More than $10 billion in loose change sits idle in American households
78% of Americans say they would make more of an effort to reuse their change if they knew it would help the environment
The penny contains the least amount of copper of all U.S. coins produced
It would take more than 197 billion stacked nickels to reach the moon
During the colonial days, people used coins from around the world. The quarter is called two bits because the Spanish milled dollars were easily cut apart into equal ”bits” of 8 pieces; two bits equaled 2/8th or a quarter of a dollar
The first coin issued in the United States was a silver dollar
84 percent of females and 74 percent of males would still pick up a penny off the ground*
Since 1959, President Lincoln has been featured on both sides of the penny. His facial profile is featured on the front, and if you look closely you’ll see his statue in the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the coin
In the late 1800s, the Mint issued two-cent and three-cent coins
Codfish were depicted on many of the first coins of the United States
U.S. coin designs cannot be changed more than once in 25 years without special legislation by Congress
Edmond Knowles of Flomaton, Alabama, holds the current record for most pennies processed, totalling $13,084.59
*Coinstar National Currency Poll
Try out our change calculator to
see how reusing the change in your home can help the environment.
Values are approximate and represent avoided environmental impacts of primary copper production.
