In my offshore oilfield days, working out of New Orleans, found myself hanging out on Bourbon Street, one summer afternoon. Wasn't much to it, just grab a beer and stand around watching the people come and go. There were lots of people had apartments and homes right there along the street. All of a sudden someone opens their door and steps out onto the sidewalk, with some sort of a cranking machine (similar to the thing you'd see in cartoons where the guy cranks the box and the monkey dances), but this machine cranked out pennies. I didn't inquire, but believe it was for a quarter, he'd crank you out a real penny with a New Orleans souvenir stamped into it. A crowd gathered round, as they often did for side shows, and the line grew. It wasn't long (i hadn't even finished my beer) until some fellas in suits appeared, showing him their badges, and arresting him for defacing US property (I think that was the charge)
I found it best to pick up the pennies kids had layed on the trolley car rails, for souvenirs, they came out squished quite well ; )
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