Lately, I have had this weird obsessive compulsion of … the penny. To be perfectly honest, I hate them – so useless. Furthermore, where do you put the damn things? Rarely is there a designated coin area for the penny in the car.
Why the penny?
I blame a stupid cashier at Michael’s. I went there some months back for one particular item. My bill totaled $18.01. Of course I didn’t have the penny, thinking the cashier would have one at the register. When she didn’t and before I could run to my car to get one, she plopped 99 cents in my hand. 99 cents. Can you believe that shit? Bitch
Even at work this penny thing has carried over. I round up everyone’s change to avoid penny distribution. Unless the customer is a total asshole, douche or bitch. Then he/she receives the exact amount of change in the smallest increments available. That means lots of copper, baby. Okay it’s fake copper. Oh, and in my defense regarding the Michael’s incident, I didn’t even talk to the cashier before checking out. So, it was all her. Bitch
brief history on the penny –
- The one-cent coin, commonly known as the penny, was the first currency of any type authorized by the United States. The design for the first one-cent coin was suggested by Benjamin Franklin.
- The word “penny” is derived from the original British coin of the same name. Over 300 billion one-cent coins, with 11 different designs, have been minted since 1787.
- The Indian cent was first introduced in 1859 and depicted an Indian princess on the obverse. A popular story about its design claims a visiting Indian chief lent the designer’s daughter his headdress so she could pose as the Indian princess.
- The one-cent coin was made legal tender by the Coinage Act of 1864.
- In 1909, Abraham Lincoln was the first historical figure to grace a U.S. coin. The Lincoln penny was also the first U.S. cent to include the words “In God We Trust.”
- In the current 2010 design, “Preservation of the Union”, the reverse design is emblematic of President Abraham Lincoln’s preservation of the United States as a single and united country, with a union shield with a scroll draped across and the inscription ONE CENT.
Interesting tidbits –
Penny Black
The world’s first prepaid adhesive postage stamp issued May 6, 1840.
A penny for your thoughts
Keep the penny. Better yet, keep ‘your thoughts’. Remember, I work retail. I hate everyone – especially their thoughts.
Meaning: A belated realization of something after a period of confusion or misunderstanding
A penny saved is a penny earned
Seriously doubt this verse holds true today. Like me, people scoff at the idea of pennies. Let’s not even mention the urge to ‘save’ them.
Poetic superstitions –
See a penny, pick it up,
all day long you’ll have good luck,
give it to a faithful friend,
then your luck will never end
Lastly, the musical tribute that just seemed to make … cents.
