Pressed Pennies

[erinbharris]

Do you mean to clean the copper ones?

If they are pre-1982 then the vinegar/salt solution I did should work. I did it yesterday and there was one that wouldn't come clean, then I realized it was 1983 and that's why--it won't work on the newer pennies.

1/2 cup white vinegar to 2 tsp table salt. Stir it until the salt dissolves and drop a few pennies in. Let them sit for 5 minutes and then pull them out. They don't end up super sparkly like the new ones, but they are very clean--I don't think you can get them as clean/shiny as new ones...but maybe I'm wrong?

 

[AmyPond]

Thanks for those photos, Flitterific! You have a lot!

I need to find some pennies. I never use cash for anything so I never have change. At least I have over 2 months to find some. LOL!

I need to look over that list and decide which ones I might want. I definitely want any "attraction" ones. I hope there are a lot of those. I'd like those more than character ones.

 

[jtown]

Do you mean to clean the copper ones?

If they are pre-1982 then the vinegar/salt solution I did should work. I did it yesterday and there was one that wouldn't come clean, then I realized it was 1983 and that's why--it won't work on the newer pennies.

1/2 cup white vinegar to 2 tsp table salt. Stir it until the salt dissolves and drop a few pennies in. Let them sit for 5 minutes and then pull them out. They don't end up super sparkly like the new ones, but they are very clean--I don't think you can get them as clean/shiny as new ones...but maybe I'm wrong?

They actually flipped between brass and bronze from the mid 1800s until 1982 with a couple small exceptions. The only true copper pennies were from way back.

Anyway, I did the vinegar/salt thing and it made a difference but they're still not in great shape and didn't get better with repeated dunkings in fresh solution. It'll work on new pennies, too, as they're plated with copper.

 

[Eeee-va]

They actually flipped between brass and bronze from the mid 1800s until 1982 with a couple small exceptions. The only true copper pennies were from way back.

Anyway, I did the vinegar/salt thing and it made a difference but they're still not in great shape and didn't get better with repeated dunkings in fresh solution. It'll work on new pennies, too, as they're plated with copper.

I had OK luck with basically hot sauce and salt and some shaking--half or maybe a few more than half came clean. I also got some shiny pre-1982 pennies as change at the Penny Arcade.

 

[jtown]

I had OK luck with basically hot sauce and salt and some shaking--half or maybe a few more than half came clean. I also got some shiny pre-1982 pennies as change at the Penny Arcade.

Heh. Was that from the machine in the back of the penny arcade? I was gonna see what that machine spit out but I only had 3 quarters and a shiny nickel so I got a Wall-E nickel instead. Guaranteed satisfaction vs. potential disappointment.

I was going to try cleaning a bigger batch of old pennies but, if that machine spits out the good stuff, I'll go that route instead.

 

[BELLEDOZER]

I've tried lemon juice and have had good success with cleaning old pennies. Within an hour they all came out clean. The older, dirtier ones needed a little help, but otherwise had really good success with the lemon juice. I've also heard that Ketchup also works well, but find that lemon juice is cheaper to clean them with.

 

[Jrsy Boy]

One of the best pressed penny tips I read, that we use, is to get a tube of mini M&Ms and layer it with 2 quarters and a penny, two quarters and a penny, two quarters and penny...until it's full. Then you're all set! We usually get paused by airport security for having a tube of metal, but it's always okay once I explain

We've used this tip, as well, but we also realized that a tube from Airborne works, too. It won't hold as many as a Mini M&M tube, but it also then won't be as heavy to lug around all day.

 

[Eeee-va]

Heh. Was that from the machine in the back of the penny arcade? I was gonna see what that machine spit out but I only had 3 quarters and a shiny nickel so I got a Wall-E nickel instead. Guaranteed satisfaction vs. potential disappointment.

I was going to try cleaning a bigger batch of old pennies but, if that machine spits out the good stuff, I'll go that route instead.

Yes, it was from the Penny Arcade machine, but I can only attest that during my trip in June 2010, that gave me probably 6 or 7 shiny pre-1982 pennies...including several from 1959.... My friend also got some shiny ones, I think.

(You can use the rest for the machines or leave them for kids, I suppose.)

Obviously I approve of the WALL-E nickel though!

 

[Talldewy]

When I got change for a quarter at the Main Street arcade, I got several pennies that were pre-1982 and shiny, so with any luck that will work if you're in a pinch. Most were dated 1959, which I found really weird--anyone know what's up with that?

Not sure why you got so many 1959 pennies but that was the first year of the Lincoln Memorial back. I remember collecting them as a youngster.

The best way I have found to clean and polish old pennies is with a rock tumbler ( might find a small inexpensive one at yard sale). You get ground walnut shells from pet supply place and tumble pennies in them for day or two. If you want really shiny ones put some polishing rouge shavings (hardware store) in and let tumble for a day or two they will come out looking like they were shined with a buffing wheel.

 

[Littleprincess2010]

Subscribing so I dont forget pennies before 1982 and how to clean them

ETA: Im looking at canadian pennies right now and this is the chart they have on Wikipedia for them:

Years Mass Diameter/Shape Composition[11]
2000–present * 2.35 g 19.05 mm, round 94% steel, 1.5% nickel, 4.5% copper plated zinc
1997–1999 * 2.25 g 19.05 mm, round 98.4% zinc, 1.6% copper plating
1982–1996 2.5 g 19.1 mm, 12-sided 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc
1980–1981 2.8 g 19.0 mm, round 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc
1978–1979 3.24 g 19.05 mm, round 98% copper, 1.75% tin, 0.25% zinc
1942–1977 3.24 g 19.05 mm, round 98% copper, 0.5% tin, 1.5% zinc
1920–1941 3.24 g 19.05 mm, round 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc
1876–1920 5.67 g 25.4 mm, round 95.5% copper, 3% tin, 1.5% zinc
1858–1859 4.54 g 25.4 mm, round 95% copper, 4% tin, 1% zinc

Is it better to have 98% Copper with 1.75%tin and .25%zinc or 98% Copper with .5%tin and 1.5%zinc?

 

[jtown]

Not sure why you got so many 1959 pennies but that was the first year of the Lincoln Memorial back. I remember collecting them as a youngster.

The best way I have found to clean and polish old pennies is with a rock tumbler ( might find a small inexpensive one at yard sale). You get ground walnut shells from pet supply place and tumble pennies in them for day or two. If you want really shiny ones put some polishing rouge shavings (hardware store) in and let tumble for a day or two they will come out looking like they were shined with a buffing wheel.

Good to know a rock tumber will work. I was thinking of that if my next batch of salt-n-vinegar doesn't work. I found a few dozen pennies of the proper type that I'm going to soak tonight. If that doesn't work, I'll move on to more drastic methods like the tumbler. Probably find one cheap on ebay. I knew I should have skipped this thread. Now I'm determined to get a bunch of perfect presses.

 

[erinbharris]

Can you use Canadian pennies? If so then I'm happy!

 

[jtown]

Problem solved for $5 and some elbow grease. Wright's Copper Cream cleans 'em right up. I tried another batch of vinegar and salt and it made a decent start to cleaning up most of the pennies and the cream finished the job (including the pennies that were unphased by the dip). Did a batch of 30 that are all now cleaner and brighter than a 2010 penny. Even the wheatback which I would have left as-is if I'd noticed what it was before I started. Fortunately, it wasn't a valuable one.

Canadian penny would probably work. Same size, right?

 

[Eeee-va]

Not sure why you got so many 1959 pennies but that was the first year of the Lincoln Memorial back. I remember collecting them as a youngster.

The best way I have found to clean and polish old pennies is with a rock tumbler ( might find a small inexpensive one at yard sale). You get ground walnut shells from pet supply place and tumble pennies in them for day or two. If you want really shiny ones put some polishing rouge shavings (hardware store) in and let tumble for a day or two they will come out looking like they were shined with a buffing wheel.

Thank you for all that info--it's all very interesting, but especially the 1959 year. I had never considered that the pennies pressed Disneyland opened were wheat-head, and there wouldn't have been any Lincoln Memorial pennies!

 

[erinbharris]

Problem solved for $5 and some elbow grease. Wright's Copper Cream cleans 'em right up. I tried another batch of vinegar and salt and it made a decent start to cleaning up most of the pennies and the cream finished the job (including the pennies that were unphased by the dip). Did a batch of 30 that are all now cleaner and brighter than a 2010 penny. Even the wheatback which I would have left as-is if I'd noticed what it was before I started. Fortunately, it wasn't a valuable one.

Canadian penny would probably work. Same size, right?

I'm going to try to find the copper cream here. The ones I did with vinegar are clean, but not super shiny. The Canadian pennies *look* like they're the same size...but I'm not sure if the measurements are exact. I'm going to say yes, clean some up, and if they don't work then I can get more there.