\[\"The Department of the TREASURY NEWS\" banner, with \"The Department
of the Treasury 1789\" seal on right and \"BUREAU OF THE MINT; WASH.,
D.C. 20220 - W04-5011\" on 2nd line.\]

March 12, 1975

Mrs. Mary Brooks, Director of the Mint, sent the attached letter to
principals of

elementary schools throughout the nation.

The Mint's Penny Retrieval Program is a continuing project and the
Treasury Department is issuing Special Citations to anyone turning in
\$5 or more in pennies to a bank.

\[\"DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY; WASHINGTON, D.C. 20220\" letterhead,
with \"The Department of the Treasury 1789\" seal and \"Office of
Director of the Mint\" on left.\]

March 6, 1975

Dear Principal:

Would you believe the Director of the U.S. Mint is hunting for pennies?

[No.]{.underline}

Yes!

There is no shortage of the pesky little things....In the past 16 years
we have minted over 70 billion ordinary Lincoln head pennies (none of
them collectors items)...but some people in this vast land of ours are
holding out over 30 BILLION PENNIES. Not just from me, but from you, the
butcher, the baker and even the Cadillac maker. From all of U.S. In
short, we're all short-changed.

We can, of course, continue minting more and more to replace the coins
thrown thoughtlessly into dresser drawers, shoe boxes, piggy banks,
cookie jars, and wishing wells. But that takes extra energy, precious
natural resources, and costs "US" all in useless inflation.

But...If we could just get you to get your children to get off the dime
and get on the trail of those hidden coins...(like Detectives out of the
Missing Pennies Bureau) and release those 30 billions of kidnapped
coppers...well, then!

It's only the plain common cents we're after, and it only makes plain
common sense to find them. Recirculating the old coppers saves us from
digging new copper...and it's been our experience that the best of
copper-diggers have been the youngest generation.

If your students would become our official retrievers, pennywise, and
bring in those unused and usually unwanted coins, the government will
save YOU millions of dollars. (How's that for a switch?)

\[image of Colonial Minuteman Statue with text "Keep Freedom in Your
Future With U.S. Savings Bonds"\]

Most schools need audio visual equipment, craft supplies, Little League
gear, new trees, more water fountains, (an oil portrait of their beloved
Principal?). These are things not provided for in most school budgets.
What better way to help finance them than with a penny drive?

Your school could have a Penny Fair...all games and booths featuring
penny games...rides paid for with pennies...Or you could try to make a
mile of contributed pennies. With prizes for the longest distances
covered by a student. Or guess at how many pennies in a mile (84,480),
the winner to get his own weight in pennies worth. I'm sure your own
brilliant faculty will have even better ideas...Thirty Billion pennies
for their thoughts.

The main idea is to get those coins rolling again. The penny really
saved is the penny returned...Bring back those cents for the
Bi-Cents-tennial.

You might suggest this is a good way to start a child savings account or
give a good boost to the family budget. You will find most banks will be
happy to cooperate and will make counting machines available.

President Ford will thank you. All those recirculating President
Lincolns will thank you and I will be able to say proudly: It isn't just
the money, it is the [Principal,]{.underline} who helped the thing.

Most appreciatively,

\[signature "Mary Brooks"\]

Director of Your Mint

U. S. Treasury

P. S. In all seriousness, we would appreciate any help you can give the
Bureau of the Mint in returning pennies to circulation. If you do not
want to have a penny fund raiser or do not have the time or facilities
to organize one, we would like for you, in your own way, to encourage
your students to assist us in this effort. You would have our deepest
gratitude.

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