Community Voice Responses (10/21/14)

From the Sept. 26 Numismatic News E-Newsletter:

Do you spend the cents that you receive in change?

Here are some answers sent from our e-newsletter readers to Editor Dave Harper.

All of my pennies, nickels and dimes go on a jar that I empty into the grandaughter’s college account. I save the quarters by type and haven’t yet decided what to do with them.

Bill Cristy
Shepherdstown, W.Va.

Yes, I do, as it only makes sense seeing the government still makes those high priced cents.

Wesley Ellis
Portland, Ore.

No, I don’t spend my pennies. I have a large cast iron container that I have been putting the pennies in. I have several hundreds of thousands of pennies in it.

Michael Kelly
Klamath Falls. Ore.

No. I deposit them into the bank after having searched them for pre-1982 bronze and doubled dies and post-1982 varieties that I affectionately call “the usual suspects,” 1983 bronze, 1984 doubled ear, 1988 reverse of 1989, 1992 reverse of 1993, 1993, reverse...

Robert Willems
U.S. Virgin Islands

No, I hate pennies. I either leave them at the vendors, or I throw them in a five-gallon pail. It is so stupid to think we are forced to handle them. I stopped at McDonald’s the other day. My total came to $5.01. I gave them a $10 bill so I get back $4.99, which includes four old beat up pennies. See what I mean? If we had no pennies I would have gotten back a $5 bill. It really makes no sense at all.

Ed Peterson
Address withheld

Yes, I always carry four quarters, two dimes, two nickels and five cents in my pocket and spend it quite often. I can always come up with the right change for any cash purchase I make.

Larry Marshall
Livingston, Texas

No, I’ve been putting them in a canvas bag for over a decade. It isn’t worth the time to roll them.

B.J. Herbison
Bolton, Mass.

No I do not spend cents or any change for that matter. If and when I do use cash, I take the change home and check them for ones that I collect like wheat pennies or silver coins. I do find silver dimes on occasion. People seem to overlook them. I put all the coins I am not keeping in a container and when it is full I bring them to the bank change machine and deposit them.

Joseph Murro
Bridgewater, N.J.

We’ve a different one cent coin, but yes, I try to spend them as fast as I get them. Of course I first inspect them for date and issuing country, but then quickly dump the pesky little pieces. Of course, I’m talking about euro cents. When in the USA, it is the same game; a quick check and off they go. When a wheat ear or a copper cent pops up, it goes into a bowl.

Randy Blanning
Kato Lehoina, Greece

I enjoy searching every coin I get in change. I keep the ones I think will possibly gain value and roll the rest to put in a savings account. It really is exciting to find the rare collector coin.

Bob Taylor
Address withheld

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