Santa Barbara’s Lucky Penny Gains Value as Coin Phase-Out Boosts Design

Bassyonni

ago 44 minutes

Santa Barbara’s Lucky Penny Gains Value as Coin Phase-Out Boosts Design

Pennies may be facing elimination, but the Lucky Penny restaurant in Santa Barbara is embracing the change. The U.S. Mint announced on November 12 that it would no longer produce pennies after 232 years. The rising production cost, which now stands at 3.69 cents per penny, prompted this decision.

Lucky Penny’s Unique Appeal

Sherry Villanueva, the founder of Lucky Penny, located at 127 Anacapa St., highlighted how the discontinuation of pennies adds to the restaurant’s distinctiveness. “Now it’s truly one of a kind,” she stated.

Design Inspired by Santa Barbara’s Culture

Opened in 2013, Lucky Penny’s design reflects the unique artistic culture of Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone. Villanueva aimed to create an interesting ambiance that resonates with the area’s creative spirit. The name “Lucky Penny” was inspired by the restaurant’s proximity to train tracks, a nod to local history and the idea of discovering a lucky coin.

Penny Collection and Artistry

Over 165,000 pennies were used for the restaurant’s design.
A special order was placed with the U.S. Mint through Villanueva’s bank.
The final delivery consisted of 68 boxes, each weighing approximately 15 pounds.

Villanueva described the effort involved in acquiring the coins as daunting. “The logistics of making this happen were very challenging,” she noted. In addition to sourcing the pennies, the restaurant also had to create custom tiles. Each coin was painstakingly placed by hand in a mesh framework.

Community Involvement

The tile installation process took over six months, involving local nonprofit organizations and high school students as volunteers. In exchange for their help, Lucky Penny donated to the charities of their choice.

A Popular Tourist Attraction

Since its opening, Lucky Penny has transformed into a must-visit location for tourists from around the world. It is especially popular among tour buses that frequent Santa Barbara.

Future Expansion Plans

Villanueva announced plans for a new Lucky Penny location in Los Olivos. Although the new spot will feature the theme of pennies, it will not replicate the extensive penny design of the original restaurant. “We’ve been having lots of conversations about incorporating pennies again,” she said, emphasizing that it will not be a project of equal scale.