On Earth, the acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s² downward. This means that any falling object gains 9.8 m/s of speed downward for every second it falls.
Since the penny fell for 1.5 seconds, its downward speed at the end of that time is (1.5 x 9.8) = 14.7 m/s faster than at the beginning of that time.
Since it was dropped gently from somebody's hand ... and not THROWN down ... its speed at the beginning is zero. So its speed after 1.5 seconds is 14.7 m/s, and its velocity after 1.5 seconds is 14.7 m/s downward.
