The April Fool Archive

A Premium for Pennies    (April Fool's Day - 1902)

Boston Post - May 31, 1902

A New York newspaper reported that, due to a "fault in the die," pennies minted in 1894 were being recalled by the U.S. Treasury, which would pay a premium of 50 cents for each coin returned. As a result of this story, Treasury offices soon had to start turning away numerous people who showed up wanting to redeem their pennies. One woman reportedly came with a bagful of pennies that she said she had paid 20 cents each for, insisting that they be redeemed for the full advertised premium.

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