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Americans Throwing Away Coins!

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Valued Member
United States
403 Posts
 Posted 11/03/2016  3:39 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add NoPoMoCo to your friends list
RCook, nice story about the value of a penny in other parts of the world. I'm sure I've lost my share of change too in the same ways you describe, searching for my keys or glasses. I've probably inadvertently seeded the ground under bleachers, at the beach, in picnic areas... all the hot spots well-known to the metal detecting folks!
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United States
1358 Posts
 Posted 11/03/2016  7:28 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add coinsearcher83 to your friends list
I figure it takes about 3 seconds to pick up a penny. Theoretically, that's 20 cents a minute, or $12.00 an hour. So you're earning more than minimum wage when you pick coins up off the ground.
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Norway
1358 Posts
 Posted 11/04/2016  05:56 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add UltraRant to your friends list

Quote:
Some people say a penny isn't worth anything, but we had a missionary come to our church a couple months ago telling about his experiences in other countries. He said that in some of the countries he's visited a penny was enough to feed a starving child a bowl of beans and rice.


This is exactly what I stated a few posts earlier. It's good to see that I'm not the only one with this experience, even though I'm as far away from being a missionary as can be. As said, I've seen townships, ghetto's and favela's with my own eyes, and not always without risk. I haven't given a single cent when there, as that's plain wrong to do for many reasons, but there are other ways to do something with your small and unwanted change. Helping professionals to educating some of the people there, for example.

So, how about putting your miserable cents in a church bag or charity stand instead of throwing them on the street? The effect for you is the same, but it may have big consequences for someone else (and the environment, no less).
Valued Member
United States
449 Posts
 Posted 11/04/2016  10:01 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add RCook to your friends list

Quote:
So, how about putting your miserable cents in a church bag or charity stand instead of throwing them on the street? The effect for you is the same, but it may have big consequences for someone else (and the environment, no less).


I understand what you're saying, but I believe if you put it to use for others God will bless you for your efforts to help others and the effects on you will be better than if you just throw the money away.
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United States
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 Posted 11/04/2016  11:55 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jbuck to your friends list
The problem is not that people are making the effort to throw them away, it is that they are not making an effort to hold onto them.
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Norway
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 Posted 11/05/2016  1:54 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add UltraRant to your friends list

Quote:
...but I believe if you put it to use for others God will bless you for your efforts...


I'm sorry, I should have specified more clearly that I am from Scandinavia: http://satwcomic.com/god-hates-sweden

Somehow, we're completely on the same page, I'd say.


Quote:
The problem is not that people are making the effort to throw them away, it is that they are not making an effort to hold onto them.


I do believe I literally read, in this thread:


Quote:
I toss pennies on the street.


If numismatists, the people who are supposed to have a bit of extra affection for coins, already do this, then I think we have a serious issue. Maybe it is time to say farewell to the cent then, after all...
Valued Member
New Zealand
292 Posts
 Posted 11/05/2016  10:26 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Doctorwho2485 to your friends list
Hi Everyone I think America should get rid of their one cent coin and Canada has stopped making them they still use them too.
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United States
188560 Posts
 Posted 11/06/2016  12:44 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jbuck to your friends list

Quote:

Quote:
The problem is not that people are making the effort to throw them away, it is that they are not making an effort to hold onto them.


I do believe I literally read, in this thread:


Quote:
I toss pennies on the street.


If numismatists, the people who are supposed to have a bit of extra affection for coins, already do this, then I think we have a serious issue. Maybe it is time to say farewell to the cent then, after all...
I think that comment was hyperbole at best, an outlier at least.
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 Posted 11/06/2016  12:44 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jbuck to your friends list

Quote:
Hi Everyone I think America should get rid of their one cent coin and Canada has stopped making them they still use them too.
Pillar of the Community
United States
833 Posts
 Posted 12/04/2016  3:23 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add orange26 to your friends list
I think the penny should stay, because it helps keep prices low, helps you pay the exact change, they honor Abraham Lincoln, they are unique for their coin color, etc.

I think it would be better to cash or trade in pennies at the bank or to donate them to things like churches, charity, healthcare, salvation army, etc. rather than to throw them away.
Edited by orange26
12/04/2016 10:07 pm
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United States
4211 Posts
 Posted 12/04/2016  4:25 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Debrajc to your friends list
When my son and his cousins were growing up I would go through
quite a few coins for fountains and wishing wells.

I have thrown away more than my fair share for sure.
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United States
1119 Posts
 Posted 12/04/2016  9:46 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Steele to your friends list

Quote:
When my son and his cousins were growing up I would go through
quite a few coins for fountains and wishing wells.

I have thrown away more than my fair share for sure.

I feel like that is different than just throwing coins away.


Americans-Throwing-Away-Coins!
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 Posted 12/15/2016  04:57 am  Show Profile   Check spru's eBay Listings Bookmark this reply Add spru to your friends list
I won't get into specific sides, but, yes, a U.S. penny is actually worth 1/100th of a dollar so there is no argument for them being "worthless". Cumbersome, perhaps.

At worst, they're worth melt no matter what they're made of unless it's paper.
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 Posted 12/15/2016  11:20 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add jbuck to your friends list
Ah, yes, but consider this...

If time is money, then how much time is the typical non-numismatist type* willing to spend to pick up one cent off the ground?

(* I had to qualify that since we are more likely to make an effort because it is possible that a person dropped a Wheat cent or something!)
Valued Member
United States
343 Posts
 Posted 12/15/2016  11:51 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add SpaceMaNy0 to your friends list
I've tossed a few, but only ones so rotted or covered in sticky mess as to make it justifiable. I've got plenty of space in my jars. ;)
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