Massachusetts
When I was Secretary of TEC, my hobby was to keep track of people's addresses in a spreadsheet and to go to the post office. Once in a while, someone would send me a coin that reminded me of my former hobby of collecting elongated coins. This one from "Sturbridge Village" was generously sent by Elizabeth Hines. Thank you.
"Boston All Star Game '99" Sandy Marxen sent this one to me, she went to the All Star and got a bunch of sets for collectors on the Elongated Coin Mailing list. It came on a card a little fancier than the Safeco coin, a folding one with Fenway Park facts and places to get autographs. Mine is #418 of 1999. Thanks Sandy!
"Caffe Fittoria - The Original Italian Caffe" Another penny I missed on my trips to Boston, good thing Dan Donovan didn't miss it. I know I walked by this place because I boutght a bunch of cookies at the bakery 2 doors down (ok I don't know if it was two doors down, but it was nearby) Also, roll your mouse over it to see what's on the other side! Thanks Dan!
"Whale Watch - New England Aquarium - Boston" This is a really nicely engraved penny with a 3d image. A penny like this is the kind that keeps me coming back for more, it is just some much better made than the line art, etched pennies you see most of the time.
"USS Constitution - Here's Boston" Hey, I was in Boston, I followed the line painted on the sidewalk (the freedom trail) I saw the North Church and Paul Revere's house and ancient cemeteries, but I didn't see this ship. What happened?
"Here's Boston - Ducklings" I'm dating myself, but my main memory of the book "Make Room for Ducklings" is Captain Kangaroo reading it on television. I didn't see any ducklings on my trip, but I was knocked out by the swan boats.
The "Lady Grace" is a fishing boat that was featured in the book and movie "The Perfect Storm." It was on display at the New England Aquarium when I was there. No, of course I didn't see it! The Pennyman himself was out in front rolling this penny.
Sometimes I forget the facts about these pennies I collect and sometime the facts are just totally spelled out so I can't forget them. "Lady Grace of The Perfect Storm at the New England Aquarium April 13-22, 2000" But sometimes the records are just wrong, scroll over the penny to see the rare error version!
Yup, yup, it's Paul Revere on his horse. I would definitely recommend that you go out to Minute Man Historical Park west of Boston and take a walk along the freedom road , so you can see where ol' Paul got captured on his midnight ride. No kidding!
"Boston Museum of Science" Another place I didn't go. When I met the Pennyman at the New England Aquarium, he rummaged through his stash and gave me this one.
"Here's Boston" In April of 2001, Brady took a two week job teaching clowning at Tito Gaona's circus camp in Waltham, Mass. I went out and met here there near the end of the job and took a trip into Boston. It's a pretty generic skyline, I don't know what that big building is supposed to be. Update! Sue wrote to me about this penny!
"Cape Cod" Brady and I visited Janie and Jennifer on Cape Cod in April 2001. I found one penny machine. This penny came from it. I also bought a t-shirt. Ok, I didn't really buy a t-shirt.
"Pilgrim Monument - Provincetown, MA" The monument is a totally incongruous landmark that stands above Provincetown. The view from the top is really wonderful, and if you tell the woman at the front desk that you went all the way up, she'll give you a sticker. (But you really should go all the way up.)
"Humpback Whale - Provincetown, MA" We visited Provincetown, but didn't see a whale, but we did see a bunch of buildings that used to be train stations. Generally speaking, it's a beautiful place, but don't go during the summer, I'm told there's too darned many people there during that time. If only that hadn't gotten rid of the trains, it would be easier to get in and out of the place.
If you go to Provincetown (which is where I got this penny in April 2001) and you've had enough funnel cake and salt water taffy, you really should take a walk through the dunes of the Provincelands out to the ocean side of the cape, it's away from the crowds and a totally wonderful experience.
Our next door neighbors, Cate, Peter, Astrid, Cooper and Dashiell (from now on known here as "The Neighbors") brought the this one back from "Nantucket." I don't think they did any whaling while they were there. Thanks a lot you guys!
The neighbors brought this one back to me from the same trip as the Nantucket one. This one says "Martha's Vineyard" and shows a lighthouse. I think the got these at a ferry terminal somewhere.
Sandy Marxen sent the next three to me from the 1999 All-Star Game in Boston. This one says "Boston, MA Fan Fest 1999 Jul 9-13 1999" You can't have too many dates on a coin, that's what I always say.
Another All-Star game penny from Sandy, this one shows the Boston skyline with some sailboats in the bay. It was kind of dirty so I tried cleaning it with a pencil eraser, I didn't do a very good job, that's why it's got those black marks...oh well.
This one tests your baseball knowledge. It reads "1999 All Star Game" at the bottom and "Home of the" at the top. The real fans out there will recognize the Red Sox logo in the middle. Thanks a lot Sandy! (she also sent along a couple of quarters from the fan fest too!)