The Penny That Lived a Thousand Lives
In 1963, a small copper coin rolled off the mint presses. Shiny, ordinary, and worth exactly one cent.
No one gave it much thought.
But that penny would go on to witness more of the human experience than most people ever will.
It clinked in the tip jar of a jazz club in Detroit, the kind where a saxophone could break your heart and stitch it back together again. It passed through the wrinkled hands of a World War II vet buying his granddaughter her first soda pop. Later, it was handed over by a teenager in a leather jacket for a slice of diner pie on prom night.
And maybe, just maybe, it once sat quietly in the collection plate at a country church. A silent offering from someone who had little but gave anyway.
That penny didn’t care who held it.
Rich or poor. Dreamers or doers. Builders or finishers.
It simply moved—hand to hand, moment to moment—always part of something slightly bigger than itself.
Seasons of a Penny (and Business)
As I think about that 1963 penny, I can’t help but see the parallels to the journey of people and companies. At Arant Ventures, we work with businesses in every stage, from raw startups still wet behind the ears to seasoned brands looking to reinvent themselves for one last run.
Like the penny, businesses pass through seasons.
🌱 The First Hands: Startups and Spark
The penny’s journey begins like many founders do: full of potential. Small but mighty. It’s in these early stages—when resources are tight and the idea is still taking shape, that growth marketing has to be scrappy and intentional. A good idea, like a penny, might not look like much at first glance. But when it’s in motion, it can go far.
🌿 The Builders: Scaling and Sweat
Mid-life for a penny is busy. It’s spent, saved, dropped, found, taxed, and turned over. This is where most businesses live. They’re past the napkin-stage dreams and deep into operations, hiring, customer acquisition, and refining their brand.
This is where Arant Ventures steps in with a real strategy. You don’t just need ads. You need alignment. You need your dollars to reach the right hands at the right time. You need growth that’s measurable and connected to purpose.
🍂 The Last Stop: Legacy and Letting Go
Eventually, the penny slows down. Maybe it ends up in a drawer with sentimental tokens. Or maybe—like in one story I heard, it pays for a final vending machine meal from someone trying to make it one more night.
In business, this moment doesn’t have to be somber. Legacy brands can evolve. Mature businesses can exit well, mentor others, or reinvest in the communities they helped build. We believe in helping companies finish well, with intention, creativity, and impact.
What This Penny Taught Me
You never really know what someone’s one cent means to them.
To one person, it’s junk.
To another, it’s everything they have.
To someone else, it’s the first coin in the piggy bank of a dream.
As a growth partner, our job isn’t just to help scale marketing efforts. It’s to listen. To meet people in their season. To create systems where even the smallest investment of time, money, or belief can grow into something bigger than expected.
A Few Things You Might Not Know About That Penny
- A 1963 penny is made of 95% copper and 5% zinc. Its melt value today is actually more than one cent. There’s hidden worth in what people often overlook.
- The average lifespan of a penny in circulation is about 25 years. But many stick around for decades longer.
- There are approximately 130 billion pennies currently in circulation in the U.S., yet most people wouldn’t bend down to pick one up. Value is everywhere, even when it’s ignored.
- If you had invested one cent in 1963 and let it grow with average market returns, it would be worth more than $20 today. Growth isn’t always flashy, it just needs momentum.
So, What’s in Your Hands?
Whether you’re launching your first campaign, rebranding after 20 years, or just trying to keep the lights on, we see you.
At Arant Ventures, we believe every business deserves a strategy that fits its season. Not cookie-cutter answers, but custom-built solutions that match your mission and meet you where you are.
Because growth isn’t just about going big.
It’s about going forward.
Even if it starts with just a penny.