"I never allowed anyone, not even my wife nor children, to give me pennies without being compensated," he said. Anders also added that his friend,Jack "Domino Kid" Brown, played a significant part in his penny collection. He explained, I wanted the inner satisfaction that God and I acquired this collection., If I was at someones house and I found a penny, I would pick it up and I would keep it, I will always tell the person that if it was a quarter, I would give it back, but since it is a penny, Im keeping it. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Anders kept his pennies in five-gallon plastic jugs. I wanted to fill five five-gallon water jugs. I would say hes done a lot of collecting over the years., Vice President Jennie Cole also said that Anders was a long-time customer whom they wanted to help. See a penny pick it up and if you're like this guy who did that for 45 years you could eventually be walking away with a nice chunk of change.literally. The plastic jugs had to be opened with an ax and hammer, and the bank was not prepared for such a large collection even though Anders had called a week prior to inform them that he would be coming with a colossal amount of pennies. How would they be able to count all these pennies? To get the pennies to the Ruston Origina Bank in Ruston, LA, Anders needed help.He ended up getting a couple of his friends to help move the five-gallon jugs full of pennies into his truck and then into the bank. Since then, Anders had been piling up the pennies, refusing to spend them and always making sure that whenever he bought something, his change had three or four pennies in it. As it was, the $5,136 worth of pennies took five hours for Origin Bank in Ruston, Louisiana, to count and process. Breanna Edwards. He approached the questionable expression behind the desk and asked them to cash his pennies in. It must have been fun watching the water jugs get filled with so much pennies because Otha decided to continue doing it for the years to come. Anders collected pennies, not as a sign of greed but as a symbol of faith that he was being looked after by the man upstairs, the universe, the penny gods, or whatever you might believe in! It reportedly took five hours for machines to count all the change. We value his business, as we do all of our customers, Cole said. A Louisiana man who collected pennies for more than 45 years has now cashed in 513,614 of them. "Jack saved nickels as I saved pennies and every nickel that passed through my hands I would save for him," he said. It may inspire them to start a collection of their own. The final count: 513,614 pennies, which comes to a little over $5,136, Fox 14 reports. Since Anders could have collected a small fortune, he made it a point to have his collection covered under his house insurance, but when he renewed it, they turned him away. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. "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.". Then, one day, he decided to turn in the loose change. If I was at someones house and I found a penny, I would pick it up and I would keep it, he said. Even opening the jugs wasn't a simple task -- they were hacked open with an axe. Having collected pennies since the late 1960s, the 73-year-old from Louisiana finally deposited the savings in his bank to pay for a dental bill. Your health is important to us. than 45 years ago when he found it on the ground. All of us have random coins lying around thatdon't amount to much and cannot always be used to pay for something when we are out shopping. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Have you ever felt bogged down by the change in your wallet that feels like extra weight that you'll never get rid of? "Jack saved nickels as I saved pennies and every nickel that passed through my hands I would save for him," he said. Anders, 73, reportedly supervises in-school suspended children for the Jackson School Board. The 73-year-old's homeowner's insurance didn't cover his collection, he told ABC News, that although he long ago surpassed his goal of filling five 5-gallon water jugs with coins, he found himself unable to stop collecting. How long has Otha Anders been saving his pennies? Otha Anders was a 73-year-old who worked with the Jackson School Board. But the amount he eventually managed to collect was staggering. How would they be able to count all these pennies? Legal Statement. "He did likewise with pennies for me.". It was by far the most exciting thing that had happened at the bank in a while!The plastic jugs were hacked open by an ax and hammer. Otha Anders saved his first penny more than 45 years ago when he found it on the ground. "But if we can help Anders with his endeavors, we are happy to do so.". He was reluctant to give his years of work away, but Anders also said that he has not lost the joy that comes from collecting coins. "Our exchange became competitive by each trying to outdo the other and consequently our collections; his nickels, my pennies began to multiply," he said. I would break a dollar before giving up a penny.. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bank Vice President Jennie Cole told reporters that it was not a typical day at the bank when Anders rolled in with his collection of pennies on a dolly.Im not sure exactly, Anders said. If Anders had it his way, he would have kept his collection and continued to pick up pennies for many years to come but life would throw him a curveball. Ruston resident Otha Anders started saving his first penny more than 45 years ago when he found it on the ground. Anders had put all the pennies he found into water jugs. I know its a crazy amount but this is a dear collection of mine that I need to cash out. But what was he going to do with his saved money? They remind him to stay thankful, he says. By this time, he had acquired over 15 5-gallon water jugs full of pennies, which were over half a million pennies in total! "But if we can help Anders with his endeavors, we are happy to do so.". As the report tells it, Otha Anders started more than 45 years ago when he found a penny on the ground and decided to save it. Otha Anders started collecting pennies in the late 1960s. How many?, the woman asked. Anders' new home insurance didnt cover his penny collection, so he reluctantly decided it was time to visit the bank and cash in his most prized possession.Anders had no idea how much money his collection would amount to. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. As the years passed, Anders continued to collect his pennies until he successfully filled fifteen five-gallon plastic water jugs with nothing but pennies. Their eyes popped as they took in the sight of the sheer amount of pennies. Anders collected pennies for 45 years until he had filled up . But when they finally did, the amount Anders had saved all these years was incredible! "I became convinced that. The woman behind the counter looked at him in disbelief. Then all day long, you'll have good luck." And his "luck" came in the shape of a cool five grand. Then, one day, he decided to turn in the loose change. Who would have thought a penny a day could someday bring you $5k! So, he paid them for pennies? That was the goal, but I couldnt stop. He watched suspended kids and loved his job. All Rights Reserved. "If I would see a penny when on the ground, in the hallway, on the floor, or anywhere, I would automatically and invariably a prayer of thanks and I'd say, well this is God's way of reminding me that I should always be thankful," he told reporters. As a supervisor for in-school suspended children for the Jackson School Board, Anders said his students learned about his penny fascination and would save them up to sell to him. "But if we can help Anders with his endeavors, we are happy to do so.". Anders worried they would turn him away. Not many people think too much of a penny it is just one cent. But now, he was about to find out. After over four decades of this spectacular collection, we wish Anders the very best for his future penny collections as well! Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. He watched over in-school suspended children and absolutely loved his job. 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. And as he got older his connection to god only felt stronger for it. It was a problem that left him devastated. Cats And Cucumbers: Why Are Cats Afraid Of Cucumbers? But if we can help Anders with his endeavors, we are happy to do so.. Otha Anders started collecting pennies because he became "convinced that spotting a lost or dropped penny was an . Anders had no idea how much money his collection would amount to. Cool, isnt it? Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. I wanted the inner satisfaction that God and I acquired this collection.. Otha Anders had been collecting pennies for more than 4 decades and had always put his faith in them as he was a religious man. Otha Anders turned in a 45-year collection of pennies on Tuesday in 15 five-gallon water jugs. How To Determine And Measure Your Ring Size Accurately, Teen Charged With Major Drug Trafficking Has Been Let Off. Uh-oh, overstock: Wayfair put their surplus on sale for up to 50% off. When Anders picked up his very first penny, he had no idea that hed continue picking them up for 45 years. Every penny he had, he kept. "I would never spend a penny,"he said. 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. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The same with coins that hold an error. I would break a dollar before giving up a penny.. He explained to the outlet the coins hold meaning for him. One man, Otha Anders, is one of the rare exceptions in this regard because he's picked up every penny that he has ever come across for the last 45 years! For 45 years, up until Tuesday, he was the proud owner of a collection containing over half a million of them. Anders sheepishly laughed with her before pleading with her again. Little did he know, just how many gifts he was going to receive. All rights reserved. "I would never spend a penny," Anders said. Even over 45 years, its hard to acquire a collection of over 500,000 pennies without a little help. 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. When he finally took his collection over to the bank, tellers were staggered by the amount he had saved. But that's not all. This just goes to show that the special meaning he had created with his pennies served him through his life, andstrengthening his relationship with God through this collection was worth more than the money he'd make. Even though one particular hobby of his raised a few eyebrows. Otha Anders, 73, does. Total Savings. I would guesstimate about half a million pennies?. Author: Frededreia Willis. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Pennies are small both in size and worth, but as a popular Indiansaying goes, "Drops of water collected eventually become a flowing stream." He says he finally cashed in because his insurance policy won't cover the collection, according to the News-Star. But now, he was about to find out. Anders didnt know that after he picked up his first penny, more would keep appearing through his love. An error in the coin made it extremely valuable, and its value could only keep growing over time. Its shocking, for sure, he told ABC News. But why? Not many people think too much of a penny - it is just one cent. It would go towards his recent dental bill, he told theNews Star. He approached the questionable expression behind the desk and asked them to cash his pennies in. However, with the help of friends and family,Anders made it to the bank with his tremendous collection. Anders saved up an incredible $5,136.14 through collecting pennies for 45 years. It all just started that one day when he found a penny in the street; he went on to collect more. Specifically, coins made of precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and even copper fluctuate in value over time but generally become more valuable. This meant that he soon had more pennies than he knew what to do with. This soon became an obsession until he started saving his own pennies for his hobby. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Which side of value did they fall under? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. He never knew just how much money he would make. This man had saved pennies for 45 years and just picked them up from the street. Anders saved up an incredible $5,136.14 through collecting pennies for 45 years. Anders' coin collecting habit started when he found a penny on the street decades ago. It was by far the most exciting thing that had happened at the bank in a while! Where many people think of wishing on a penny, Otha Anders thinks of praying on a penny! But as he speculated, he remembered reading about a coin collection that resulted in a fortune for the owner. He always made sure that his change had pennies in it. "Our exchange became competitive by each trying to outdo the other and consequently our collections; his nickels, my pennies began to multiply," he added. Employees gathered to see the first five-gallon container being counted. When the manager walked out to see who was causing all the ruckus, his face lit up at the sight of Anders. During the five-hour process of counting the pennies, the plastic jugs were hacked open with an ax and hammer. RUSTON, La. To get the pennies to the Ruston Origina Bank in Ruston, LA, Anders needed help.He ended up getting a couple of his friends to help move the five-gallon jugs full of pennies into his truck and then into the bank. However, since his homeowners insurance policy didnt cover the extensive collection, he finally decided to cash in. Its unclear how much his collection weighed, but using the U.S. Mints estimate of 2.5 grams a coin, it might have been around 2,800 pounds. But after collecting the one cent pieces for 45 years, you could have amassed a . The News Star reports that thehabit was first ignited when he found a penny lying on the ground. The extra bonus of income came just in time for him to pay a medical bill.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! We may earn a commission from links on this page. This 73-Year-Old Man Has Collected Pennies For 45 Years And Now He's Cashing Out For 45 years, Otha Anders saved his pennies. 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. "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.". While he only deposited them when he found. Are you asamazed by this beautiful story as we were? Bank Vice President Jennie Cole said it was not a typical day at the bank when Anders had his collection of pennies rolled in on a dolly, but Anders is a longtime customer who they wanted to help. But after collecting the one cent pieces for 45 years, you could have amassed a fortune! Legal Statement. It seems like Anders steady patience and consistent well-wishing has paid off for him. The machine bags had to be changed for every $50. The extra bonus of income came just in time for him to pay a medical bill. At the end of the labor intensive counting, the bank informed Otha he had saved a total of $5,136.14 all those 45 years! The 73-year-old had a family of his own. Cole said a machine counted the coins that saves much time, and Origin Bank's part is to help get the pennies counted, so Anders can get to his destination. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. ", | Special to The (Monroe, La.) Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Louisiana man cashes in penny collection to the tune of $5,000. 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.. Otha Anders cashed in his giant penny collection. But why? I would say hes done a lot of collecting over the years.. He looked at lost old pennies on the floor as his very own personal gift from God. Otha Anders watches as part of his 45-year-old penny collection is poured into Origin Bank's coin counting machine. For over 45 years, Anders hadbeen collecting pennies, storingthem in 5-gallon water jugs. The woman stared at him in disbelief. Otha Ander was a supervisor on the Jackson School Board and was passionate about his job. But he still had some cash left over which he put towards a family trip and church donations. Everyone was staring at him.She looked at him in disbelief. This penny reminded him to give thanks for the small but wonderful things that happen in life. Nancy Bergeron/Ruston Daily Leader AREVIK 25.12.2022 1.1k. You know you see pennies all over. Seventy Five Gallons Otha Anders has collected over half a million pennies during the last 45 years. With the help of friends and family, Otha Anders wheeled in 15 water jugs full of pennies to the bank in Ruston. That is a lot of pennies. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The 73-year-old has some modest plans to spend his money. It was actually his religion that started the penny collecting. It seems that this small habit was a touching way for Anders to strengthen his relationship with God. Studies have shown that gratitude is a sure-fire way to a path of greater happiness in life. His love for more than 45 years your inbox you need-to-know from the most exciting that. Pennies? 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