How to get US pennies clean for pressed penny ready status?

[jaysue]

Any ideas how to get our stash of US pennies clean for pressed penny ready status? We cannot use our clean Canadian pennies as they are different metals and are not sufficiently malleable to accept the full imprint of the machine press

Thanks in advance

cheers
jaysue

:help: :help: :help:

[tjkraz]

My mother once suggested toothpaste, and that seemed to work pretty well. Just hold the penny in one hand, dab on a little toothpaste, and rub the penny in a circular motion with the tip of a finger.

[AFMom]

They aren't brass, but I believe brass cleaners work rather well. You can also try putting them in a sink full of hot water and OxyClean..... I accidentally left some change in a pocket of laundry - the Oxy Clean seemed to make them shine!

[idratherbeinwdw]

I have found that soaking them in vinegar works very well.

[KNWVIKING]

Soak them in Coke.

Or just lick them for several hours.

[jaysue]

Soak them in Coke.

Or just lick them for several hours.

Coke...not Pepsi? :listen:

No thanks on the 2nd - don't like the texture :crazy:

cheers
jaysue

[mushu]

Go to the bank and tell them you want new pennies.

[Gaston]

My best method for cleaning copper, is tomato sauce, or ketchup. Let sit for a few hours or overnight.

[gopherit]

You're all right (yes, even Mr. Lick'em, though it would take a loooong time and definitely leave an aftertaste...) Bascially, you need an acid to get rid of the copper oxide. Personally, I use straight acetic acid, but then, I have access to that. VInegar is dilute acetic acid. Lemon juice - citric acid. Coke (or pepsi... sprite... whatever) is carbonic acid. Your spit has some acids in it too...(hence, your cavities.) Eat a few of those super-sour candies the kids all love and THEN lick - might help you speed things along, since they are pretty much just coated with citric acid. Ketchup gets a bit of citric acid as well from its tomato base, plus it usually has a bit of vinegar added to give it some zip and make it less sweet. Mustard would also work.

Just one caveat to note - after you soak them, in your choice of brew, be sure to rinse them well. Acid left on the penny will create an oxide patina, and render your coin a slightly blue-green hue.

I like the "trade them at the bank" idea, but another note - if your pennies are pre-1978 (I think that's the magic date), they are all copper. New pennines are nice and shiny, but once pressed, you will see a smear of silver metal. SOme folks like that, LOL, so it's a matter of preference. As for us, we sift through our penny-hordes before every trip and find the all-copper ones to buff-up.

ANother hint - those containers that film comes in work GREAT - layer them with 2 quarters, then a nice penny, then 2 quarters, then a nice penny. They will hold quite a few of these layers, and it sure beats rifling through a pocket or fanny pouch when your kid locates the machine and starts clamoring to make one.

[jaysue]

Thanks for the tip on using a film holder for the coins!

cheers
jaysue

[kathleena]

ANother hint - those containers that film comes in work GREAT - layer them with 2 quarters, then a nice penny, then 2 quarters, then a nice penny. They will hold quite a few of these layers, and it sure beats rifling through a pocket or fanny pouch when your kid locates the machine and starts clamoring to make one.

I love this tip - too bad I've gone digital!

[Piglet513]

We used pre-1984 pennies soaked in vinegar with great results! Use a mini-M&M's holder and stack multiple sets of 2 quarters and 1 penny so they are ready to go. Also, take a few nice quarters for the quarter machine.

A very nice cast member in Frontierland at a pin shop had a list of each machine, so lists must exist if you are looking for a specific character.

[lenshanem]

Vinegar. We use this at preschool when we do a project with the pennies. If I recall correctly, once we used some salt mixed with the vinegar???

[mousehouse]

Why do people press pennies? i saw the machine, but don't understand the fascination beyond the first one?

[lenshanem]

I guess it is no different than collecting anything else like trading pins, etc.

My girls both have a press penny machine collection. Cheaper than trading pins!

[greenban]

Here is an update on Super Strength Canadian Pennies. (2001 and later BTW)

Canadian pennies prior to 1997 were approximately 98% copper and 1.75 % zinc. From 1997 to 2001, Canadian pennies were modified and were minted as copper-coated zinc wafers. A recent scanning electron microscopic examination of a 2001 Canadian penny indicated approximately 96 % zinc. Today's one-cent coin, modified in 2001, should be made of copper-plated steel (94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper). So, a pre-1997 Canadian penny (aside from being illegal to smash in Canada) should give you a decent result after elongating.

Source: http://www.pennycollector.com/faq.html


Yes Virginia there is a penny collector web site!

-Tony

[lenshanem]

http://www.pennycollector.com/tips_clean.html

That site greenbanned mentioned also lists several ways to clean pennies. I guess I remembered correctly - you do mix the salt with the vinegar.

Funny, my girls have three WDW penny books full and I never thought to take clean pennies for the trip. We just used dirty ones. :scary: