This episode of the television program "The Twilight Zone" shows American coins, mostly silver, in circulation in 1961. "The Twilight Zone" was a half-hour television program which ran on the CBS television network from 1959 to 1965. This episode is titled "A Penny for Your Thoughts" and was first broadcast on February 3, 1961. The story is about a bank employee who finds that he can read people's thoughts.

Hector B. Poole is a man who lives in New York City and works for a small bank. He takes a subway and then walks to work.

Hector stops at a newsstand and buys a newspaper from the dealer.

He pays with a quarter (US 25 cents) which he flips into the dealer's coin box. The quarter lands on it's edge.

US coins visible in this scene are silver Walking Liberty half dollars, Washington quarters, Roosevelt dimes, Buffalo and Jefferson nickels (including a 1940's silver war nickel). The dealer tells Hector that, because the quarter is on it's edge, "today is your lucky day." Hector starts hearing voices and confused, steps out to the street and is hit by car.

Hector hears the driver apologize, then hears him call him an idiot. He then realizes that he is hearing people's thoughts. Rod Serling, the host and principal write of "The Twilight Zone", then appears.

Hector walks to the bank where he works and enters. He hears the thoughts of a couple of customers, including a businessman who is about to get a $200,000 business improvement loan. This customer is planning to head for a racetrack to bet on horses. Hector accuses the businessman of gambling which costs the bank a customer. Other bank employees notice that Hector is acting strangely.

The bills are standard Mexican Revolution motion picture stage or prop bills. For more information on these bills please visit: Mexican Revolution Currency Notes.

A woman holds similar bills while Hector listens to her mind.

The woman holds similar bills printed with the denomination '20'. Helen Turner is a woman who works at the bank who admires Hector.

Hector hears her thoughts that she wishes that he would ask her out. He hears an elderly employee Smithers think about embezzling money and then going to Bermuda, then warns the bank manager Mr. Bagby. Bagby has the bank guard search Smither's bag.

Nothing incriminating is found in the bag and Bagby fires Hector. Hector visits Helen to talk to her.

Hector tells Helen that he can read minds but she is skeptical. The manager learns that the businessman was arrested at a racetrack, that Hector saved the bank from making a bad loan, and offers to reinstate Hector. Helen is listening to the conversation and sends a message to Hector.

The message is that he should hold out for a promotion which he receives. He has always called Helen "Miss Turner" but she is now more friendly.

They leave the bank and pass the newsstand where Hector buys another paper. The quarter from the morning is still on it's edge.

US coins visible in this scene are silver Franklin and Walking Liberty half dollars, Washington quarters, Mercury and Roosevelt dimes, Buffalo and Jefferson nickels. Hectors new quarter knocks the old quarter off it's edge. The newspaper dealer complains but Hector is happy as he can no longer hear thoughts. Helen and Hector walk to the subway station.

Rod Serling voice appears:

The end title appears over the box of coins.

US coins visible in this scene now include a Standing Liberty quarter, an old coin even in 1961, as they were last made in 1930.

Rod Serling as Narrator
Dick York as Hector B. Poole
June Dayton as Helen Turner
Director: James Sheldon
Writers: Rod Serling, George Clayton Johnson