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While attempting to find the value of rare pennies for some of our loyal readers, I came across some interesting info about pennies in general.
Just thought I’d share…
Did you know?…
#1 – The average penny lasts 25 years!
#2 – Pennies were the very first coins minted in the United States. In March 1793, the mint distributed 11,178 copper cents. (The amount of copper and zinc in the penny has changed significantly through the years.)
“Every penny counts.”
#3 – There have been 11 different designs featured on the penny.
#4 – The Lincoln penny was first minted and circulated in 1909, the 100th anniversary of his birth.
#5 – Lincoln faces to the right, while all other portraits on coins face to the left. This was not done on purpose — it was simply the choice of the coin designer.
#6 – In a coin toss, I always choose tails. Here’s why. (…although the U.S. Mint disputes this theory)
“A penny saved is a penny earned.”
#7 – The penny was the first U.S. coin to have the motto “IN GOD WE TRUST”. (Clarification: see Ben’s comment below.)
#8 – Lincoln pennies made from 1909 to 1958 were designed by Victor D. Brenner. His initials V.D.B. were on a limited quantity of the 1909 pennies making it one of the most sought after pennies for collecting.
Listen to some little-known facts from NPR audio about Frank Gasparro, an engraver at the U.S. Mint whose Lincoln Memorial design has graced the “tails” side of the penny since 1959 (…Lincoln’s 150th birthday. The same year they replaced the wheat shafts on the back of the penny with the Lincoln Memorial).
#9 – Approximately 30 million pennies per day (1,040 pennies every second) are produced. Each year, the U.S. Mint produces more than 13 billion pennies.
#10 – Over two-thirds of all coins produced by the U.S. Mint are pennies. In fact, the penny is the most widely used denomination currently in circulation and it remains profitable to make. Each penny costs .93 of a cent to make, but the Mint collects one cent for it. The profit goes to help fund the operation of the Mint and to help pay the public debt.
“It’s worth every penny.”
A recent poll by Opinion Research Corporation found that more than 70% of Americans support keeping the penny in circulation. (NOTE: elimination of the penny would lead to higher prices, since prices would then be rounded to the nearest 5 cents.)
More Fun Facts About Pennies
- U.S. Mint Printing Guidelines
- Penny Lovers of America
- Pennies Won’t Pay Your Parking Ticket
- Rare Pennies You Should Hold Onto
https://youtu.be/0DAsWMA0-uw
I like to help people find unique ways to do things in order to save time & money — so I write about “outside the box” ideas that most wouldn’t think of. As a lifelong dog owner, I often share my best tips for living with and training dogs. I worked in Higher Ed over 10 years before switching gears to pursue activities that I’m truly passionate about. I’ve worked at a vet, in a photo lab, and at a zoo — to name a few. I enjoy the outdoors via bicycle, motorcycle, Jeep, or RV. You can always find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites).
cant fine the rest of the answerr on the 1986 silver penney that your daughter found I found one also any value?
Alice,
In the case of any silver-colored penny from 1982 and after, such coins may be mint errors that occurred when the zinc core in these more modern Lincoln cents was not covered in the usual copper plating. Such errors can be worth up to $100.
However, there is also a common experiment people do which, involving heat and zinc powder, turns pennies silver in color. Doing that to a coin makes it essentially worthless to collectors.
Because it can be sometimes difficult to tell for sure what the origin of the silver color of a 1982 or later Lincoln cent may be, it might be best to spend $10-20 on having your coin authenticated by a major, reputable coin grading company like the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) or the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC).
hey i found a penny from 1975 and it has a mans face smaller but faceing at lincon do you know what that is
Hi, Sarah —
Sounds like you have a Lincoln cent that’s been stamped with John F. Kennedy’s face. This is a real Lincoln cent that had Kennedy’s head added by a private person or company. This is called a novelty coin.
You can find out more about these coins here: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/lincoln_jfk_kennedy_penny/
Everyone if you look at this site you should know im starting a potition to get rid of pennies, because the pennies are losing us money… it costs 1.7 cents to make a penny, that means we are losing money to the penny (70 mill a yr). If we can gether the pennies for the last 200 yrs we could melt them all and sell them for roughly… oh lets say $140 billion.
Same but I hope my teach doesnt yell at me cuz I have no idea if this will help
i found a penny from 1865!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cool, Brenden! Your 1865 Indian Head penny is worth around $10.
i found a penny from 1865!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The penny didnn’t have the motto “in god we trust” it was the 2 cent coin designed by james longacre
(i’m an 11 year old coin collecting nerd)
i have a penny that says,’ONE CENT’ on it and its old, but also have a penny that has Lincoln’s house on the front instead of Lincoln. Is that special?
Nosre,
It sounds like the “old” penny with ONE CENT on it is a wheat cent. Here’s some info on the more valuable wheat pennies: https://coins.thefuntimesguide.com/wheat_pennies/
The one with Lincoln’s house is a 2009 commemorative coin, but isn’t worth more than face value unless in very well-kept mint condition.
All pennies say ONE CENT because we don’t make pennies, we make cents. Penny is a misnomer.
Hi, Popkorn —
Yes, that is true, the US does not officially make a denomination known as the “penny” — only Great Britain and its Commonwealth nations do. But the phrase “penny” is forever linked to the US one-cent coin and is how most people — especially non-collectors — identify the coin, which is in part why we use that phrase here.
Thank you for your valuable two “cents” 🙂
-Josh
What is the worth of all pennies saved by the public that do not get used or sent put out of circulation?
Great question, Taranto! Let’s think of it this way…
There are around 310 million Americans, according to the United States Census Bureau. Now, let’s just say that every American, on average, has just 10 pennies each…
The math: 10 (pennies) times 310 million (Americans) equals 3.1 billion. Now, 3.1 billion cents equals 31 million dollars….
I imagine, though, that my estimate is extremely conservative and the actual figure is likely far higher than that(!)
nice web site
petition to end the penny:
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/%21/petition/retire-one-cent-penny-coin/ZwNqHt1f?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl
Other countries have removed the one cent piece from their economy and it really does not cost them any more or less. It rounds up or down so it can go either way. The penny needs to go. We will have saved a billion dollars over the next 14 years. Every little bit helps.
The penny costs 1.7 cents to make and should stop production.