Man Saves Pennies For 45 Years and Rakes In a Fortune

Otha Anders, known as the coin master and a Jackson school board supervisor, walked into the bank with a dolly full of coins. The clinking sound drew everyone’s attention. Anders, supported by his wife and kids, had an unusual hobby: collecting pennies.

For Anders, every penny found was a sign from God, reminding him to be grateful. “I became convinced that spotting a lost or dropped penny was an additional God-given incentive reminding me to always be thankful,” Anders told USA Today. On days he didn’t pray, he often found a penny, which he saw as a divine reminder.

Over 45 years, Anders collected pennies in five-gallon water jugs, guessing he had saved hundreds of thousands of dollars. Bank employees spent five hours cutting the jugs open and counting the coins. The final amount was $5,136.14, approximately $114.40 per year.

Anders used the money to pay a dental bill, sponsor a family trip, and make donations to the church. He was happy to spend the money on something useful.