Bad Penny
rating: 0+x
Better%20penny%20shot.jpg
Photograph of SCP-XXXX

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is to be placed in a secure storage locker within the containment cell. The key to this locker is to be placed on a small hook next to the door of the containment chamber. Under no circumstances is SCP-XXXX to be removed from the containment chamber.

Personnel entering the containment cell are not permitted to wear any clothing with pockets. No standard U.S. pennies from the year 2004 are permitted in the containment chamber. Any personnel not intentionally being exposed to SCP-XXXX’s effects for testing must wear gloves whenever handling SCP-XXXX.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a standard U.S. penny minted in the year 2004. However, SCP-XXXX has been observed to occasionally vanish from one location and reappear in another location provided that there are no physical obstructions directly between the two locations. SCP-XXXX has never yet done this while under direct observation. SCP-XXXX will typically teleport into areas where it has a greater probability of coming into contact with human skin, although it has never yet been observed to teleport directly onto exposed human skin.

SCP-XXXX’s main effects occur when it comes into contact with the skin of a live human being. SCP-XXXX will affect subjects in several ways. First, subjects will experience a marked increase in the number of errors they make. Errors include but are not limited to increased spelling and grammatical mistakes, a tendency to forget important information at crucial moments, and a tendency to misunderstand concepts and ideas the subject was previously familiar with. Subjects will also experience a significant decline in overall health and well-being, particularly in regards to obesity, general fitness, and sexual performance. Finally, other individuals’ perceptions of the subject will become markedly more negative. Other individuals will become more aware of any existing negative traits exhibited by the subject, and will additionally feel uncomfortable being around the subject without being able to explain why. All effects so far have been permanent.

SCP-XXXX was recovered when a string of seemingly unrelated suicides in ██████ , New York came to the Foundation’s attention. On ██████ , Agent Marcone was dispatched to the scene of the most recent suicide. While investigating the scene, Agent Marcone reached in his pocket and felt SCP-XXXX. Agent Marcone immediately returned to the nearest Foundation site and reported that a penny had appeared in his pocket during his investigation. Agent Marcone was subsequently administered a Class A Amnestic and relocated to another site after being held under observation in solitary confinement for a month.

SCP-XXXX was initially assumed to be a suicide inducing cognitohazard, and was subsequently tested on numerous D-class personnel. However, after all D-class personnel exposed to SCP-XXXX were found not to exhibit any increased suicidal tendencies, this theory was abandoned. At this point, Agent Marcone’s record after being exposed to SCP-XXXX was examined for any evidence of SCP-XXXX’s effects. Agent Marcone was found to have made numerous severe and uncharacteristic errors in judgment while engaged in fieldwork, the most serious of which resulted in the deaths of █ agents. At the time of this examination, Agent Marcone had been demoted to janitorial duties. A subsequent investigation revealed the true nature of SCP-XXXX’s effects.