Otha was a Louisianan teacher with an unusual pastime. He started gathering pennies in the latter part of the 1960s. For him, it was just about enjoying the process; money or fortune didn’t matter. Otha refused to accept the government’s offer to pay $125 for each $100 worth of pennies handed in. He loved having his collection.
Why pennies, though? Otha said that every penny was a reminder to say a prayer. He would stop and offer a prayer whenever he came across one whether he was on the ground, in a store, or pumping gas. It turned into a really important ritual for him, a means of expressing thanks to God.
