After 45 years of saving the coins and storing them in five-gallon jugs, he wheeled his collection in on a dolly to see how much he had. "I will always tell the person that if it was a quarter, I would give it back, but since it is a penny, I'm keeping it. "But if we can help Anders with his endeavors, we are happy to do so.". It is said that the world works in mysterious ways, and for Otha Anders and the result of his penny collection, that motto is certainly true ! I never allowed anyone, not even my wife nor children, to give me pennies without being compensated. And that he did, he paid them for the pennies they gave him. "Anders will inform us on where he wants the cashed-in money to be placed," she said. This soon became an obsession until he started saving his own pennies for his hobby. La. For over 45 years, Anders had been collecting pennies, storing them in 5-gallon water jugs. I would break a dollar before giving up a penny.. There were simply too many to count so Anders could only guess that his collection contained hundreds of thousands of pennies but really, he had no idea. If I was at someones house and I found a penny, I would pick it up and I would keep it, he said. Otha Anders has collected over half a million pennies during the last 45 years. Shop sales in every category.Uh-oh, overstock: Wayfair put their surplus on sale for up to 50% off. What if you collected pennies as a hobby? For Anders, the process of collecting the coins meant more than the money he would make. But he still had some cash left over which he put towards a family trip and church donations. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. than 45 years ago when he found it on the ground. Photo credit: United News International / YouTube. While he only deposited them when he found. That led to a huge collection, stored in 15 five-gallon, plastic water jugs, adding up to about half a million pennies, which ultimately converted to $5,136.14. It has long been said that time is the most valuable commodity. Recently, he needed some money and thought that he did have some money stashed in his house; although he wasnt sure how much he actually had. He would just find them and save them. A Maryland Dumping Site Was Actually A Black Cemetery. He cashed in the coins to the Ruston Origin Bank, in Ruston, La. Here was a man who certainly lived by the adage "See a penny, pick it up. Then he took his jugs to a bank in Ruston, Louisiana to cash them in. Although Anders' collection contains mostly modern pennies, its crazy to think that if he held onto those coins long enough, theyd soon bring him a fortune as big as a million dollars! Could you have the discipline to collect coins for almost 50 years? Specifically, coins made of precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and even copper fluctuate in value over time but generally become more valuable. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Five of Anders' closest friends and family helped him and bank employees load the coins from the back of a pickup truck into the company's coin room. And they werent the only establishment to do so. . Any penny he receives as change or anything he finds in his walks, he puts inside the 5-gallon water jugs. His quirky hobby turned out to be a brilliant reminder of how much little things matter. He would have continued to keep them and collect more if it wasnt for one problem that he encountered when he renewed his home affairs. Wow. That is a lot of pennies. Otha Anders of Louisiana had spent the past 45 years picking up pennies he found in the streets and putting these inside his giant piggy banks made of water jugs. And you think we have the time to count half a million pennies for you? she laughed. He had no idea, but clearly, this would result in a fortune. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Nancy Bergeron/Ruston Daily Leader But what about Anders coins? He told USA Today, "I became convinced that spotting a lost or dropped penny was an additional God-given incentive reminding me to always be thankful. The plastic jugs were hacked open by an ax and hammer. Total Savings. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Anders saved up an incredible $5,136.14 through collecting pennies for 45 years.For anyone whos trying to work it out, thats $114.14 a year, Anders was able to collect by picking up dirty old pennies left forgotten on the side of a street. What began as something fun turned into a full-blown obsession and an all-consuming hobby. As the years passed, Anders continued to collect his pennies until he successfully filled fifteen five-gallon plastic water jugs with nothing but pennies. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Author: Frededreia Willis. Coins made of base metals, such as aluminum, have very little worth. RUSTON, La. "Whenever I would see a penny, I would always say a prayer of thanks. Thats especially true when it comes to coins - but - only certain kinds of coins. Anders said he has truly enjoyed looking at his penny collection to the extent that in the 1970s, when the U.S. government offered a $25 bonus for every $100 worth of pennies turned in, he refused to cash in his collection. I became convinced that spotting a lost or dropped penny was an additional God-given incentive reminding me to always be thankful, Anders said. Anders didnt know that after he picked up his first penny, more would keep appearing through his love. Employees gathered to see the first five-gallon container being counted. Even though one particular hobby of his raised a few eyebrows. October 29, 2015 By Coin Update 13 Comments. Anders continued to collect his pennies for 45 years until he successfully filled fifteen five-gallon plastic water jugs. He started collecting pennies in the early 1970s. All eyes were on the man pulling the trolley behind him. This penny reminded him to give thanks for the small but wonderful things that happen in life. But when they finally did, the amount Anders had saved all these years was incredible! But when they finally did, the actual amount Anders had saved all these years was incredible!When the manager walked out to see who was causing all the ruckus, his face lit up at the sight of Anders. "I became convinced that spotting a lost or dropped penny was an additional God-given incentive reminding me to always be thankful," said Anders, 73. "There have been days where I failed to pray and more often than not, a lost or dropped penny would show up to remind me.". Tell us your tales of coin collections if you have any,and don't forget to show this story to your friends as well! "I would break a dollar before giving up a penny.". However, with the help of friends and family,Anders made it to the bank with his tremendous collection. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. But what was he going to do with his saved money? Anders was hesitant to finally hand in his collection, which he refused to do back in the 1970s, when the government was offering a $25 bonus for every $100 worth of pennies turned in, the News-Star notes. "Jack saved nickels as I saved pennies and every nickel that passed through my hands I would save for him," he said. Youtube / Kray K News. Otha Anders cashed in his giant penny collection. Anders says he plans to use the cash to help pay a dental bill. Cole said the bank will then send the pennies off to the FDIC, and the bank will receive their credit for them. Share away, people! "We value his business, as we do all of our customers," she said. The coin reminded him to pray and give thanks. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. There were simply too many to count so Anders could only guess that his collection contained hundreds of thousands of pennies but really, he had no idea. It seems like Anders steady patience and consistent well-wishing has paid off for him. But why? How many?, the woman asked. Studies have shown that gratitude is a sure-fire way to a path of greater happiness in life. I never failed to do that. While that might not really be much if you count the years, it was already a huge sum considering he was just collecting pennies. We value his business, as we do all of our customers, Cole said. Thats why they had so much value to me., If his homeowners insurance policy hadnt stopped covering the pennies, Anders says there wouldve been no turning back. "I became convinced that spotting a lost or dropped. Thats especially true when it comes to coins but only certain kinds of coins. You know you see pennies all over. If I hadnt turned them in yesterday, I was not going to stop.. "I would break a dollar before giving up a penny. (Fox 14) A Louisiana man who collected pennies for almost half a . We value his business, as we do all of our customers, she said. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He felt that every penny he found was a gift from God, but he had no idea that he would find many more gifts throughout his life. In the end, Anders was always fair about how he came across his pretty pennies. Anders kept his pennies in five-gallon plastic jugs. Senior vice president of the Origin Bank in Ruston, Louisiana, Ryan Kilpatrick said that they were not prepared for such a huge amount to come rolling through their bank. I wanted the inner satisfaction that God and I acquired this collection.. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. It does not store any personal data. Louisiana man cashes in penny collection to the tune of $5,000. Asian-American Affairs Reporter, HuffPost. Otha Anders started collecting pennies because he became "convinced that spotting a lost or dropped penny was an . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. "Our exchange became competitive by each trying to outdo the other and consequently our collections; his nickels, my pennies began to multiply," he added. For over 45 years, Anders hadbeen collecting pennies, storingthem in 5-gallon water jugs. 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