself to do “just in case”. One of those is picking up a penny that is tails up. I also won’t walk under a ladder or pick up scissors after I’ve dropped them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/find-a-penny-pick-it-up/145519.md?page=3)