'Lucky Pennies' Worth $1,000 Each Dropped in Chicago, Other Cities

DETROIT, MI — People in Chicago and 9 other U.S. cities could stumble on a fake penny that’s worth more than the real coin. Detroit-based Ally Bank has scattered 100 pennies with the financial institution's logo instead of Abraham Lincoln’s bust across the United States, and each one is worth $1,000.

The coins were dropped not only around Chicago and the digital bank’s home turf of Detroit, but also in Austin, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; New York City; San Diego, California, and Washington, D.C.

The faux pennies are part of a bank campaign that emphasizes the importance of valuing every cent and looking for opportunities to save money, according to the bank’s website. On the “tail” of each Ally Lucky Penny is a redemption code that can b entered at AllyLuckyPenny.com to begin the verification process. Coins can be redeemed through Dec. 31.

Throughout the campaign, which launched this week, the bank will post clues about Lucky Penny locations, as well as updates on those already found, on social media with the hashtag #AllyLuckyPenny.

The pennies are copper-colored, but larger than real pennies. The number 100,000 on the back represents the value of the coin in cents.

BY BETH DALBEY, Patch Editor

Image via Ally Bank

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