The Ultimate Guide to National Lucky Penny Day | May 23!

National Lucky Penny Day

On May 23rd, National Lucky Penny Day hopes you'll have good luck all day long. Heads or tails, does it matter which side you find your penny?

#LuckyPennyDay

Years ago, a penny could buy something. (Check out National Taffy Day to see what we used to get for a penny.) Today, due to inflation, the penny buys very little. The metal value and minting cost of pennies exceed their face value. Many countries have stopped minting similar value coins and efforts are being made to stop using pennies in several countries, including the United States.

See a Penny, Pick it Up

If you see a penny, pick it up. All day long you'll have good luck.

First U.S. Penny

The United States first issued a one-cent coin produced by a private mint in 1787. Benjamin Franklin designed it. One side read "Mind Your Business" and the other "We Are One." This coin was 100% copper and was larger than today’s penny. It was known as the Fugio cent. However, the first pennies produced in a United States Mint weren't made until 1793, but they were also made of copper.

Valuable Pennies

Pennies may not have much value today. However, a few pennies have made a fortune for their owners:

• 1943-D: Lincoln Bronze Penny sold for $1.7 million.
• 1944-S: Lincoln Steel Penny sold for $373,750.
• 1943-S: Lincoln Penny made of Bronze sold for $282,000.
• 1909 VDB: Lincoln Penny sold for $258,500.
• 1856: Flying Eagle Penny sold for $172,500.

Why are Pennies Lucky?

At one time, metals, including copper, were precious materials. Finding a penny was valuable. Sometimes finding a penny had to do with the daily battle between good and evil. Do you only pick up a penny if it’s head side up?

Superstitions pass from generation to generation. One says if you find a penny tail side up, you should flip it over and leave it head side up for the next lucky person to find.

On a wedding day, there's a saying to put a penny in the bride's shoe. It's more likely to cause a blister than to bring good luck in that case.

When you are out, look on the ground for pennies. It just might be your lucky day!

How to Observe Lucky Penny Day

See how many pennies you can find. It just might be your lucky day! Use #LuckyPennyDay to post on social media.

The National Day Calendar Classroom also has projects created just for the penny.

National Lucky Penny Day History

The word "penny" means any sort of coin or money.

• In 790 A.D., Anglo-Saxon King Offa introduced the first English coin known as the penny.
• The first U.S. penny was the size of a half dollar and made of pure copper.
• Benjamin Franklin designed the first American penny in 1787, known as the Fugio cent.
• Visitors to Benjamin Franklin's grave in Philadelphia leave one-cent pieces there for good luck.
• National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this mint condition holiday.