Find a Penny


 “Just Thinking"

The other day, I was at the store again for a Diet Pepsi, this time I skipped the candy bar the total came to $2.76. Earlier that morning, I had emptied all the change from my pockets, so I handed the clerk three one-dollar bills and looked around for one of those "Take a Penny, Leave a Penny" trays, I figured I could toss in a penny and get a quarter back, but the store didn't have one. Without saying a word, the clerk handed me a quarter.

He wasn't concerned about being short a penny, what if the total had been $2.77 or $2.78? Would he have still rounded it down and given me a quarter? What if it had been $2.79? Would I have received two dimes and been the one giving up the penny? If that happened throughout the day, how would he balance his drawer at the end of his shift.

Once again, a trip to the store sent me down a rabbit hole about our penny and its rather dismal future. As of November 12, 2025, the U.S. government stopped the production of new pennies. The penny remains legal tender, the government just stopped minting new ones. The decision came after it was determined that producing a single penny cost approximately 3.69 cents. There are an estimated 114 billion pennies in circulation, and they will continue moving through the economy.

It’s true that with cryptocurrency, online banking, Apple Pay, PayPal, Zelle, and countless other forms of digital payment, we use less cash today than at any point in our lives. As technology continues to evolve, it's entirely possible that other denominations of currency could eventually follow the penny into history. But for generations, the penny has been much more than a coin. It has been woven into our language, our daily habits, and even our values. Just a couple of weeks ago, I wrote about penny candy, how much fun it was, and the wonderful memories it brought back.

Find a penny, pick it up, and all day long you'll have good luck. For most of my life, I could never walk past a penny lying on the ground without bending over to pick it up. One reason was for the promised good luck that would ensue, the other reason was from another saying, if you take care of the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves.

I remember reading an article several years ago that claimed if you factored in the time it takes to stop, bend over, and pick up the coin, even based on the minimum wage it would cost you more in time than the penny was worth. Maybe that's true but most people don't pick up a penny because it makes financial sense, it’s more likely just an old habit.

At this point the penny is part of our culture, how many expressions, sayings, and conversations have been built around it. Being "penny wise and pound foolish" means focusing on saving small amounts while wasting larger ones. "A penny saved is a penny earned," means that saving money is every bit as important as making it. If something was "not worth a penny," it would have no value, while something "worth every penny" was money well spent. Unexpected blessings are described as "pennies from heaven. "When someone was extremely frugal, they were "pinching pennies, if a person was struggling financially, “they do not have two cents to rub together," and when it came time to offer an opinion, we would say, "here's my two cents." We talk about buying something for "pennies on the dollar," meaning that we are buying an item at a fraction of its value. We remind ourselves that "every penny counts" because small savings become meaningful sums. And when you are committed to a challenge, a common saying is "in for a penny, in for a pound."

Then there is Penny Marshall, the actress, director, and producer and Penny Hardaway, the All-Star basketball player. Even Stephen King's terrifying clown, Pennywise, that haunted our nightmares. It seems that everywhere you look, from entertainment and sports to literature and popular culture, the penny has left its mark.

The coin may be fading from everyday transactions, but the lessons it represents, with a little bit of luck, will remain in our language and in our lives.

"A penny for your thoughts"

Let me know what you think.

Thinking about buying or selling a home in Martinez, Contra Costa County, or the East Bay? Whether you're a first-time buyer, move-up seller, investor, or simply curious about the market, you'll find practical insights based on over 25 years of real estate experience.

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Location: Martinez, CA 94553, USA

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