I remember (a few years ago now!) walking two of my young children to school today and on the way we found a bright new shiny penny on the pavement. My daughter, Kimberley, picked it up and I quoted this old rhyme to her: “See a penny, pick it up, and all day long you’ll have good luck.” She was absolutely thrilled at the thought of further ‘good fortune’ coming her way, and I was simply amazed at how much glee a single penny could bring.

Then I got to thinking about deliberately dropping a penny myself in the hope that some other person would find it and maybe it would bring a happy thought or a smile to their face too. As the idea took hold, I figured what a small price it was to pay – a penny – if it produced a fleeting ray of sunshine or a glimmer of good fortune to another. And so a little later in the day I took the idea one-step further. I went to the bank and changed a £1 coin into 100 bright new shiny pennies. Then I silently blessed my bag of coins and prayed that each one might produce a small blessing to the unknown but fortunate people who found them. The next day, with my children, we travelled around the town accidentally on purpose dropping or planting shiny new pennies wherever we went. I have to tell you, it was wonderful fun and I think that was the best £1 I have ever spent!

R. Ian Seymour