Tag: coins

Posted in Travel

A lot of pocket change ends up here

Posted on by William Douthwaite

On our way to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, I looked down from the upper level of the ferry taking us from the parking area to the Magic Kingdom at Disney World in Orlando. I was surprised – but not really surprised – to see a pier littered with coins, beads, and elastic hair ties. No matter where people gather, they like to throw coins into small bodies of water.

Why is that?

From what I’ve read, it all stems from the idea of a wishing well. You make a wish as you toss in a coin, hoping to spur some entity to grant you a blessing of some sort. It’s similar to a philosophical vending machine, I guess.;

So coins end up everywhere. I’ve seen them in koi ponds, zoo habitats, shallow streams, museum exhibits, swimming pools, and waterfalls.

Just down that way from this pier was another that had some paper money, business cards, a pen, and an empty pill bottle. Part of the sport is getting your item to stay there without bouncing into the water. It’s like an arcade game, except there’s no prize to win.

Posted in treasure

Free money: a few cents here and there

Posted on by William Douthwaite

I pick up every coin I find.

I most often find pennies or dimes when I’m walking the dogs around the neighborhood or in store parking lots. While they check out the subtlest of smells along the ground, a reflection or a circular shape catches my eye. It’s not always a coin. Sometimes it’s a washer, a bottle cap, or some other piece of trash. But other times it is free money, waiting for me on the road.

I mostly find pennies and dimes. I know, these don’t amount to much. But for some reason, I love coming home from a walk just a little bit wealthier. Or, at least having found a treasure, no matter now small. Surveys report that over half of all Americans are like me, and will stop to pick up a penny on the ground.

Bus stops and house construction sites are likely places to spot a coin. Coins fall from the pockets of contractors who have been to convenience store for the day’s water and lunch. A few cents fall from the car as parents drop off children for school. Enough people still shop with cash to leave change behind in a store parking lot when they pull their car keys out of a purse or pocket.

If I were to add up everything I’ve found, it would only total a few bucks. But it’s still satisfying to find something of value, even if so very small.