Otha Anders, known as the “coin master,” walked into the bank with a dolly rolling behind him, the sound of countless pennies drawing everyone’s attention. As a Jackson School Board supervisor, Anders was well-liked, especially by suspended students sent to him for guidance.
Anders had a supportive family, but his hobby was unusual—collecting pennies. What began as a simple task grew into an obsession. He believed every penny he found was a message from God, reminding him to be grateful. On days he forgot to pray, he’d almost always find a penny, which he took as a divine nudge.
“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. “There have been days where I failed to pray and more often than not, a lost or dropped penny would show up to remind me.”
For 45 years, he stored his pennies in five-gallon water jugs. Recently, Anders brought them to the bank, where employees had a unique experience cutting the plastic open with a hammer and an ax. After hours of counting, the total came to $5,136.14—roughly $114 per year.
Rather than splurge, Anders used the money to pay a dental bill. With the leftover funds, he sponsored a family trip and donated to his church. For Anders, the pennies weren’t just currency—they were blessings to be shared.
