Yes, the pennies are to open the can.

Turns out that todays pennies are not really copper but simply a copper coating overtop of a relatively soft metal. I tried to open the can with the pennies and bent the pennies. Eventually got the can open after much effort. Maybe a slug from an electrical wiring box would be a better choice?

I went to the local homecenter and got one of the free paint can openers. The type that look like the a screwdriver tip on one end and a loop of wire on the other. Hung it from the bale of the paint can. It is possible to open the can with the opener still attached to the bale but it is difficult. Much easier to remove the bale from the can, take the opener off the bale, and then open the can.

The reciepenets of the kit do not and would have a pocket knife on them to use to open the can.