National Lost Penny Day is Today!
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HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL LOST PENNY DAY STEP-BY-STEP
- Purchase penny gifts for luck.
- Read about the history of man on the penny face, Abraham Lincoln.
- Start a penny collection for yourself or someone special.
- Watch the video: Old Coins in Circulation: How to Find Them.
- Shop for metal detectors for young and old.
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09/19/2024 08:41 am GMT
National Lost Penny Day, celebrated annually on February 12th, was created to encourage people to gather up their lost or forgotten pennies. The day aims to highlight the value of the penny and the role it plays in our currency system, despite its small worth. The idea is to collect these pennies, which can accumulate into a significant amount when combined. People are encouraged to check under couch cushions, in old piggy banks, and around their homes to find these lost coins. National Lost Penny Day not only emphasizes the importance of every cent but also promotes the idea of saving and reusing small change.
NATIONAL LOST PENNY DAY: A BRIEF HISTORY OF PENNIES
The penny, as a unit of currency, has a rich history dating back over a thousand years. The term “penny” originated from the Old English word “pening,” which was derived from the Germanic “pfennig.” The first English pennies were silver coins introduced in the 8th century by Anglo-Saxon king Offa of Mercia. These coins were hand-struck and featured intricate designs.
In the United States, the penny was one of the first coins minted after the country’s independence. The U.S. Mint produced the first one-cent coins in 1793, made of pure copper. These early pennies, known as the “Flowing Hair Cent” and “Liberty Cap Cent,” were larger than today’s pennies. The design has evolved over the years, with notable versions including the “Indian Head Cent” (1859-1909) and the iconic “Lincoln Cent” (1909-present), which was the first U.S. coin to feature a historical figure.
Pennies have undergone several changes in composition due to metal shortages and cost considerations. The original copper composition was replaced during World War II with zinc-coated steel to save copper for the war effort. Since 1982, pennies have been made primarily of zinc with a thin copper coating.
100 WAYS TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL LOST PENNY DAY
- Penny Hunt: Search your home for lost pennies in couch cushions, drawers, and under furniture.
- Penny Jar: Collect all your found pennies in a dedicated jar or container.
- Coin Sorting: Sort through your loose change to separate pennies from other coins.
- Coin Wrapping: Wrap your collected pennies in coin wrappers to prepare them for the bank.
- Penny Art: Create a mosaic or piece of art using glued pennies.
- Penny Cleaning: Clean tarnished pennies with vinegar and salt to make them shine.
- Penny Roll Challenge: See how many pennies you can roll on their edge without them falling.
- Penny Guessing Game: Fill a jar with pennies and have friends guess the total number.
- Donate Pennies: Donate your collected pennies to a local charity or cause.
- Penny Jar Counting: Count the total amount of money in your penny jar.
- Visit a Coin Collector: Learn about rare and valuable pennies from a coin collector.
- Penny Toss: Play a game of penny toss, aiming for targets like cups or rings.
- Historical Research: Research the history and significance of the penny.
- Penny Crafts: Use pennies to make DIY crafts like keychains or jewelry.
- Penny Souvenirs: Create souvenirs by pressing pennies into souvenir machines.
- Coin Shop Visit: Visit a coin shop to explore different types of pennies and their values.
- Penny Trivia: Host a trivia game focused on facts about pennies and their history.
- Penny Tower: Challenge yourself to build the tallest tower you can using only pennies.
- Penny Necklace: String pennies together to make a necklace or bracelet.
- Coin Flip Games: Play heads or tails games using pennies.
- Penny Walk: Go for a walk around your neighborhood and see how many pennies you can find.
- Penny Collection Display: Create a display case or board for your unique and interesting pennies.
- Penny Stamping: Use a hammer and metal stamps to create personalized stamped pennies.
- Penny Rubbings: Place paper over pennies and rub with a pencil to create coin impressions.
- Penny Bank Deposit: Take your wrapped pennies to the bank and deposit them into your account.
- Penny Pitch: Toss pennies into cups or targets from a distance and see who gets the most in.
- Penny Stack: Compete to see who can stack the tallest tower of pennies without it toppling over.
- Penny Relay: Race to transfer pennies from one bowl to another using only a spoon held in your mouth.
- Penny Scramble: Scatter pennies on the floor and see who can collect the most in a set time.
- Penny Toss: Flip a penny and call heads or tails; the correct caller keeps the penny.
- Penny Roll: Roll pennies across the floor or table to see who can get theirs closest to a target.
- Penny Hunt: Hide pennies around a room or yard and see who can find the most.
- Penny Art Contest: Create a picture using only pennies and vote on the best design.
- Penny Bowling: Set up a mini bowling game using pennies as bowling balls and small objects as pins.
- Penny Drop: Drop pennies into a jar of water and try to land them in a small cup at the bottom.
- Penny Flip Race: Flip a penny from one end of a table to the other without it falling off.
- Penny Balance: Balance a penny on its edge and see who can keep it upright the longest.
- Penny Sorting Race: Sort a mixed pile of coins, seeing who can separate the pennies the fastest.
- Penny in a Cup: Slide pennies across a table to land them into a cup placed at the edge.
- Penny Darts: Throw pennies at a dartboard or target and tally points based on where they land.
- Penny Bingo: Use pennies as markers for a bingo game.
- Penny Tic-Tac-Toe: Play tic-tac-toe using pennies as Xs and Os.
- Penny Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of specific places or items where pennies might be hidden and see who finds them first.
- Penny Target Practice: Set up different targets with point values and toss pennies to score points.
- Penny Obstacle Course: Navigate a penny through an obstacle course using only a straw to blow it along.
- Penny Balance Beam: Balance a penny on the edge of a ruler and see who can walk the farthest without it falling.
- Penny Hoops: Toss pennies through hoops or rings and score points for each successful throw.
- Penny Toss Challenge: Toss pennies onto a marked surface with different scoring zones.
- Penny Ladder: Drop pennies down a series of stacked objects to see who can get theirs to the bottom first.
- Penny Cup Pyramid: Build a pyramid of cups using pennies to secure them, then see who can remove the most pennies without the pyramid collapsing.
- Penny Bracelet: Create a stylish bracelet by drilling small holes in pennies and threading them onto a cord.
- Penny Coasters: Glue pennies onto cork or wooden coasters for a unique and functional table accessory.
- Penny Frame: Decorate a picture frame with glued-on pennies for a shiny, textured look.
- Penny Keychain: Drill a hole in a penny and attach it to a keyring for a personalized keychain.
- Penny Vase: Cover a vase with pennies using strong adhesive to give it a metallic sheen.
- Penny Tabletop: Create a penny-covered tabletop by gluing pennies in a mosaic pattern and sealing with resin.
- Penny Wind Chime: String pennies together with wire or fishing line to make a tinkling wind chime.
- Penny Tray: Line a small tray with pennies and seal them with a clear coat for a decorative item.
- Penny Art: Arrange and glue pennies onto a canvas to create a piece of wall art.
- Penny Magnets: Attach small magnets to the backs of pennies for custom fridge magnets.
- Penny Bookmark: Glue a penny to a strip of sturdy paper or ribbon to make a bookmark.
- Penny Candle Holder: Decorate the outside of a candle holder with glued-on pennies for a rustic look.
- Penny Bowl: Cover a bowl with pennies using strong adhesive and use it as a decorative piece.
- Penny Plant Markers: Glue pennies onto popsicle sticks to use as plant markers in your garden.
- Penny Light Switch Cover: Glue pennies to a light switch cover for a unique home accessory.
- Penny Clock: Attach pennies to the face of a clock at each number position.
- Penny Garland: String pennies together to create a garland to hang as decoration.
- Penny Napkin Rings: Wrap pennies around napkin rings for a decorative touch to your table setting.
- Penny Wall Hanging: Create a hanging decoration by gluing pennies onto a piece of wood or canvas.
- Penny Bookmark Holder: Use pennies to decorate a small holder for your bookmarks.
- Penny Jewelry Dish: Glue pennies onto a shallow dish to hold your jewelry.
- Penny Trivet: Create a heat-resistant trivet by gluing pennies onto a piece of wood or cork.
- Penny Drawer Pulls: Attach pennies to drawer pulls or knobs for a custom look.
- Penny Garden Stepping Stones: Embed pennies into concrete stepping stones for a garden path.
- Penny Ring: Fashion a ring by attaching a penny to a metal ring base using strong adhesive.
- Penny Pancakes: Make small, coin-sized pancakes to resemble pennies.
- Copper Coin Cookies: Bake round sugar cookies and decorate with copper-colored icing.
- Chocolate Coin Pops: Create chocolate lollipops in the shape of coins.
- Mini Pizzas: Prepare bite-sized pizzas using round cookie cutters.
- Penny Sandwiches: Use a round cutter to make mini sandwiches that look like pennies.
- Penny Pretzels: Shape pretzel dough into small coin shapes and bake.
- Coin Cupcakes: Bake mini cupcakes and top with copper-colored frosting.
- Round Crackers and Cheese: Serve round crackers with circular slices of cheese.
- Penny Meatballs: Make small, round meatballs to resemble pennies.
- Coin-shaped Rice Krispie Treats: Use a round cutter to shape Rice Krispie treats into coins.
- Penny Pies: Bake mini pies in small round tins.
- Copper-colored Macarons: Bake macarons and fill with copper-colored filling.
- Coin-shaped Fruit Slices: Cut fruits like melons and pineapples into round slices.
- Mini Quiches: Bake bite-sized quiches in a mini muffin tin.
- Round Sushi Rolls: Prepare sushi rolls and slice them into coin-sized pieces.
- Coin-shaped Peanut Butter Cookies: Use a round cutter to shape peanut butter cookies.
- Mini Burgers: Make sliders using small, round buns.
- Penny Popcorn Balls: Form popcorn balls into small, round shapes.
- Round Donuts: Serve small, round donuts with copper-colored glaze.
- Penny-shaped Brownies: Use a round cutter to shape brownies into coins.
- Copper-colored Meringue Kisses: Pipe meringue into small, round shapes and bake.
- Mini Bagels: Serve bite-sized bagels with cream cheese.
- Penny-shaped Tortilla Chips: Cut tortillas into round shapes and bake.
- Round Truffles: Make chocolate truffles and dust with edible copper powder.
- Coin-shaped Jello Shots: Prepare jello in round molds to resemble coins.
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