WASHINGTON -- Loose change adds up.

The Transportation Security Administration collected $674,841.06 in fiscal 2014 from money left behind at airport security checkpoints, which it uses to help fund its operations.

Of that sum, $10,630.43 came from Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.

TSA spokesman Ross Feinstein had this to say with the release of data on the agency's found money:

"In 2005, Congress gave TSA the authority to expend unclaimed money for security operations."

Despite its status as the world's busiest airport, Atlanta ranked just 17th in the country for money left behind. Hartsfield passengers are penny-pinchers compared to New York's JFK airport, where travelers left behind $42,550.00, tops in the country.

TSA collected $10,457.51 in Atlanta in fiscal 2013 and $11,611.66 in fiscal 2012.

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Atlanta art and antiques appraiser and auctioneer Allan Baitcher (right) takes bids during a 2020 auction. Baitcher and his company, Peachtree Antiques, are being sued by a Florida multimillionaire who says he paid them $20 million for fakes. (AJC 2020)

Credit: Phil Skinner / Staff