How Long Will It Take to Collect All Pressed Pennies

There are 496 posts on this topic but after searching through 200 of them I was not able to find the answer to my question. I have mild OCD when it comes to collecting things. I was thinking about collecting the pressed pennies around Disney World. How long would it take to collect all of them? Is it possible to do in one trip? The idea of only getting a few of them, not all of them makes me panic a little just thinking about it.

Great idea! I too like collect pressed pennies and quarters from all my vacations. But, just remember a few things.

1.) I have heard that older pennies, from what I have read I think they say pre 1980's press better than newer pennies because of the metal content.


2.) bring a bag full of quarters and pennies so you don't have to go looking for change when you find a machine you want to use. Just makes things easier.

3.) Some, not many, of them are really tucked away and won't jump out as you are walking along so definately go to the pressed coin site and do your research. I did, and found out that there is supposedly a DIME machine in, I think, MK. And it it supposed to be the only dime press machine in WDW.


Good luck with your quest! :goodvibes
 
You will never be done collecting all the pressed pennies.
DH is an avid collector and thought he had finally collected all 2 years ago - at least he had all that were on the lists. But when we got home, there was a list update. Some designs were removed and retired and some were replaced with a new design, and there were new machines with new designs added.
Each time we go to Disney (we go at least 3 times or more a year), there is usually a new design to get somewhere on the property-i.e: Each year a dated design is changed out for the current year at the Emporium in MK.
We have found the most accurate lists at presscoins dot com. Most machines are located inside or near shops so I really don't mind his collection. While he is pressing to his hearts content, I get to shop. And he really can't complain about my shopping after I reminded him that according to the list, there were over 400 different designs for just pennies at 51 cents each.
He also collects pressed pennies from other places we visit - for example, Universal, Atlanta Aquarium, Atlanta Zoo, Bass Pro Shops, Brookfield Zoo, etc.
 
We are about to go on our 5th trip and still we aren't done. That being said, you could limit yourself to collecting at one park, or just the parks. Our problem is going to all the resorts. We just never find that to be a good use of our time. I did recently download the 99 cent app that lists them all and has a check off.

While we are waiting for our next trip, we will be cleaning our collection with Barkeeper's Friend and cataloging them before we go again. We have also starting prepping our M&M cases with 2 quarters and one penny. Makes getting the pennies so much faster when I am not fumbling in my purse/backpack looking for change.
 
We are about to go on our 5th trip and still we aren't done. That being said, you could limit yourself to collecting at one park, or just the parks. Our problem is going to all the resorts. We just never find that to be a good use of our time. I did recently download the 99 cent app that lists them all and has a check off.

While we are waiting for our next trip, we will be cleaning our collection with Barkeeper's Friend and cataloging them before we go again. We have also starting prepping our M&M cases with 2 quarters and one penny. Makes getting the pennies so much faster when I am not fumbling in my purse/backpack looking for change.

DH got the majority of his resort pressed pennies when we visited each resort at Christmas to see the decorations. We also like to visit different resorts to check out their food courts and try a specialty item - each resort's food court offers something a little unique to that resort which gives DH a chance to get any new designs.

The coin books that they sell at Disney are way too small - DH ended up getting the 2"X2" cardboard and mylar folders that you use for coin collections - they make them for elongated coins too- and also the 20 pocket notebook pages that fit 3 hole binders that hold those individual folders. I got scrap book paper (of course Mickey red and yellow) that we use behind each sheet (so you don't see the coins on the next page). For the back side of each scrapbook page, I created a template on the computer for inputting the next page coins' descriptions in the appropriate spot - it is easy to enter the data and print it out and attach it to the back of the scrapbook paper. It's easy to rearrange and update the coins in their slots and then print out a new page.

We use the lists from presscoins.com (they give the location of each machine as well as the designs available) and either cut out the new items and location or just write them down (since we had everything on their old list) - I also check out their new coin blog about any current updates since their last list update just before leaving and print those out as well. We checked out several websites and found that presscoins.com had the most up to date and accurate information. In fact in their news blog, on May 15 they listed the info about Star Wars pressed pennies.

DH uses old prescription pill bottles to keep his quarters and pennies in as well as bringing an empty one for the new pressed pennies.
 

In 1983, pennies switched from all copper to copper coated Zinc, so you need 82 and before. After a while, you can EASILY go through a pile of pennies and pick out the all copper ones without looking at the tiny date. Then you need to clean them with water and baking soda. This is a very SMELLY operation, but gives you clean pennies to then press without the silvery shadows that you get when pressing a newer penny.

And with quarters, it's usually the left most quarter that is squished, so make sure it's a nice one.

-Jason
 














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