Ally Bank Places Lucky Pennies Across US

[mjs111]

I'm always kidded about picking up the spare change I find, but these days it might even pay more than it usually does:

Stopping to pick up a stray penny off the ground may not seem worth the effort, yet one bank is trying to change that mindset by placing 100 fake pennies across the country worth $1,000 apiece.

Ally Bank says it is hoping to encourage Americans to look for opportunities to save through its "Lucky Penny" promotion, which launched this week. The lucky pennies carry a copper color like real pennies, but feature the Detroit-based bank's logo instead of Abraham Lincoln's head. The flip side of the coin lists its value at 100,000 cents.

The pennies have been placed in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Miami, Denver, Detroit, San Diego, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Austin, Texas.


http://abcnews.go.com/Weird/wireStory/bank-places-100-lucky-pennies-us-worth-1000-42937865


Mike

[Frankies Girl]

Dammit. I pick up change all the time.

Of course they're not doing this promo in my city. :(

I've found some old silver quarters (back when they contained actual silver) worth a few bucks and of course a few wheat pennies and such. I have a huge jar that we fill up about every other year just from found change and it equals around $50 when cashed in.

I was walking about 10 steps ahead of a silly little hipster chick threw as she was walking out of a store last month. She laughed as she walked out, said "I don't want this stupid crap cluttering up my pockets!" and tossed a handful of change at the trashcan (and missed). Her friend looked shocked but they kept walking. I stopped, turned around and picked it up - she'd "thrown away" 67¢. What a waste, but hey - free money for me. ;)

[redbird]

I pick up nickels and higher. I don't bother with pennies. It takes a long time to get up to even a 50 cent roll, and people generally don't like accepting pennies at stores. I do always look at the pennies though, so I'd probably notice if it was one of those Ally coins.

Ally is my primary bank and they don't take cash deposits. If they accepted cash so I could deposit those pennies, I'd more likely pick them up.

[Johnez]

Might be a good time to be a cashier in one of those cities, ha.

Regarding coins in general and pennies specifically I always pick em up. Not just for monetary value, but he'll isn't it cool to see a wheatback? They are rare enough to elicit a smile when I get one, yet common enough for me to keep trying.  We're handling pieces of history here now. Even if it's not a wheatback a lot of times it's neat to check out the other designs.

Also, all pre-'82 pennies are worth more than their face value due to their copper content.

[Metric Mouse]

Also, all pre-'82 pennies are worth more than their face value due to their copper content.

Is it legal to melt down U.S. currency for scrap?

[kpd905]

I'm curious about how many of these will be found, and how many might end up in someone's change jar for 10 years.

[Jankle NSS]

My wife and I just looked around Austin for a few hours. We followed the "hint" and only ended up finding 11 cents haha

Good time together and an interesting way to get out and enjoy the great weather. Good luck to everyone playing!

[mjs111]

Might be a good time to be a cashier in one of those cities, ha.

Regarding coins in general and pennies specifically I always pick em up. Not just for monetary value, but he'll isn't it cool to see a wheatback? They are rare enough to elicit a smile when I get one, yet common enough for me to keep trying.  We're handling pieces of history here now. Even if it's not a wheatback a lot of times it's neat to check out the other designs.

Also, all pre-'82 pennies are worth more than their face value due to their copper content.

No kidding!  I just found a penny minted in 1945 last week.  I looked at it and was thinking this thing was created during the end of World War II.  It probably had an interesting journey...

Banks accept loose change as deposits (at least Bank of America does).  Every couple of years I'll drop off a box of loose change and deposit it into my checking account.

Yes, it's illegal to melt down or otherwise deface US currency.

Mike

[Rocketman]

Ehen the government does away with the penny, then you can melt down penny's. I think the copper ones are worth about three cents each. Fun fact, when the government did away with the half-penny it was worth about what a nickle is now.

The government loses money making the penny and the paper dollar bill.