That penny jar mocking you from the shelf finally has a purpose. Since production is stopping, it’s turning everyday pocket change into something worth your attention. Suppose you’re confused and don’t know how to use them, worry not, because we’re here with options—some practical, some profitable, and some just plain creative. Check ’em out.
Spend Your Pennies
With billions of pennies in circulation, these copper coins won’t vanish overnight. Even after minting ends, they remain perfect for exact change, useful for vending machines, parking meters, and transit. Eventually, cash payments may be rounded to the nearest nickel, but until then, pennies stay practical for everyday use.
Trade Pennies With Collectors
The penny has seen countless designs since 1793, which means certain pennies, particularly ones with errors or rare dates like the 1943 copper, might just fetch thousands from collectors. So, before you give all of them away, take a closer look. You might discover something that’s more valuable than a cent.
Use Pennies For Charitable Donations
Pennies pile up everywhere: jars, drawers, cup holders. Instead of letting them clutter your space, donate them. Schools and charities usually run penny drives that turn spare change into real impact. Even small collections can fund community meals or medical research when pooled together.
Use Pennies For Crafts And Art
Your pennies could be art supplies rather than spare change. Creative people transform them into showpiece floors, sparkling mosaics, decorative frames, and even guitar picks. From home decor to functional accessories, pennies work surprisingly well as a crafting material.
Gift Pennies As Mementos
Pennies mean more than money now—they’re good luck charms. Brides put them in their shoes for a wedding day fortune. Even parents give them as graduation keepsakes. Since pennies might disappear soon, each one becomes a little piece of American history you can pass down to loved ones.
Use Pennies For Home-Schooling Purposes
Need teaching tools? Pennies work perfectly. They’re great for teaching young kids to count and do basic math. Once children grasp numbers, pennies help explain how money works. Beyond math, they’re science experiments waiting to happen. Vinegar turns them from dull to shiny, thereby showing chemical reactions in action.
Turn Pennies Into Jewelry
Creative minds are finding new ways to give old pennies fresh purpose. Rings, necklaces, and charms crafted from these coins blend history with modern style. When polished, copper shines with a warm glow. You can also use pennies in resin projects and preserve them in coasters, trays, or decorative pieces.
Add To Plant Pots For Drainage
A layer of pennies at the bottom of plant pots can help improve drainage and prevent root rot. The slight gap they create allows excess water to escape easily, keeping soil from becoming waterlogged. It’s a simple, eco-friendly way to reuse old coins while helping your plants thrive.
Use Pennies For Temporary Home Repairs
If your handyman is taking a lot of time, try pennies. They wedge behind loose screws to temporarily hold furniture together. Small and metal-strong, they’re perfect for improvised repairs. People slide them under uneven table legs for instant leveling. Bonus physics: heat copper pennies and they expand slightly, fitting into tight spots better.
Use Pennies In Garden And Pest Control Hacks
Your spare pennies can double as garden armor. As they get wet, copper produces tiny electric currents that repel slugs and snails without chemicals. Try lining pots or borders for natural pest defense. Older, copper-rich pennies (pre-1982) work best and can make your garden gleam beautifully in the sunlight.
