Monterey, California
I'm always on the lookout for the elusive penny smasher.
"Windborne Kites - Monterey CA" I got this one from... uh I don't know who gave me this one. I got it at a little meeting I attended in San Francisco in January 2001. So, it was one of these people...
Update! - Zeebug told me she was the one who gave me this penny! Thanks, Zeebug!
Jimmy and Jeshica brought these two to me from their trip to Monterey. This one says "Cannery Row - Monterey California" and shows a playful sea otter floating on his back. I don't think they saw any though.
"Great White Shark! - Monterey" Fortunately, I don't think they saw any of these either.
Brady and I went to Monterey for the weekend in March of 1999. Among the natural wonders we encountered were the 16 smashed pennies on this page. This one shows a lighthouse and reads "Monterey Bay"
"Monterey Bay - California" You know how said that I didn't think Jimmy and Jeshica saw a great white shark when they were in Monterey? Well, I didn't see a sailboat. Maybe it's just the time of year...
"My Lucky Penny - Monterey Bay" It never ceases to amaze me how this motif turns up at just about every penny smasher. I guess that's what makes a classic.
This one shows an otter floating on its back in the bay. Turns out that you almost can't look out into the ocean near Monterey without seeing an otter floating along. The best ones are the ones that live at the Aquarium, definitely be there for their feeding.
"Monterey Bay, Ca. - Just when you thought it was safe" At one time, Jaws was the biggest grossing movie of all time. It don't think it ever had anything to do with Monterey, however.
"Monterey Bay - Having a whale of a time" I like this one. In fact, I like the Jaws reference one above too. I mean, you get corny sayings on pennies very often. (have you seen the Burma Shave pennies?)
"I love you - Monterey Bay" I want to take this moment to mention that I got these pennies (starting with the lighthouse and ending at the next otter) all at cannery row, which, by the way, is a super touristy area replete with t-shirt shops, theme restaurants, and corporate looking art galleries sporting nautical themes. Don't miss it.
"The Lone Cypress" Called by some the most famous tree in California, the Lone Cypress is on the Seventeen Mile Drive, a toll road through the privately owned town of Pebble Beach. The program I got (for $7.50 you should get something) said that the image of the Lone Cypress is copyrighted and use is restricted. I guess both the penny smasher and I are in trouble now.
A happy bottle-nosed dolphin frolicking in the surf. Um...you know this...I didn't see one.
Yippee! A mermaid with a harp. I guess she's trying to lure some sailor to his death. The look of it kind of reminds me of a Maxfield Parrish painting.
Another otter, this one on land. The machine where I got this one (and the last three) was broken the first time we went by. The pennies were getting jammed, but it had no problem taking the quarters. I guess you should take a look at the works before laying down your cash. Anyway, when we went back the next day, it was fixed!
Another otter, this one was on the pier at fisherman's wharf and was in a machine all by itself. (all the others came from hand crank 4 dies machines)
"I Love You - Monterey Bay, Ca." The difference is subtle, but there it is there. Now I know I'm a lunatic. Then again, it's only 50¢.
Yet another otter, as they told us at the aquarium, they're making a comeback.
"Monterey CA" Two pelicans! Hey! I saw a pelican!
"Monterey CA - having a whale of a time" This one is a little different too. Oh, I should tell you that we went on a whale watching trip Sunday morning (go early 9 or 10 am) and we actually saw a couple of grey whales in the bay! I'm told that the best time to see them is May through July.