How’d That Penny Get in the Bottle? Everyone’s seen ships in bottles and wondered how in blazes they got there. Now here’s a new twist to the age-old mystery: a real penny in a tiny glass bottle. It makes an intriguing display and sure-fire conversation piece. The confounding penny-in-a-bottle is a fun and economical item that many of our customers like to give as a gift. Fascinating for all ages, it will never lose its spellbinding appeal.