He walked into the bank with a dolly, the clatter of coins drawing everyone’s attention. Otha Anders, known as the coin master, had been a supervisor on the Jackson School Board, where children who were suspended often met him—and they liked him. At home, his wife and kids supported him fully, though his penny-collecting hobby was unusual.

What began as a fun task over time became a lifelong passion. Anders believed every penny he found was a sign from God, reminding him to be grateful. On days he skipped prayer, he would often stumble upon a lost penny, which he took as a divine nudge to give thanks. “Spotting a lost or dropped penny was an additional God-given incentive reminding me to always be thankful,” Anders told USA Today.

For 45 years, he stored the pennies in five-gallon plastic water jugs, slowly building what he guessed could be hundreds of thousands of coins. Finally, he brought the jugs to the bank, where employees experienced the unusual task of opening and counting the coins. Using hammers, axes, and coin-counting machines, the process took five hours.

When the final tally came in, Anders had saved $5,136.14 over 45 years—roughly $114 per year. What started as a simple hobby had grown into a small fortune, enough to buy a used car over time. Anders used the money wisely, first to settle a dental bill, then to fund a family trip, and finally to make donations to his church. His story is a testament to patience, faith, and finding joy in the simplest things—like a single penny.