Pitching pennies

Pitching pennies is a popular game played by the young and old alike, and is also a Boy Scout activity. The game is played as follows. Each player stands at an agreed upon distance from a wall, curb, other solid, flat object, or a line. The players take turns throwing coins, one at a time, at the target. The player whose coin comes to rest the closest to the target wins. [cite book | last = Katz | first = Ruben | year = 2006 | title = My Book, My Life: A Book of Memoirs | publisher = Tate Publishing | location = Mustang, Oklahoma | pages = p. 58 | id= ISBN 1598867989 ]

Pitching pennies is a very old game. While the coin used have inevitably changed, the game was known to be played by the Ancient Greeks using bronze coins. [cite book | last = Gulick | first = Charles Burton | year = 1902 | title = The Life of the Ancient Greeks: With Special Reference to Athens | publisher = D. Appleton & Co. | location = New York, NY | pages = p. 77 | id=oclc|415193]

Variations

The game has been played with many variations. Some include letting the players choose they type of coin they want to use, in secret. A coin that is heavier may be better for long distance, versus a lighter one for short. Another variation is the length, and multiple objects placed between the wall, to hinder players (compare to Sand trap in golf.) One more variation includes forcing the players to roll, toss, or flick the coin. Lastly, players have turned the game into a betting game, where the winner takes all the coins. Some people have won $3,000 in tournaments.

Criticisms

Some schools had banned the game, due to gambling problems.

External links

* [http://www.boyscouttrail.com/content/activity/activity-1147.asp Boy Scout activity]
* [http://fun.familyeducation.com/activity/outdoor-games/39456.html Family Education Variants]
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=WXh9fMok6YIC&pg=PA11&lpg=PA11&dq=pitching+pennies&source=web&ots=KOWHrNjjVy&sig=K5qZW9W2136P0ShkuTlde14ScXk#PPA11,M1 eBook on Pinching Pennies Gambling]

References