Posted on 07/01/2004 7:53:15 AM PDT by NotQuiteCricket
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A man is trying to get rid of his pennies - all 1 million of them. Ron England bet his brother 30 years ago that he could save a million pennies in exchange for a dinner in Paris. And he did, eventually stacking up 20,000 rolls that fill 13 boxes in his garage.
Now that he's moving, England wants to cash in the $10,000 in coppers, which weigh 3.6 tons, but is having a tough time finding someone who will take them without a price.
``I've been working seriously for the past two weeks to get rid of these pennies,'' said England, 60, a Paramount Studios, Hollywood, projectionist who will soon retire with his wife to a home in Oregon. ``It's kind of frustrating. Nobody will take them without charging me.''
The Coinstar machine at his supermarket isn't exactly made to accept a million pennies.
A Santa Monica artist who welds couches out of pennies declined to call him back.
Coin collectors said to call a bank.
[snip]
The bet was made in March 1974, England said. He and his brother, Russ wagered that If Ron could collect and roll a million pennies, Russ would buy him a dinner of fried sweetbreads in Paris.
So England began to roll. Friends and relatives fed him pennies. At one point he was buying about $250 a week in pennies.
About five years later, he was done. But he never got his Parisian meal.
``I don't remember making the wager,'' said Russ England, 55. ``Am I still good for it? I'm not going to answer that question.''
Now Ron England says he hopes to buy a John Deere tractor with his money.
``I did enjoy proving my brother wrong,'' England said. ``If he'd pay off, I'd quit bitching. I should have saved dimes. I'd have a lot more money, and it would weigh a lot less.''
(Excerpt) Read more at channels.netscape.com ...
I'll take them.
He could use them to pay his taxes [evil thought] .
He probably has more than a few Wheat Pennies that are worth more than a penny.
So I guess a penny saved isn't necessarily a penny earned.
A guy tried doing that in Leesburg, VA about 10 years ago. The clerks found out he had a Vanity License Plate that read, GOVT SUX, and complained to the Secretary of State. The State tried to take his plates away - he sued and won.
``I did enjoy proving my brother wrong,'' England said. ``If he'd pay off, I'd quit bitching. I should have saved dimes. I'd have a lot more money, and it would weigh a lot less.''
Thats funny.
That's not too evil . . .
Real evil penny thinking
is: Kiddie Hookers . . .
Uhhhh, I guess.
Some Wheat Pennies in good condition are worth a 'pretty penny.'
Some lead pennies are worth a lot more.
That is funny. He shoulda gone with dimes or quarters.
I'm sure the Salvation Army would take them, no questions asked.
Wasn't there a penny shortage a few years ago ?
That would cost him about $1,000.
You would have to find a dozen or so coinstar machines or so.
There is something about the idea of a guy buying $250 a week in pennies that is very quaint. Now he can spend the next 30 years depositing them roll by roll in his local bank. Bet they come to hate the sight of him.
This story is really ironic since we are taking $150 in pennies to the bank this morning to unload them!
http://www.kokogiak.com/megapenny/six.asp
One million, three thousand, seven hundred and seventy-six Pennies
[ A wall five by four by one feet thick with a 9-inch cube stepstool
value $10,037.76 (Ten thousand, thirty-seven dollars and seventy-six cents) width Four feet height Five feet thickness 12 inches, (one foot) weight 6273.6 pounds (3.14 tons) height stacked 5,228 feet ( 0.99 Miles ) area (laid flat) 3,921 square feet
I think they might have more value as scrap metal. Most of them are the old copper one cent coins, not the cheaper copper washed zinc ones now being made...
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