Found an Iridescent Penny

It's hotter than you know what here but just before dark, I took a short walk. I found this iridescent penny in the street! It's really pretty in person but doesn't show off the luster in this photo. Darn.

This Found Money Facts:

Denomination:  1 penny
Year:  1980
U.S. Mint:  none
Condition:  iridescent
Total Found Money to Date in 2014:  $19.63

11 Cents and a Sunk Shopping Cart

I was sitting here working on a book I'm editing and was about to fall asleep. I have no idea why; it's so exciting! So, I rode my bike up to the Everything's 99 Cent store. On the way I found a dime at an intersection then  a little farther up the street, I found a penny!

I stopped on an overpass looking down into a canal. It's so rare to see water in Phoenix other than in my drinking glass that I decided to stop. I took this picture of today's found money. I set the money on the ledge. That's the green water in the background.

Upon closer inspection, I spotted this sunk shopping cart. Yeah, it's a great part of town. The 99 Cent store was crowded and I didn't want to leave my bike locked out front too long so I rushed in and got a few things and was back on the ride home within 10 minutes.

Have you found any money lately? Share your found money with us.

 This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  1 dime, 1 penny
Year:  2002, 1981
U.S. Mint:  both Denver
Condition:  the dime is fine, the penny is gnarly
How much found money to date:  $.76 in 2011

Grapefruit and a Penny

I was out riding my bike and rode through the drive through lane of a bank. Nothing, just a couple of cars in the ATM lane. Then in front of the drive through, I spotted this penny. As you can see, it's in pretty rough shape with the silver showing through in a few places.

This picture is another re-enactment because the first car pulled out of the drive through lane as I stopped to pick up this sucker. Instead of getting hit or causing a small traffic jam by taking a picture, I scooped it up and went on my way.

Later, I rode by a house with a box that read "Free Grapefruit." So, I stopped and bagged up 6 of those suckers. I love free stuff!

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination: 1 penny
Year:  2004
U.S. Mint:  Denver
Condition:  very scratched and dinged with silver showing through
How many coins/bills found to date:  20
How much found money to date:  $.38

Driveway Money

When I got home from the grocery store today, I saw a dull little round thing in the driveway.

Yep, this penny. It has seen better days; it's so beat up. Oh well. Good enough for who it's for (a family saying, and so appropriate for just about any occasion!).

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  penny
Year:  1984
U.S. Mint:  Denver
Condition:  Beat up, dirty
How many coins/bills found to date:  10
How much found money to date:  $.19

Paydirt!

Yes, that's right. Today I hit paydirt! I was riding my bike along 32nd Street approaching Indian School when my cell phone rang. I keep it and my camera and keys in an old camera bag (from an old, larger digital camera), so I had to pull off the busy street to answer it. It was my son.

I hadn't seen my lucky charms (his children / my grandchildren) since last Saturday, thus no update to this blog. No lucky charms, no found money. But the two of them were chattering away in the background, and after a few minutes, I decided to keep riding my bike. I pulled into a parking lot at 32nd Street and Indian School to ride around there until we finished talking so I could hear.

I rode my bike through the drive through of a bank. Ta da! PAYDIRT! First one penny! That's it up yonder by my bike tire.


Then another!
This little guy to the left.

With this sudden good luck streak, my son said he'd keep talking (so I could find more). I did--another penny. Well, I was thrilled and told my son, "Three cents! That's what I've found total so far!"


THEN after I'd put my camera away and as I was shoving the pennies in my pocket getting ready to get back on my bike, I saw it winking at me. That's right, a dime!


What a day. $.13 in one fell swoop.



What I am so thrilled about is that FINALLY I found some coins while on my bike. I've been riding my bike nearly every day for at least three weeks now and this is the first time I've found anything. Yippie!

This Found Money FACTS:
Denominations: 3 pennies, 1 dime
Years:  Pennies:  1981, 1984, 1970; Dime:  1999
U.S. Mints:  Pennies:  Denver; Dime:  Philadelphia
Condition:  Mostly beat up
How many coins/bills found to date:  7
How much found money to date:  $.16

My Lucky Charms

Okay, it's been almost a week since I found any money. And today, two of my grandkids came over, we took a walk, and guess what? Yep, found a penny.

They are my lucky charms! We were on another walk around the neighborhood and discovered this guy, tail end up, at 30th and Weldon. We decided after finding it, it was indeed "well done"!

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  penny
Year:  2007
U.S. Mint:  Denver
Condition:  Good, losing its shine
How many coins/bills found to date:  3
How much found money to date:  $.03

Found Money in Scottsdale

Okay, Scottsdale, Arizona is fancy. Real fancy. And though I don't expect people to just throw their money on the ground for me to find, I thought I might find a nickle. But I found money and what was it? This penny.

That's right. Another lowly penny. Better than nothing!

My son and two grandkids and I were out walking, and this shiny feller showed his face at around N. 85th and E. San Marcos. We were a little distracted by all of the bunny rabbits we kept seeing, so it's kind of a wonder we spotted this penny.

Before we found the penny, we fed the ducks at a lake, including this fancy duck with what looked like a cotton ball on her head. I guess the fancy ducks live in Scottsdale.

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  penny
Year:  2004
U.S. Mint:  Denver
Condition:  Lovely, nice and shiny.
How many coins/bills found to date:  2
How much found money to date:  $.02