Why I Obsess Over Saving Small Cents Every Sunday

You know, as a lifelong coin collector, I’ve turned Sunday mornings into my special time with small cents—those unassuming Lincoln pennies that hold so much history. I love digging through my change jar, always hoping to spot something special, and honestly, it’s become one of my favorite weekly rituals. Let me tell you why these little coins have captured my heart and how you might enjoy hunting them too during your own ‘Save the Small Cent Sunday’ moments.

Why Small Cents Hook Collectors Like Me

People sometimes ask why I save pennies when they make billions each year. For me, it’s that jolt of excitement when you find something unexpected—like holding history in your palm. Take the 1909-S VDB Lincoln cent: I’d wanted one since I was ten, and finally adding an NGC EF-40 to my collection felt like winning the lottery. These aren’t just coins; they’re stories. Low-mintage years like the 1931-S (only 866,000 struck) or that famous 1909-S VDB (484,000) feel like rare treasures. And the variations! From 1960’s large vs. small dates to 1943 steel cents, there’s always something to discover. Just last month, I found a triple curved clip error in a common roll—proof that you should never skip checking every coin.

Hands-On Tips for Building Your Cent Collection

Over decades of collecting, I’ve learned a few tricks for finding great cents without emptying your wallet. Here’s what works for me:

• Check Your Change Every Day: Make it a habit—I found a 1958-D in circulation just last Tuesday! You might stumble on key dates or oddities like incomplete planchets when you least expect it.
• Focus on Condition: A little extra detail can mean a lot. After scoring an NGC MS-63BN Lincoln cent, I realized brown toning matters for older issues. Look for crisp wheat stalks on pre-1958 cents or sharp steps on Memorial reverses—they’re grade boosters.
• Smart Sourcing: Start with albums or VaultBox releases (I got one of my best cents this way) and hit local shows. But be careful: I once saw someone pay $5 a roll for common dates—total overkill when you can hunt affordably.

Pennies in the Real World: Costs and Controversies

Let’s be honest—small cents aren’t vanishing soon, but they sure spark debates. Modern mintages hit billions (over 8 billion for some 1980s issues), so rarity isn’t the issue. But that production cost? Reports say it takes nearly 3.69 cents to make each penny. Seems wasteful, right? Here’s my two cents: I’d love to see them kept in proof sets for us collectors, but killing circulation pennies might not save much. The Mint’s costs would continue elsewhere, and these little guys do help transactions. Like one collector friend joked, why not add a ‘V’ design to the nickel instead? Innovation could spark interest without scrapping pennies entirely.

My Cent Journey and Why You Should Start Yours

Some of my proudest moments involve cents—finally getting an 1856 Flying Eagle (the series starter) or displaying that childhood dream coin. Even now, I still get that rush spotting something special in a handful of change. My advice? Relax and enjoy the hunt. Don’t worry about shortages; savor the stories each coin carries. Whether it’s a graded beauty or the worn, holed cent I’ve kept since boyhood, every find adds joy. So this Sunday, join me: sort through your coins, check for errors, and hold a piece of history. Happy hunting!