In the age of Covid-19, the idea of picking up a coin that could contain the virus is not increasing the appeal of coin collecting. At least not from a common parking lot or sidewalk. That is where I swoop in and collect the free money.
Where are people likely to drop coins? You have to think like a coin. If people bother keeping a coin they usually put it into their front pocket along with their keys. When they enter their car after making the nightly trip to 7-11 to buy Malt Liquor and Cheese sticks they pull their keys out of their pocket and inadvertently spill their coins onto the ground. If you go into a parking lot early in the morning or late at night you can walk up and down the area were people exit their cars to increase your odds of finding something. Refer to the diagram below.
Sometimes you get lucky if you keep your eyes open. I was waiting outside a fancy grocery store in the nice part of town when I saw a woman walking out of the store. She had an envelope full of cash and coupons. As she was fiddling with her purse, all the coins in the envelope spilled out. After years of training I could tell by the distinct sound of the coins striking the ground that one of them was a quarter. My excitement was pronounced as I imagined putting that same quarter into a washing machine at the laundry mat a block away from my apartment later tonight. That would come to almost 8% off a load of laundry. Tantalizing.
I walked over to put myself into position before anyone else did. My heart quickened as she stopped. It seemed that she might turn around and pick up those coins. Then I realized with great relief that she was just retracing her steps in an attempt to remember where she parked. I skulked over and picked up a cool 28 cents. The three pennies would fit nicely into the coffee tin I keep by my counter. I fill it up with lose coins and take it to my credit union where I can convert it into digital currency anytime they decide to finally let the public enter the building. By that time I should have quite a collection.
If you walk up to a fountain, is it illegal to extract the coins small children and the superstitious have used to make wishes for your own personal gain? I did a little research and found out that it is not illegal to take money out of public fountains. That money usually goes to a local charity. Don't think of it as taking money from people who don't want it. Instead, think of it as taking food out of the mouths of the needy. The problem is that if you handed them those same coins they would likely toss them back on the ground and ask you for some paper money instead.
I should take some time to vigorously wash my hands. 20 seconds is the new standard but I think I might need to up that to 25 or 26. If you use the sink at the grocery store then the soap is free too. Good thing I live right next door to a nice one.
