This Penny Was His Good Luck Charm In High School — Now It’s In The Smithsonian

This Penny Was His Good Luck Charm

Every teenager has their quirks and superstitions—a lucky shirt for game days, a specific pencil for exams. For Matthew Keller, it was a simple penny he found on his first day of high school. What started as a personal good-luck charm would later become a national treasure, proudly displayed at the Smithsonian Institution.

A Teenager’s Simple Ritual

In 2005, in a small town in Ohio, freshman Matthew Keller spotted a penny in the school parking lot. Initially, it was just loose change, but after receiving an unexpectedly good grade on a test, the coin turned into something more—a tiny charm to ward off teenage worries.

“It probably didn’t actually change anything,” Matthew later reflected with a smile. “But when you’re 14, you’ll believe anything that boosts your confidence.” The penny traveled with him everywhere: in his pocket during exams, in his wallet for first dates, and even secretly held during his valedictorian speech. Friends found it amusing, but Matthew didn’t mind. To him, it was more than just a coin—it was a reminder that success was possible.

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The Astonishing Discovery

Years later, while studying archaeology, Matthew brought his cherished penny to a coin workshop. What he thought was an ordinary 1970s Lincoln cent turned out to be one of the rarest U.S. coins—a 1943 bronze penny mistakenly struck during World War II.

Most 1943 pennies were made of steel due to wartime metal rationing, with only about 20 bronze versions known to exist. Matthew’s high school good-luck charm was, in fact, a numismatic wonder. “The odds are incredibly unlikely,” said a coin historian. “For it to go unnoticed for decades and end up with someone who valued it? That’s history at play.”

From Pocket Change to Museum Piece

After confirming its authenticity, Matthew made an unexpected choice: he donated the penny to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Today, it is featured in the “Value of Money” exhibit, alongside the story of how a teenager’s superstition became part of numismatic history.

“This coin shows how ordinary people find meaning in everyday objects,” explained a curator. Visitors now stop by the display, many sharing their own tales of childhood lucky charms—baseball cards, seashells, or other small treasures that once seemed magical.

More Than Metal

Now working in museum education, Matthew looks back on the penny’s journey with quiet insight. “I thought it gave me luck,” he said at the exhibit opening. “Really, it just helped me find confidence in myself.” The penny’s story has inspired students across the country, with teachers using it to discuss history, psychology, and the personal significance we attach to objects.

Since the penny’s installation, the Smithsonian has seen an uptick in interest in their money exhibits. Social media is filled with #MyLuckyCharm stories, and coin collectors report more young people asking about pocket change.

A Reminder to Notice Small Wonders

In today’s fast-paced world, Matthew’s penny offers a valuable lesson: significance often hides in plain sight. That old coin in your drawer, the smooth stone on your windowsill—they may not be museum pieces, but they hold stories worth remembering.

As visitors walk past the Smithsonian display, many find themselves checking their pockets afterward. Not just for rare coins, but for the small, everyday objects that once—or still—make them feel like anything is possible.

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