2 Cents -- 1 by the pool, 1 in the parking lot

Today two of my grandkids came over. We went to the pool so they could show off their swimming skills for me, and there was a penny right by the steps going into the water. Then later when they were leaving, I found another penny in the parking lot.

Happy Memorial Day to all!

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  2 pennies
Year:  2004, 2005
U.S. Mint:  D, D
Condition:  water logged, dark and dirty
How much found money to date:  $1.51 in 2011

Lori, I Found Your Quarter! Luz, I Found Your Penny!

Okay, today while running some errands I found a penny as I walked into Fry's. Fry's is what they call the Kroger grocery stores here in Arizona. When I was in Denver, they were King Soopers. What are the Kroger grocery stores called where you live?

I digress. I picked up the penny and smiled and put it in my pocket. Then I asked a stocker where the vitamins were and she led me to the aisle. On the way, I spotted a quarter! Woo hoo!

So, why the title of this blog entry, you ask. Last time I found a penny, two different people (Lori and Luz) on Facebook said it was their penny. Good try. Lori, even went so far as to say the quarter I was going to find was hers! Okay. If it's your quarter, Lori, how come you're in Maryland and I'm in Arizona? Good try, again, but I thought it was hilarious that they both predicted my next find!

Is anyone going to lose a twenty?

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  1 penny, quarter
Year:  2008, 1992
U.S. Mint:  D, D
Condition:  shiny, worn
How much found money to date:  $1.49 in 2011

It's Wednesday So It's Find-A-Penny Day

Yes, I volunteered today and, yes, as I was leaving I found a penny. Only one this week, but I swear, someone who leaves right before me (maybe another volunteer?) drops pennies on the parking lot maybe while getting their car keys out. I don't know for sure what's happening, but this week makes three times this month. I'm not complaining!

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  1 penny
Year:  1978
U.S. Mint:  D
Condition:  beat up like a punching bag, and dented
How much found money to date:  $1.23 in 2011

Found a Dime at the Post Office

I went to the Desert Botanical Gardens this morning with some cute kiddos. I made some high-tech binoculars for them so they wouldn't miss a thing. In this case, high-tech = toilet paper roll, felt and ribbon. Hey, they liked them.

On the way home I stopped at the post office. And I found this dime! It was just lying on the floor, which begs the question:  Are other people oblivious (yes, much of the time) or am I more observant (yes, some of the time). What do you think? Do you think you see things others miss? Like coins on the floor?

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  1 dime
Year:  1995
U.S. Mint:  D
Condition:  shiny
How much found money to date:  $1.22 in 2011

Found a Dime at Michael's!

I trotted over to Michael's today (yes, I'm addicted) with my 40% off coupon in hand. I found some great stuff, including some new knobs for my dresser I just redid last week. Read about the exciting transformation here, if you want.

The dresser had three mismatched knobs, so I didn't bother putting them back on. I didn't know when I'd find ones I liked (at a price I wanted to pay), but as I was sifting through the cheapo bins, I spotted these knobs. They're acrylic and even though I would have preferred glass, it was no biggie. I liked them, the price was right at $2 each, so they came home with me!

Oh, and I found that dime on the floor! Yay!

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  1 dime
Year:  2004
U.S. Mint:  D
Condition:  shiny
How much found money to date:  $1.12 in 2011

Two Pennies and an Arizona Ashtray

I ran out today to run a few errands. Since it was half off day at Goodwill, that was one stop. I found this Copper State, Arizona ashtray. Cool! Then I found the two pennies in my driveway when I got home. Yay!

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  2 pennies
Year:  1977, 2006
U.S. Mint:  both D
Condition:  dark, shiny
How much found money to date:  $1.02 in 2011

Brand Spanking New 2011 Penny

I am loving the weather we're having this week. Highs in the 70s and 80s. Yes! Yesterday the high was 77, which on the news they said is 17 degrees below the normal average for May in Phoenix. And it rained! It so seldom rains here that I really miss it and enjoy when it does.

I took advantage of the perfect weather--cool air, a light breeze--and rode my bike to run some errands this morning. First I went to the post office, then the bank, where I did find some money but I had to give them a withdrawal slip to get it, then to the library. I didn't find any money at any of these places, but I took my time riding home.

I rode up a driveway that leads to some office buildings with a bridge over the road. There was a pond with some of those monster goldfish (koi maybe?). The whole area was like a park, very pretty and quiet, but my camera battery died before I could get close up photos of the fish and the pond.

So, I rode around some more, in no hurry to get home. It felt that good to be outside, and I know that soon (maybe next week), it'll heat up to 100+ here and I won't want to be outside at all let alone riding my bike. So I rode through the office building's parking spaces, up and down the aisles, looking for money. Hey, why not? And look what I found!

Yes, this shiny, brand new 2011 Lincoln penny. And how fitting that on a nice day, I would find a new pretty penny; this makes $1.00 that I've found this year!

Have you found any money lately? This year?

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  1 penny
Year:  2011
U.S. Mint:  D
Condition:  shiny and new
How much found money to date:  $1.00 in 2011

2 Cents

I volunteered today at Learning Ally (formerly called Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic) like I do every Wednesday (well, almost every Wednesday). When I was walking out to my car, I found these 2 cents on the ground.

If anyone is reading this blog (and I'd love to hear from you if you are!), you remember that a couple of weeks ago I found 7 pennies when I left Learning Ally to go to my car. Well, today these pennies were in purt near the same spot. I even had to dig the darker penny out of the tar like I had to do with 3 pennies last week. So, I wonder who in the world is dropping all these pennies there every Wednesday? I don't really care as long as I keep finding them!

Found any money lately? Where? When? How much?

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  2 pennies
Year:  1995, 1996
U.S. Mint:  no mark, D
Condition:  filthy, tarry / a little dirty
How much found money to date:  $.99 in 2011

1963 was a very good year!

I am loving this cool weather this week. Already this year here in Phoenix, we've had some 100+ days. Ugh. This week the high will only hit 90. Yay! So, yesterday and today I got out and rode my bike. Yesterday even though I rode to Michael's and Trader Joe's nothing. Today I rode around quite awhile just to feel the breeze in my face then I stopped at Big Lots! for some essentials (read:  TP). On the way home from there, I turned into a condo complex that I'd never checked out before. I rode all the way to the back and what did I find? Yes! This penny!

I was thrilled! It doesn't take much, really, to thrill me. It's the hunt, for sure, that I love. So, I took a quick picture since I had my camera slung on my wrist, picked up the penny and put it in my pocket, and rode home. It wasn't till I reached in and pulled it out at home that I saw that it is from 1963. That's almost as old as me! (It's old.) It looks a little different than newer pennies to me; the ridge around the edge just looks higher. It's probably not.

But for fun, I thought I'd look up the value of this "ancient" coin. Here's what I learned:

• Lincoln pennies made before 1982 contain 95% copper.
• Lincoln pennies made after 1982 are 97.5% zinc with a thin coating of copper.
• My 1963-D penny is worth, you guessed it, 1 cent. But I did find a source that says if I had a roll of these pennies, I could get $7.99 (well, that's what they're selling them for).

Do you have any valuable coins?

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  1 penny
Year:  1963
U.S. Mint:  D
Condition:  seasoned
How much found money to date:  $.97 in 2011

Two Pennies and a Cat Sitter Checklist

I went to Fresh and Easy today and while walking in, I spotted these two pennies in the parking lot. Yay! I waited till I got home to take a picture (since my camera was on my desk).

Anyway, I just printed out this cat sitter checklist that my friend Marilyn added to her new blog, PookandNolly. To get your own cat sitter checklist, head on over there. You never know when you'll need to leave home and round up someone to feed, scoop, and pet!

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  2 pennies
Year:  1996, 2001
U.S. Mint:  no mark, D
Condition:  dirty, tarnished, dinged up
How much found money to date:  $.96 in 2011

Found a Penny at Grocery Outlet

Today I went to Grocery Outlet with a friend. This was my first visit and I must say it was a fun store. Being an outlet, they buy overstock and discontinued goods and sell them in their stores. Sort of like Big Lots! and I love Big Lots! And while I was there, I spotted this penny on the floor.

I was impressed with the selection of specialty cheeses at good prices. I also stocked up on Fiber One bars (99 cents a box!) and cereal plus plenty of other stuff.

Have you found any money lately? Please share your finds in the comments below!

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  1 penny
Year:  2006
U.S. Mint:  no mark
Condition:  shiny
How much found money to date:  $.94 in 2011

Phoenix Tarpits or How I Found 7 Cents Stuck in the Pavement

Today when I went to volunteer, I saw three pennies stuck (but not TOO stuck) in the hot tar in the parking lot. I used my car key since it's the longest and sturdiest and pried them up. I had a tissue in my purse luckily because they were literally a hot mess. The sides facing down are mostly black and sticky, but I don't care. Found money is found money.

When I was done recording a fascinating book on travel marketing, on the way out to my car, I spotted four more pennies! None of these were stuck; they were just lying on the pavement waiting for me to pick them up. Someone was hemorrhaging pennies this morning!

I went about my errands, to the post office and then the grocery store, thinking "hot dog, I found seven cents!" But when I got home, I spotted two more pennies in the parking lot. Hot diggity! Nine cents!

This Found Money FACTS:
Denomination:  9 pennies
Condition:  dirty, tarry, sticky, worn, tarnished
How much found money to date:  $.93 in 2011