While Cleaning His Late Father-in-Law’s House, Son-in-Law Uncovers a Shocking Secret in the Basement
When Michael Carter helped his wife Hannah clean out her late father’s Pasadena home, he expected old junk—not a hidden fortune. While exploring the basement, they stumbled upon dozens of heavy bags filled with tightly rolled coins, many marked with mint and bank stamps dating back to the 1970s.
After doing the math, Michael estimated they had over a million copper pennies—at least $10,000 in face value. But collectors suggested some coins could be worth far more individually. Banks refused to process such a large volume, and appraisers were stunned by the find’s potential value.
Hannah’s father, a quiet German immigrant named Fritz, had never mentioned the collection. Michael later learned that copper pennies became collectible after the U.S. Mint switched to zinc in the 1980s—likely when Fritz began his decades-long hoard.
Though tempted to sell, the couple decided to wait and consult experts. For Michael, the coins represented more than money—they were a silent legacy, a hidden chapter of a man they thought they knew.
