# I found a penny!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [October 21, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453 "2012-10-21T20:13:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2012, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/21 "2012-10-23T07:03:19Z")
Reminds me of something I did when I was a kid, something my father never forgave me for.
He had a stack of about a dozen 19th century silver dollars on top of his dresser. One day I stole them . . . and SPENT them at face value. I didn’t even have the brains to SELL them for what they were worth.
Yeah, I was a dumb kid.
---
### Author:  [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2012, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/22 "2012-10-23T07:48:08Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#):
>
> A few weeks ago, **Long Time First Time** was buying some spaghetti sauce (thanks to some last-minute dinner plan changes) at the local dollar store. She noticed that the cashier was arguing with the teenage boy who was ahead of her in line, attempting to buy a candy bar.
>
> Cashier: I can’t take this. It’s not a real coin.
>
> Boy: I’m pretty sure it’s real. My dad gave it to me when I asked if he had a buck to spare.
>
> Cashier: I think it’s a ceremonial coin. I’ve never seen one like it before. Don’t you have anything else?
>
> Boy: Just some loose change – not enough to pay for the Snickers.
>
> At this point, **Long Time** asked if she could see the coin. When it was shown, she gave the cashier a $5 bill for the boy’s and her purchases, collected her change, then told the boy she’d “buy” the coin off him.
>
> She brought it home. It was a [Bicentennial Eisenhower dollar](http://www.ebay.com/itm/IKE-1776-1976-D-Bicentennial-dollar-Eisenhower-hoard-/190407010657?pt=Coins_US_Individual&hash=item2c55246961).
>
> Yes, she bought a dollar at the dollar store!
Even though the ebay price is $3.xx, to a coin shop they are worth a dollar.My son’s collection had 30 of them. The coin shop was only interested in a proof, for which he gave me $35.00.
---
### Author:  [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2012, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/23 "2012-10-23T07:55:26Z")
Random question time - do you find it weird that you still call a cent a penny, even though the name comes from the British one pence coin?
---
### Author:  [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2012, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/24 "2012-10-23T08:52:36Z")
> [@humblebumble](#):
>
> Congratulations! Don’t spend it all in one place.
[Too late!](http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/spend-a-penny.html)
---
### Author:  [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/25 "2012-10-23T19:20:52Z")
> [@Cinnamon\_Imp](#):
>
> Random question time - do you find it weird that you still call a cent a penny, even though the name comes from the British one pence coin?
Not really. I should imagine most people never think about it in the same way they never think about the name Robert meaning “fame-bright” or whatever.
---
### Author:  [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/26 "2012-10-23T19:29:58Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> We went to NYC for a few days last week and after getting home last night I was cleaning out the change from where I dumped in my suitcase and there was a 1953 wheat penny!
That’s very cool, but I’d be even more impressed if it was a 1943 penny.
---
### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/27 "2012-10-23T19:49:39Z")
> [@Osiris\_the\_1st](#):
>
> I recieved a 1909 Lincoln VDB penny in change a few weeks ago. If it had been an S VDB penny it would be worth a couple of thousand dollars from what little research I did. As it is it’s worth between $3-$12.
I bought two of those for me and my dad a few months ago, after I found out they [stuck one on Mars Curiosity](http://www.coinworld.com/articles/1909-lincoln-v-d-b-cent-en-route-to-mars/) as a reference tool.
---
### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2012, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/28 "2012-10-23T21:43:42Z")
> [@tdn](#):
>
> That’s very cool, but I’d be even more impressed if it was a 1943 penny.
Especially if it was a copper version, of which only 12 are authenticated. I could retire all over again. I have a beautiful strike of a 1943 steel cent, but even in great condition it’s only worth about $6.
---
### Author:  [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/29 "2012-10-23T21:53:07Z")
I got a wheat penny the other day. I didn’t check the date because I just gave it to my mom who’s been collecting wheat pennies since she was a kid. I don’t know how much she has but it’s a pretty big plastic jug.
---
### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2012, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/30 "2012-10-24T04:04:33Z")
This last visit to the US in April, I got a wheat penny in my change. I don’t remember the year, but I saved it and dropped it into our big coin jar here at home when we got back.
---
### Author:  [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/31 "2012-10-25T19:37:50Z")
Counting out my register drawer before starting work a few days ago, one of my 40 nickels felt funny. I looked closer and saw a “V” surrounded by a wreath.
It was a 1906 [Liberty nickel](http://ebid.s3.amazonaws.com/upload_big/4/5/1/1255391063-9168-0.jpg), in similar condition to that picture.
106 years it’s been traveling around, and landed in my Trader Joe’s.
---
### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2012, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/32 "2012-10-25T20:27:48Z")
> [@postcards](#):
>
> Counting out my register drawer before starting work a few days ago, one of my 40 nickels felt funny. I looked closer and saw a “V” surrounded by a wreath.
>
> It was a 1906 [Liberty nickel](http://ebid.s3.amazonaws.com/upload_big/4/5/1/1255391063-9168-0.jpg), in similar condition to that picture.
>
> 106 years it’s been traveling around, and landed in my Trader Joe’s.
Too freaking cool.
---
### Author:  [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/33 "2012-10-25T20:31:13Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> Especially if it was a copper version, of which only 12 are authenticated.
Really, only 12? I thought that there were a lot more. How many were struck?
---
### Author:  [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/34 "2012-10-25T20:45:33Z")
According to the official mint numbers: none.
---
### Author:  [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/35 "2012-10-25T20:48:02Z")
what’s the backstory, then, on the dozen or so authentic copper ones?
---
### Author:  [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/36 "2012-10-25T21:05:57Z")
Released by error, a little of the story [here](http://www.coinfacts.com/small_cents/lincoln_cents/wheat_ear_cents/1943_copper_cent.htm).
---
### Author:  [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/37 "2012-10-25T21:47:26Z")
A few months ago a friend of mine showed me his collection of fake £1 coins (Sterling) - apparently there are loads of them around, as when I collected some money earlier this week I found at least one (perhaps 2) of the £1 coins were fakes. I have saved them and will pass them on to my friend when I next see him. I doubt they are worth anything (technically, it’s probably an offence to try to spend them, not sure what the legal position is on collecting them) but I think he’s trying to get all the possible variations. Some of the fakes are good and some are immediately obvious (though still accepted by most vending machines I’m sure, and indeed by any cashier who isn’t paying very close attention, i.e. all of them).
---
### Author:  [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/38 "2012-10-25T21:52:11Z")
> [@tdn](#):
>
> That’s very cool, but I’d be even more impressed if it was a 1943 penny.
I accidentally spent one last summer :smack: (Keep your eyes open Seattle Dopers)
---
### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [October 25, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/39 "2012-10-25T23:08:39Z")
> [@jasg](#):
>
> I accidentally spent one last summer :smack: (Keep your eyes open Seattle Dopers)
No biggie. Circulated '43s are almost literally a dollar a dozen. They’re always for sale on ebay with very few takers. In fact, there’s one lot of 600 up for sale right now.
---
### Author:  [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)
#### Post date: [October 26, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453/40 "2012-10-26T19:35:40Z")
To follow on, I’m pretty sure **tdn** meant a 1943 copper (actually bronze) penny not the very common (as **Chefguy** alludes to) 1943 steel penny.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453.md?page=1)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-found-a-penny/638453.md?page=3)