Realcent.org

Over the years my son has learned about the value of money. He recognizes that silver coins have a value in their metal content above and beyond their face values. He knows the difference between copper and zinc pennies and pulls out the copper ones from his change for me. Today I found he still has more to learn. We took the plastic bottles he has been saving up in for recycling. It wasn't a big batch - the total on the receipt only came to $7.94. When he took the receipt to the cashier he handed her an extra penny and nickel and asked her if he could get eight dollars. He then turned to me and asked "What am going to do with 94 cents?". What???? That's three quarters, a dime, a nickel, and four pennies. Just think of the possibilities! There could be four copper cents in there. Right? Ok, maybe this penny sorting hobby of mine is going too far.

What about the silver quarters, dimes, and war nickels? That kid needs some serious training. You could get back 4 wheaties!!

Sounds like you are on the right road for your son to have something to tell his therapist when he grows up.

Maybe it would have been OK if he handed the cashier 6 zincs!

I suppose he could just be doing his part not to encourage this copper cent obsession. Some day many, many years from now he will be the one stuck with all of these coins and after hauling away tons of copper he'll be saying "Why oh why didn't Dad stick with saving just the silver!!"