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Lucky Penny Day
"See a penny, pick it up,
And all the day you'll have good luck."
~ Traditional
A Lucky Penny for Coppery Tartan Thoughts?
Spotting a penny on the ground—especially one tinged with the bluish-green patina of verdigris—may feel like a modern-day charm, but the superstition behind it has ancient roots. Long ago, metal was believed to be a gift from the gods, bestowed upon humanity to offer protection from evil. This belief lives on in age-old customs: horseshoes hung over doorways, charm bracelets worn around wrists, and lucky coins tucked into pockets as “touch pieces”—metal tokens thought to cure ailments, bring fortune, or even sway behavior.
Scotland has long embraced the mystique of metal. The ancient Picts, master metalworkers of early Scotland, crafted elaborate items from copper and bronze, from jewelry to weapons. Copper itself has deep roots in Scottish history, with mining once flourishing in places like the Isle of Islay and the Highlands. In Scottish folklore, as in many cultures, copper is said to hold healing and protective powers, often fashioned into charms to repel misfortune and invite good luck.
So if you don’t happen to find a lucky penny, let this coppery tartan take its place—woven with tradition, protection, and just the right glint of fortune. And if you’re still searching through your spare change, keep an eye out for the telltale signs of a truly lucky find: 🤎 🧡 💚 👀 🍀
Britain
1933 Penny: Only a few struck as pattern coins for ceremonial purposes.Extremely rare and valuable.
1954 Penny: No pennies were officially released for circulation; only a few proofs were made.
Highly sought after by collectors
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Canada
1936 Dot Penny: Only three known specimens, marked with a tiny dot below the date. Extremely rare and valuable.
1923 Small Cent: Low mintage, making it a key date. Highly sought after in good condition.
Australia
1930 Penny: Very few were minted during the Great Depression. Extremely rare and highly valuable.
1920 Dot Above or Below Penny: Dot variations due to minting errors. Highly prized by collectors.
United States
1943 Copper Penny: Struck in copper instead of the wartime steel. Highly sought after and extremely valuable.
1909-S VDB Lincoln Cent: First year of the Lincoln cent with the designer’s initials. Limited mintage from the San Francisco Mint.
Copper is found as a pure metal in nature, and was the first metal to be used, smelted, cast into a mold, and alloyed with another metal (8000 BC, 5000 BC, 4000 BC, and 3500 BC). Copper has always been important, particularly in currency.
Copper does not react with water but it does slowly react with atmospheric oxygen to form a layer of brown-black copper oxide which protects the underlying copper from more extensive corrosion. A green layer of verdigris (copper carbonate) can often be seen on old copper constructions and of course, on older pennies.
Finding a penny and picking it up is a relatively new spin on an old superstition. Many years ago, people believed that metal was a gift from the gods, given to man for protection against evil. That developed into the notion that metal brings good luck. This idea is partially represented in the practice of hanging horseshoes over their doorways, wearing charm bracelets, and carrying good luck coins.
For the Gaels of Ireland and the people of the highlands, lucky pennies were prized talismans. The planting and harvesting seasons were reckoned by the moon phases. Sowing and planting were always done at the waxing moon, while the waning moon was considered good for ploughing, reaping, and cutting peat. On the waning moon, hazel and willow were not cut for baskets, nor was wood cut for boats. But everyone once carried a 'peighinn pisich' (lucky penny) which was turned over three times in the pocket at the first sight of the new crescent to ensure a prosperous harvest.
Designed by Carol A.L. Martin, the tartan reflects the colours of the various states of copper. For unusual uses of your spare pennies to create art, wall art, and mosaic furniture, click the pennies!