When Otha Anders walked into his local bank pushing a dolly stacked with giant jugs, people couldn’t help but stare. The soft, rhythmic sound of thousands of coins clinking together filled the room — the sound of 45 years of patience, gratitude, and quiet dedication. Known around town as the “coin master,” Anders had worked for decades as a school board supervisor, where both students and teachers admired his calm wisdom. Yet few knew that his unusual hobby of collecting pennies would one day turn into something far more meaningful than spare change.
What started as a simple pastime slowly grew into a spiritual journey. Anders believed that every penny he found was a reminder from God to pause and be thankful. On days when he forgot to pray, he often stumbled upon a lost coin — a sign, he said, that faith and gratitude were always within reach. “Spotting a lost or dropped penny was a God-given reminder to always be thankful,” he told USA Today. While others walked past loose change without a thought, Anders saw them as blessings waiting to be acknowledged.
Over the years, he carefully filled dozens of five-gallon jugs with his copper treasures, never spending a single one. When the day came to finally cash them in, the bank had to bring out heavy tools — hammers, axes, and high-powered coin counters — just to open the containers. The counting process took more than five hours, and as the numbers rose higher and higher, the staff gathered around in disbelief.
In the end, Anders’ collection totaled an astonishing $5,136.14 — nearly half a century of faith made tangible. But he didn’t see it as just money. He used the funds to pay off a dental bill, treat his family, and give back to his church. For him, the pennies symbolized gratitude, discipline, and divine reminders that small acts done with love can add up to something truly extraordinary.