Another penny question

[Kanga1]

I KNOW this has been discussed before...everytime I do a search I get the dreaded "Web Site Not Responding" screen.

How do you get your pennies shiny for the pressed penny machines? Can you get new pennies at WDW? None of the banks in my area have any.

5 DAYS and I'm dizzy with excitement!!!!!

 

[Tiffa]

Hi, we were told once to use pennys made before 1983 there is a reason for it but I dont remember why but everyone says vineger or ketchup or Taco bell mild sauce the thing is they dont stay shiny but we have three books full and probably will have three more come August when we get to WDW they are still cool and our kids look at them all the time!

 

[SnackyStacky]

Pennies pre-83 are full copper. 84 and after used a silver metal covered with just a think layer of copper. When the machine presses a post-84 penny, it can get streaky and silver.

I'm really anal, so I used the pre-83 pennies. But if that's not a big deal to you, use any 'ol penny you'd like!

Anything with vinegar in it will clean your pennies - that's why all those different sauces work. I wouldn't bother cleaning them before you leave - they'll just get all tarnishy anyway.

 

[Kanga1]

Pennies pre-83 are full copper. 84 and after used a silver metal covered with just a think layer of copper. When the machine presses a post-84 penny, it can get streaky and silver.

I'm really anal, so I used the pre-83 pennies. But if that's not a big deal to you, use any 'ol penny you'd like!

Anything with vinegar in it will clean your pennies - that's why all those different sauces work. I wouldn't bother cleaning them before you leave - they'll just get all tarnishy anyway.

Thanks for the responses! So, SnackyStacky, I'm really dumb when it comes to coins (not a collector) so what you're saying is that even if I clean them up and put them in the penny book, they're STILL going to tarnish...even if no one touches them? I just like the thought of shiny pennies in the book!

 

[SnackyStacky]

Thanks for the responses! So, SnackyStacky, I'm really dumb when it comes to coins (not a collector) so what you're saying is that even if I clean them up and put them in the penny book, they're STILL going to tarnish...even if no one touches them? I just like the thought of shiny pennies in the book!

Mine did.

I'm not a collector either. It was just a cheap souvenir. Or so I thought. After totaling it all out, 1 filled press penny book costs $32.25 after tax. (I mean tax on the book itself...I think it was $6, so it was $6.39 after tax) That includes the 6 quarters as well. I may as well have just bought a sweatshirt! But I had a grand time scoping out the machines.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I cleaned a ton of pennies in ketchup and I was amazed how shiny they came out, but yes, they will eventually tarnish, even being in the book. The only way they won't tarnish is if they are sealed so air can't get to them.

I bought my dad a 1940 silver dollar once from a coin dealer, it was all shiny and in mint condition (but not sealed) in a velvet coin box when I bought it....
and it is all tarnished now, but a 2000 silver dollar that I bought that is in it's own round plastic case is as shiny as the day I got it.

 

[FFerret]

Mine did.

I'm not a collector either. It was just a cheap souvenir. Or so I thought. After totaling it all out, 1 filled press penny book costs $32.25 after tax. (I mean tax on the book itself...I think it was $6, so it was $6.39 after tax) That includes the 6 quarters as well. I may as well have just bought a sweatshirt! But I had a grand time scoping out the machines.

$32.25!!!!!

Yikes
I didn't realize it was that much!

We bought one the only time we went and it was a blast filling it up. We'll be doing it agan in a couple of months. One of my favorite souvies

 

[julfre]

Current pennies have a zinc center that can appear as a darker/off color spot so try to get the older ones. Anything that is slightly acidic will "shine" up your pennies. (vineager, anything tomato based, diet coke!) You are acutally dissolving a thin layer of copper that has oxidized on your penny. BUT copper will oxidize(tarnish) whenever it is exposed to the oxygen in air so the pennies will tarnish again unless you seal them up.

The quarters may be slightly more expensive $1.25 vs .51, but they will not tarnish like pennies and stay shiny. Plus if you are complusive about getting every one you see(ok, that may just be me) quarter collecting is actually cheaper since there are fewer of them!

 

[mickeymost]

Soak them in Coke. I couldn't believe how shiny they got from soaking them. Kinda scary, if it cleans the pennies that good, what does it do to your stomach!

 

[Grumpy_Disney_Dad]

I always go by a Long John Silvers or Capt D's and pick up a few packs of vinegar to take with me and then soak my pennies the night before in on of the cups at the resorts. Then when i get home i open the penny book up , vacuum seal it and the pennies stay shiny