Ever Heard Of Put A Penny? Here’s One!

It was patented in the U.S. in the 1930’s and it was also patented in Canada about the same time. It was called Put A Penny Coin by the Put A Penny Coin. In Rochester, N.Y. It was used by Muir Drug Stores. You were handed the green cardboard disk, which is a little bit bigger than a silver dollar. You placed a cent in the slot and we’re supposed to return it to the store. The cent in mine is dated 1936 and it’s in great shape as you can see.

 

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I wasn't around in '36, but I do remember getting big chunks of pink bubblegum for a cent at the drugstore. I wonder what was available in 1936 to purchase with a one cent coin. The nickel at that time bought quite a bit. Cool piece.

 

I wasn’t around then either but history tells me it was still a depression going on.

 

Yeah, I guess there was that little economic disaster.

 

What did you get in exchange for returning it to the store?

 

A simple smile.

 

I have no idea, one cent off your bill?

 

Surely if we had $1 stores(not now) they had 1c stores. 5 & dime stores.

 

So did I!
I found this but it does not answer the question.

https://stacksbowers.com/take-a-penny/

 

https://www.icollector.com/1836-1943-Encased-Cent-Put-A-Penny-Co_i8685583

"Return to store for valuable redemption"?

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/lincoln-wheat-cent-put-penny-coin-493833876

Do a Google search put-a-penny co.

 

I do remember store called Five and Dime along with their name.

 

We had both Newberry and Woolworth in downtown Hagerstown when I was a little kid, and I'm thinking that one or the other had "five and ten cent" in its store name, or maybe my parents were just still calling it that. By the time I was forming memories, there were lots of things there that cost more than ten cents.

 

I think Woolworth and McCory’s had Five and Ten after their name.

 

I remember it as "Woolworth Woolco".
Here is a 1977 Ad for Halloween.....

 

McCrory's! We had them, too!

 

Ben Franklin five and dime is the one I remember, although I'm not sure if "five and dime" was ever an official company or store name. They did have "5-10" on their storefronts. We just called it the five and dime, and everyone knew which store you were talking about. There was one nearby in suburban Chicago. They were everywhere.

 

Anyone remember Thrifty s Drug store?

Ours had a soda fountain inside and a dinner by the name of Wimpy's.
They had the Best hamburgers and floats in the country according to this kid

Another story:
I remember spending my allowance on something at Thrify's, looked down on the floor at the cash register and saw a $20
That was More money than I had in 6 months.
My parents made sure I told the clerk and they put it in the lost and found
I had to wait 30 days to see if someone claimed it,
LONGEST month of my Life.
I managed to get to keep it, but my parents made me start a savings account with half and I couldn't spend more than $2 at any point till the other $10 was gone.
I did good with saving the money for about 3 months before it was Gone
Coincidentally my allowance didn't get compounded in that time period either.
Definitely Taught Me A Little Lesson About Money Though.