Why People Believe Pennies Bring Good Luck

Finding spare change or an extra dollar in your pocket always feels like a victory, but even finding something worth as little as a penny is satisfying. Without thinking, you might hear the familiar rhyme in your head when you spot one on the sidewalk: “Find a penny, pick it up. All day long you’ll have good luck.” Some people even keep a special “lucky penny” in their wallet or pocket.

But how did lucky pennies become a thing? Keep reading to learn the history behind these commonplace bits of copper.

Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more history, humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.

The history of the lucky penny

According to one theory, people originally thought pennies would bring good luck because of religious beliefs. According to the financial education site Greenlight, folklore from ancient civilizations said metals—including copper—were gifts from gods intended to protect people from evil. Plus, metal currency like pennies was linked to more wealth and thus more luck, which is a pretty straightforward explanation.

penny on the ground JonGorr/Getty Images

More along the lines of an everyday superstition, another reason people might have claimed pennies would bring good luck comes down to the battle between good and evil, like two sides of the coin. Greenlight says finding a penny heads up meant you’d have luck on your side, but tails up would mean the opposite. (Though apparently actually winning a coin flip has nothing to do with luck!) Some people say that if you find a penny tails up, you should flip it over to make it heads up so that it can bring luck to the next person who finds it. However, according to the United States Gold Bureau, some believe it doesn’t matter whether it’s heads up or tails up—if you find a penny at all, consider it a lucky penny.

Lucky traditions we all know

No matter the belief, pennies are part of many lucky traditions. The Irish half-penny, which stopped circulating in 1987, according to Culture Trip, is especially lucky to anyone who finds the rare coin. Then there’s the old saying that all brides will probably recognize: “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a penny in the shoe.” These are all thought to be things brides should wear on their wedding day to bring good luck in their marriage—that lucky penny, or silver sixpence, as the original rhyme said, would bring prosperity to the couple. A newly married couple that believes in these superstitions might also want to hang on to that lucky penny to keep bad luck out of their home.

Why trust us

At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.