Aussie Coin Finds

Doc and I were forewarned by people who live in Australia (and who have visited the States and gone Penny Finding here) that it’s nearly impossible to find stray coins in Australia.  They were somewhat correct – and somewhat wrong!

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I challenged the Angels to provide coins Down Under in order to prove that Angels are present to help no matter where on Earth we are!

This would not be an easy challenge for several reasons:

• Australia discontinued making the one and two cent coins in1990
• One and Two cent pieces were withdrawn from circulation in 1992
• For the first three weeks of our trip, we would be in desolate regions of Western Australia



U.S. versus Aussie Coins

• We would be on Tour Buses with groups of people and thus unable to just go Penny Finding as we pleased
• Australian coins are much larger on the average than U.S. coins and therefore people are not as likely to drop them  (see comparison photo)
• The coins have greater values (5¢, 10¢, 20¢, 50¢, $1, $2) so people are willing to bend over for them 

I also challenged the Angels to provide an Australian  “Hit for the Cycle”  (a coin of each of the commonly used denominations).  In the U.S.  there are FOUR commonly used coins  (1¢, 5¢, 10¢ and 25¢) for a total worth of  41¢.  For an Australian HFC it would mean six coins with a total value of $3.85.

Post Office, Derby

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This is how the Angels Met the Challenge:

Note:  I don’t have many photos since I was not really anticipating most of these finds!

			5¢	10¢	20¢	50¢	$1	$2	other
Sat	8/30	McDonalds, Perth	1							0.05
Sun	8/31	Freemantle; Perth	1	1						0.15
Mon	9/1	Shopping; McD, Airport	4	1				1		2.30
Tue	9/2	Speed Boat @ Falls	1							0.05
Wed	9/3	Post Office; Grocery	3	1						0.25
Thu	9/4	Petrol; Shopping	2	1			1			1.20
		New Zealand 50¢							1
Fri	9/5	Mall; Airport	3	1						0.25
Sat	9/6	Port Hedland Phone	2							0.10
Tues	9/9	Bakery, Laundry Room	1				1			1.05
		Meerkat’s Gift coin from Cook Islands							@
		** Planted by Tour Mates 5¢, 10¢							**
Wed	9/10	Visitor’s Center; Foregone in Stromatoloites  *	1						*	0.05
Fri	9/19	Melb Airport, Train Station, Gas Station	4	1						0.30
Mon	9/22	Kerang	3	2	1		1			1.55
Tue	9/23	Kerang, Safeway	2				1			1.10
Wed	9/24	Grocery Store	1							0.05
Thu	9/25	Deborah Gold Mine				1				0.50
Fri	9/26	Grocery, Fish & Chip		2						0.20
Sat	9/27	Car Wash			1					0.20
Sun	9/28	Kirsty’s Gift – 2 Aussie Pennies!
Tue	9/30	McD, Swan Hill						1		2.00
Wed	10/1	Kerang Car Wash		3						0.30
Thu	10/2	McD, Gisborne	3	1	1					0.45
		Loughman Driveway 5 US (planted) pennies
Sat	10/4	Loughman Driveway 1 US (planted) penny
Sun	10/5	Craft Fair, Parking Lot	3							0.15
Mon	10/6	Zoo Vending	1					1		2.05
Tue	10/7	Airport, Security & Store *Finally a Penny!  (U.S.)	1	2					*1	0.25
		Total (legitimate) finds	37	16	3	1	4	3

The Angels met the Challenge of providing a 6-coin Hit for the Cycle and More!

Downtown Kerang

Car Wash Kerang

Although there were no 1 or 2 cents pieces found during the 41 days Down Under, there were 64 Australian coins found.  That is less than 2 coins per day; however, the total value was $14.55. That averages 35¢ per day!  That’s a higher average than in the States!

One New Zealand 50¢ piece was found in Broome. Plus there was a U.S. Penny in the Melbourne airport just as we were boarding the plane and heading home …..

Conclusion: Angels are Ever Present