For 45 years, Anders collected pennies and stored them in large five-gallon water jugs. By the time he decided to cash them in, he had filled dozens of them.
When he arrived at the bank, employees were both amused and amazed. It took hours to break the coins out of the jugs with hammers and axes before running them through the counting machines. After nearly five hours of effort, the final total came in: $5,136.14 in pennies.
That averages out to just over $114 per year—proof that even the smallest coins can add up over time. While some joked that it was only enough for a used car, Anders was grateful.
He chose to spend part of the money on an important dental bill, then used the rest for a family trip and donations to his church.
For Anders, the experience wasn’t just about the money. It was about the message behind each coin—that gratitude, no matter how small, adds up to something meaningful over time.