Answer: The image of the penny in line 14 is appropriate because the narrator refers to herself as a new-minted penny, meaning that she is young and vigorous, and is willing to offer her help to the listener; the old lady.
Explanation: The poem speaks to an old lady, describing everything about her with tenderness. She refers to the elderly woman as “beautiful and faded", and compares her with old lovely things. In line 14, the narrator refers to herself as a new-minted penny, implying that the fact that she is young and vigorous, does not make her any better than the old lady, just like a penny does not have a big value. However, she offers her help and enthusiastic "sparkle" in whatever she needs.
