Pressed Pennies Coins

[Tahariel]

Hello everyone,

Yet another question about pressed pennies. I'm super excited for our trip in September and I'm going to collect loads of pressed pennies - want to put them in a frame all that However, I'm travelling from the UK so I can't start collecting all the pennies and quarters now.

We'll be staying in POFQ and won't have a car.

So, how/where could I get loads of change for the machines?
I know I won't be able to be picky with my pennies (pre 1982) as much as I'd like to

Any help greatly appreciated!

 

[Koz]

You could always get rolls of coins from a bank in the Springs area.

 

[BrianL]

You can also get rolls of pennies from City Hall (guest relations) in MK. At the resorts the machines often have a change machine to get quarters from right next to them, but not the pennies. Any gift shop cashier can sell you pennies for the machines (maybe not entire rolls though like at City Hall).

One note - If you can, see if you can get some pre-1982 (I think that't the year) pennies as they are made of 100% copper and look nicer than the later ones that have zinc inside (the grey color bleeds out sometimes). Banks can do it, though maybe not right away.

I like the way this was handled in Tokyo. The machines just took 1 100 yen coin and pressed a very shiny and 100% copper slug shaped like a US penny, instead of actual currency. The end result looked much nicer (though 100 yen is a bit more than 51 cents).

 

[Grym]

Is it possible to go to a local UK bank and exchange currency there prior to the trip? It probably doesn't make sense for a majority of your currency because (I think?) exchange rates tend to be better when you wait until being in the country you are visiting. But for some pennies I doubt it would be much of a loss.

I remember years (okay decades ago) going to a local US bank and ordering a bunch of currency for a trip to South America back in days long before I used credit cards so frequently and before ATMs were everywhere you looked. I'm pretty sure I could be quite specific on the denominations I wanted. I assume you can still do that and just say you would like to get a roll of US pennies (or however many you want)

EDIT - Maybe they don't do this as much anymore. On websites I am looking at now I'm seeing currency exchange order minimums. I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask at your local bank, but maybe this won't work...

 

[Naterfan]

This site has links to awesome little guides listing all the pressed penny locations:

http://www.themouseforless.com/disney-downloads/pocket-guides/pressed-coins-checklists/

They're easy to cut and fold into wallet-sized books.

 

[nenser]

Hello everyone,

Yet another question about pressed pennies. I'm super excited for our trip in September and I'm going to collect loads of pressed pennies - want to put them in a frame all that However, I'm travelling from the UK so I can't start collecting all the pennies and quarters now.

We'll be staying in POFQ and won't have a car.

So, how/where could I get loads of change for the machines?
I know I won't be able to be picky with my pennies (pre 1982) as much as I'd like to

Any help greatly appreciated!

Find those M&M mini's candy tubes. They fit quarters perfectly. One penny every 2 quarters, they will slide right out and save you loads of time, and easy to carry.

 

[ArielSRL]

I don't know if this is the case at all the change machines but my dad used the one at the Land pavilion. He put in $1 and got back 4 quarters AND two pennies.

 

[littledebbie335]

My husband loves the pressed pennies too! He forgot his stash of pre-1982 coins at home and is a stickler about only using those for his collection. We walked over to the Suntrust near Disney Springs to get a few rolls, and then we went through them ourselves to find the pre-1982 coins. He also asked a few CMs at gift shops for a few at a time ("Can I get exchange this dime for 10 of the oldest looking pennies you have?"), and they were always very nice about it. We didn't do this if they were busy, though. We weren't really able to get rolls of pennies from gift shops because most didn't have more than a single roll, so if you want multiple rolls, the bank is your best bet.

 

[niffer5150]

change machine locations i have listed are as follows(your results may vary):
MK: under the main street railroad, frontier shooting gallery, tomorrowland power and light arcade, splash m. gift shop
epcot: living seas gift shop, the land near garden grill
AK: inside rainforest cafe (only takes $5 or $1's)
HS: pizza planet arcade, mickeysd of hollywood, TOT, prop shop
DS: inside rainforest cafe (only takes $5's and $1's)

i've found pennies can be obtained from nearly any cashier in reasonable amounts as long as you ask first thing in the a.m. they may even try to give you the shiniest ones they have if there's no other people waiting.

 

[Jenis]

Here is a web based app that you can save to your home screen. It's made by the company who makes the machines.

http://www.ctmgroupinc.com/disney/

In my looking, I have found it interesting that the newest machines (the computerized ones that you can pay with a credit card) do not use your penny. They are preloaded with non-circulated post 1982 pennies.

 

[aleksandr]

I've been collecting pressed coins since 1996. I have over 500 in my collection, with the bulk of them being from Disney.

With regards to the pre-1982 copper vs. post-1982 zinc, go with what you like. Personally, I like brand new zinc pennies, but many don't. If you press them and then place them into a holder of some sort where they are not readily exposed to air, they won't turn colors. I also find that they make a crisper imprint.

If you are going pre-1982 copper, I would suggest cleaning them first. I forget the process, as my wife was the one that cleaned ours, but it involves baking soda and vinegar, I believe. It's a ton of work though, but makes a nicer coin in the end. If you wait to clean them afterwards it is a lot harder as the dirt gets pressed into the sculpt. In the end, it was so much work to clean the coins, that I just use whatever I have on hand.

I use the presscoins.com listings when I travel. They have a great site and maintain a news blog with updates about pressed coins. LOTS of things are changing on a weekly basis at Hollywood Studios because of the construction. They also maintain checklists that you can print out and bring with you. Unfortunately, their checklists are only updated about once/quarter, so you may need to make some notations of changes.

 

[Tahariel]

Thanks everyone for your answers
If I could, I'd just give someone the money and exchange it for the amount of pennies (my priority) and quarters) I need

You could always get rolls of coins from a bank in the Springs area.

There's an actual bank? That sounds like a good place for my first day to go as I won't be in the parks yet, and was planning Springs anyway. Are banks open on Saturdays in the US?

You can also get rolls of pennies form City Hall (guest relations) in MK.

Won't be hitting MK till a few days into our trip but if I haven't been successful by then, at least I know I've got that option.

EDIT - Maybe they don't do this as much anymore. On websites I am looking at now I'm seeing currency exchange order minimums. I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask at your local bank, but maybe this won't work...

Our bank didn't even have $1 notes. And they don't do small change :/ Only if your returning it and even then it can be a hassle.

change machine locations i have listed are as follows

Thank you

 

[Tahariel]

Here is a web based app that you can save to your home screen. It's made by the company who makes the machines.

http://www.ctmgroupinc.com/disney/

In my looking, I have found it interesting that the newest machines (the computerized ones that you can pay with a credit card) do not use your penny. They are preloaded with non-circulated post 1982 pennies.

This site is really cool! And while I like the idea of not having to worry at certain machines, I think I'll miss actually turning the wheel.
On the series ones, does it actually print the '1 of 6' onto the coins as well? I didn't plan on getting series but rather one at each machine :/

 

[Jenis]

This site is really cool! And while I like the idea of not having to worry at certain machines, I think I'll miss actually turning the wheel.
On the series ones, does it actually print the '1 of 6' onto the coins as well? I didn't plan on getting series but rather one at each machine :/

I have yet to collect a series, so I don't know for a fact, but it is my understanding that yes if it is part of a series it presses # of# on the coin. Also, just the two new machines have the complete series at the one location. The other series are spread out in different machines across the parks, resorts, Disney springs, ESPN and miniature golf locations.

 

[littledebbie335]

There's an actual bank? That sounds like a good place for my first day to go as I won't be in the parks yet, and was planning Springs anyway. Are banks open on Saturdays in the US?

There is a Suntrust bank just outside the Disney Springs complex, across Lake Buena Vista Drive (the address is 1675 Buena Vista Drive). It is NOT open on Saturdays, but in general, most banks are open on Saturdays so you might be able to Uber to another nearby bank.

 

[Tahariel]

I have yet to collect a series, so I don't know for a fact, but it is my understanding that yes if it is part of a series it presses # of# on the coin. Also, just the two new machines have the complete series at the one location. The other series are spread out in different machines across the parks, resorts, Disney springs, ESPN and miniature golf locations.

Aw that's a shame. I just want them as singles. Well I'll figure a way around it then

There is a Suntrust bank just outside the Disney Springs complex, across Lake Buena Vista Drive (the address is 1675 Buena Vista Drive). It is NOT open on Saturdays, but in general, most banks are open on Saturdays so you might be able to Uber to another nearby bank.

That's far too much hassle for some change I'll try the tips I got of the others and hope I'll get enough change together that way. Thank you though