Lucky Penny Day is celebrated on May 23. It’s always nice to find a penny and on this day everyone is on the lookout in the hopes of finding one lying around. The discovery of pennies is often associated with good luck and celebrators believe that if you find a penny on Lucky Penny Day, you might just be incredibly blessed!
History of Lucky Penny Day
Nobody really knows how Lucky Penny Day came to be about. Maybe that’s exactly what makes the day so fun (and lucky)! However, the first pennies in the U.S. were minted from copper in 1793. The phrase “worth a penny” may sound ridiculous to us today but there was once a time when a penny held significant value. Over the years, the penny has lost its value due to inflation and it’s practically worthless now. Nevertheless, it’s always nice to find a penny when you aren’t looking for it!
The Lucky Penny Day is also celebrated by those who believe that pennies are lucky charms. They always keep an eye on the ground to see if they will be fortunate enough to find a lucky penny on this day. Pennies are believed to be harbingers of good things and celebrated as a lucky item in many cultures!
A penny is usually the smallest unit of currency in many countries. The present-day pennies were inspired by the ancient Roman denarius and it wasn’t until around 757 A.D. that pennies were introduced in England. The first settlers took it to America and, from 1793, America started minting its own pennies.
Lucky Penny Day timeline
The first pennies are minted during the reign of Offa of Mercia in Anglo-Saxon England.
The first pennies are minted in America.
Pennies are resized and minted into smaller dimensions.
The U.S. spends $134 million to produce $80 million worth of pennies.
Lucky Penny Day FAQs
What can you do with a lucky penny?
“Tossing a penny over your left shoulder into water or a wishing well will make your wish come true. Carrying three pennies with you will bring good luck. Place a penny in your shoe to bring good fortune. Do not spend a penny that you find, but save it for luck,” according to RetailMeNot.
What is National Cent Day?
We always commemorate the cent on National One Cent Day on April 1.
What national day is it on May 23?
Other than National Lucky Penny Day, May 23 is also National Taffy Day!
Lucky Penny Day Activities
Plan a penny hunt
A penny hunt is a fun activity for kids. If you have young children, organize a penny hunt for them. Save a special gift for the child who finds the most amount of pennies!
Donate some pennies
National Lucky Penny Day is a good way to introduce children to charity. Encourage them to donate the pennies they find to an organization of their choice.
Get crafting
Since you cannot really buy anything with pennies, you might want to turn them into art. Do some fun DIY projects like sticking pennies onto old vases or photo frames to give them a makeover!
5 Mind-blowing Facts About Pennies
They were first resized in 1857
Pennies were originally quite big and heavy — they were minted into smaller sizes for the first time in 1857.
Benjamin Franklin invented the penny
Benjamin Franklin reportedly designed the first penny in the year 1787!
The penny has a long lifespan
It is estimated that, on average, the penny stays in circulation for 25 years.
The penny is not made of copper
Since 1943, steel and zinc have been used to mint a penny.
The penny in different languages
Like almost all things, the penny is known by different names across the world — for example, it is known as “pfennig” in German and “penning” in Swedish!
Why We Love Lucky Penny Day
We all want to get lucky!
No matter what we say, we all want to get lucky. It’s always nice to find a lucky penny when you are least expecting it. National Lucky Penny Day reminds us that we could all do with some good luck every now and then.
It’s a fun day for kids
Penny hunting can be a very fun activity for children. It helps them build communities, learn about money, and appreciate the joy of giving.
It’s also about nostalgia
Pennies might hold no value anymore but they remind us of simpler times. It’s a day to indulge in nostalgia and think about the days when things were cheaper!
Lucky Penny Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | May 23 | Friday |
| 2026 | May 23 | Saturday |
| 2027 | May 23 | Sunday |
| 2028 | May 23 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | May 23 | Wednesday |
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