Today I discovered a 1919 S Wheat penny in my pocket.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

It's in remarkably good shape for all it has to have gone through throughout all those years of travel in the pockets and purses of our citizens. It was minted in San Francisco the year after my father and my mother were born. There is almost no wear on the back side of it, but as to the front- poor ol' Abe is just a little careworn.

I know it is not worth much coinage-wise, but it's still an amazing thing to hold in one's hand. It's a direct connection to history, living and real.

For a glance at some historical things that happened the year this coin was stamped: http://www.brainyhistory.com/years/1919.html

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Note: This is the second thread I've posted on this subject. For a look back at the first one, see this archived thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=4413567

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear Prisoner_Number_Six.......

I love looking at old coins.......

They take me back to our history more vividly than most things ...

Lucky for that coin that you have a sharp eye!

Enjoy your coin.......:hi:

[Ptah]

2. Cool. That's theyear my father was born

[Lex]

3. I love finding wheat pennies.

It happens less and less.

They are good luck, I say!

:thumbsup:

[Zavulon]

5. I do, too.

I rarely get them. See my post below for the oldest one I ever got in change.

[Zavulon]

4. I got a 1931 penny in change at Rite Aid this summer, and

that's my closest stab at numismatic luck.

My brother, on the other hand, once got a 1927 Standing Liberty quarter in change. The little bastard. My father once got a 1911 Liberty Head nickel in change (in the 80's), and my mother once got an Indian Head penny in change. Worse still: my sister got a 1942 Mercury dime in change. This makes me the only member of my family not to get a coin in change that was no longer in circulation. :mad:

[rockymountaindem]

6. Would you believe I have a series 1928 $2 bill in perfect condition?

Somebody paid with it in my dad's store once during the '90s and before he realized what had happened the guy had gone. My pop kept it for awhile in case the customer came back looking for it but he never did. That was quite a cool present when I was a kid.

I also have a perfect condition series 1935 $1 bill, but I don't know where that came from.

[Whoa_Nelly]

7. Here's a site that tells values of wheat pennies

http://sammler.com/coins/wheat_pennies.htm

I have a penny that was double stamped and has a deep rim on both sides. Have no idea what it's worth, but will someday find out. I know it;s an unusual one.

[Nicole]

8. I love getting wheat pennies

I have a couple dozen of them. I need to go check the dates on them.

[Book Lover]

9. Neat!

I carry a 1932 quarter in my wallet as a good luck charm. Back in 1932 that quarter was worth quite a lot...

[wildhorses]

10. that is SOOO cool

:hi:

[Lisa]

11. this might not be a coincidence!

Apparently there are historians and collectors who deliberately put old coins back into circulation, in order to get people interested about their money. And judging by this thread, it seems to work!
(Several years ago, I was travelling in Switzerland when I received a 1914 coin in my change ... I've forgotten the names of the denominations, but it was similar to our nickel, in face value.)


http://www.columbiajournalist.org/deadline/2005/article.asp?subj=city&course=deadline&id=960

http://www.nbc10.com/news/10145258/detail.html

http://www.snopes.com/business/money/travis.asp

http://www.topix.net/forum/hobbies/coin-collecting/T1DH8VO274GVOQTMF

http://www.canada.com/cityguides/regina/story.html?id=03fef595-157e-4d23-a7e1-7bb1d3d973b6&k=3484